Democratic Sentinel, Volume 15, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1891 — "Hayseed." [ARTICLE]

"Hayseed."

There can he little doubt that a distaste for the farmer’s life is cultivated among country boys by the car-icatures-of the farmer which are published in comic papers and “humorous” books, and hv the fear of being classed among the people whom these caricaturists are pleased to call “hayseeds.” Boys are accustomed to see these “funny pictures,”in which a sort of fanner Who is extremely unusual, and may be said not to exist at all, is set forth as the type or example of farmers in general. And as boys are sometimes unreasoning, they are apt to say to themselves, “I will not be ridiculed in that way when I grow up; I will get out of the ‘hayseed business.’” In this way not only is an injustice done by these caricatures, but a positive injury. The American people have a broad sense of humor, and no doubt delight in caricature; but they do not delight in injusticeor mischief-making, when they are able to recognize it as such. For this reason, it may be hoped that the caricaturing of the farmer, which has certainly been greatly overdone, may soon cease from the distaste for it which is pretty sure, to arise. The farmer himself can afford to take the “hayseed” ridicule good-na turedly. At a recent farmers’ demonstration in the West, men rode in a procession dressed in cowhide hoots, patched trousers, and ragged straw hats, carrying pitchforks oa their shoulders. They had adopted the guise .whjch the caricature gives them as a way of showing that they are independent of that sort of ridicule. ,. V ' But in the case of the young this spirit of independence is not often so strong. With a little thought, they must see that an up just caricature dues not real!# affect the credit and

honor of their occupation; but they are often ambitious of what is called consideration or respectability, and are likely to be unconsciously affected by misrepresenting pictures and stories. It is the duty of the young to bear in mind that nothing is more respectable or dignified than the life of the independent farmer, and the duty of those who have it in their power to “raise a laugh” in the public prints to remember that they, no less than serious writers, have a responsibility to truth and justice.—Youth’s Companion.