Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1881 — Does Farming Pay? [ARTICLE]

Does Farming Pay?

An impression somewhat general seems to prevail that forming is not as profitable as other vocations; that more money ran be earned in almost any other vocation with leas labor; hence the former’s son abandons the form, where he is a wnrreaa, for the uncertain gains of town. ' ' This impression, it seems to me, is very for from the truth. Take the farmers in every state in the West; moet of them commenced life poor; if they have strictly adhered to legitimate farming and avoided speculation, in most cases they are well situated, and are for more comfortable than an equal number of associates who chose the town. Fact* sustain us in the assertion that out of one hundred young men who leave the country for the town or city, not more than one becomes wealthy; perhaps one-ten th obtained a competency, and ninetenths barely make a living. Out of one hundred young men who remain on the farm, possibly not one become* wealthy, but more than fifty per cent, have substantial possessions and good houses, while most of the remainder make a good living and rear respectable families. The point to be impressed is that average young men afe for more likely to succeed on the farm than in the town, although they may not actually make more money. One thing that has allured many from the form is society, and schools may be added. In these particulars a marked difference can be observed within a few years to the credit of the country. Farm houses and surrounding* are more beautiful; the sons are men of culture and the daughter* are accomplished in the elegant as well as the useful Society in the country is no longer rude; if it lacks some of the grace of the city, this is more than compensated by solid aeqirements and an honest welcome, characteristic of a high bred people. The turning point has undoubtedly been passed, and the future great men of this nation Will be farmers.—[Knapp. Postage Stamps.—There are about six thousand different descriptions of postage stamps in existence. The museum of the Berlin Poet Office alone contain* between four and five thousand specimens, of which half are from Europe, and the remainder divided between Asia, Africa, America and Australia. What country carries off the palm for absurdity and grotesqueness of artistic design and inferiority of execution, we are not told, but if the collection is faithfully representative the variety of ugliness must be considerable. Some of the stamps, it appeal*, bear coat* of arms, and other emblems, impartially borrowed from the heaven* above, the earth beneath, and the water* under the earth —star*, eagle*, lions, horses, serpents, railway trains, dolphin* and other “fearful wildfowL’’ There are, moreover, the effigies of five emperors, eighteen kings, three queens, one grand duke, several inferior titled rulers, and many presidents. In so m*ny countries and nationalities some really attractive specimens must have been elaborated. *

Swiss Mountain Girls.-In there beautifnl health-giving mountains one would expect to find the most beautiful and healthy-looking of all girls. Where only pure air i* to be breathed, inspiring scenes to be witnessed, women should heas fair as daughters of the gods. But not so. The women in Switzerland have a prematurely worn and aged look; if at twenty they were robnst and poasereed of that attraction which good health bestows—at thirty they are foded and seem to take pleasure only in going through their dull and neverending round of duty. For they do the greater share of the work in the field and m the house, and in addition rear large families. In feet they make up in usefulnaaa what they lack in beauty. “When worthy men fall out, only on* of them may be faulty at first, but If strife continue long, commonly both become