THE SECOND BEST 



city life dances in dazzling colors before the eyes of 

 the country boy, so does the country life allure the city 

 boy with singular fascination. Our agricultural col- 

 leges have never been so crowded as now; serious and 

 able boys, recognizing the advantages of the outdoor 

 life, wish to learn scientific farming, intending to make 

 it their life study. They and their wives, perhaps even 

 their children, will love the farm; but their grandchil- 

 dren will probably migrate to the city to make room 

 for another reversal of conditions. So one man's sec- 

 ond best becomes his neighbor's best. 



But the man of the present day who lives in the 

 country, the so-called "gentleman farmer," who is not 

 t farmer at all, the man whose agriculture is confined 

 to experiments with his own vegetable garden — and 

 weeds; surely he has long leisure hours in which to 

 dream and rest and play. If tramping through the 

 forest in rain or summer heat is rest; if pruning over- 

 grown paths, or weeding beds of iris is play; if poring 

 over blue-prints for contemplated improvements is 

 dreaming, then indeed he does lead a life of ease. And 



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