From Cornfield Philosophy, by C. D. Strode, Illustrated, Chicago: The Blakely Printing Co., 1902; pp. 107-46.
CORNFIELD
PHILOSOPHY
BY
C. D. STRODE
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DEDICATED TO MY FRIENDS AND FOES AND THOSE WHO DON’T CARE ONE WAY OR THE OTHER
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ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE BLAKELY PRINTING CO.
1902
[3]
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
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PAGE
How To Acquire Riches (Part I) 15
Keep The Young Man on the Farm 20
The Cold Wave and the Farmer 24
The Hidden Culls (A Romance) 49
How to Be Happy Though Owning a Saw Mill 63
Brewster Jones’ Christmas (Poem) 80
Wanted — A Partner with Capital 120
The Sawmill Man and the Devil 159
4How to Acquire Riches (Part II) 213
5
PREFACE.
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I have compiled, herein, a number of essays and sketches which I consider to be of a humorous and philosophical nature. There is also some poetry. The essays and sketches are, I believe, pretty fair, but the poetry, while having some good points, is not satisfactory. I did the best I could with it, but somehow it isn’t right, and I can’t tell what ails it. The best thing that may be said for it is that there isn’t much of it.
The sketches, essays, etc., originally appeared in the lumber trade press with which I have been connected for several yearS. They have been slightly revised and touched up here and there without, I believe, improving them. They are not intended to reform anybody or to turn the world upside down. When I was much younger than I am at present I sincerely believed I could tell the world a great deal it didn’t know. I have given that up.
I find the writing of the Preface the hardest task in connection with the publication of the book. A writer should, in the Preface, give excuse for his action in presenting his book for the consideration of the long suffering public, but after a most thorough searching of my soul I find that I have no valid excuse to offer.
My old friends and readers have subscribed for sufficient number of copies to more than cover the expense of the first edition. They knew what the book would contain 6 when they subscribed, and of others buy it I want it understood that they do so at their own risk. If they don’t like it I don’t want them to be jumping onto me about it.
It used to be my ambition to do a lot of good in the world, but now I feel that if I can slip through without doing any particular harm I’ll be satisfied; and I feel certain this book won’t hurt anybody.
I never realized before what a lot of nerve it takes for a man to put a book on the market at all, and I believe that if I could I’d call this venture off here and now.
I believed when I started to compile the book that I had a lot of good material; but after getting it together and reading the proof over and over, the whole mess seems pointless and witless. I’ll have to let it go now, though.
The illustrations appear to me to be pretty fair, but I’m not much of a judge of such matters. If you don’t like them I ask you as a personal favor not to say anything about it, for the young man did his beSt, and he is very sensitive.
I’m afraid it’s a pretty bad job all the way through, but it can’t be helped now. I don’t know what ever possessed me to start the cussed thing.