--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Tanner, Joseph M. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 3 published: 1916-01 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Joseph M. Tanner, "Thoughts of a Farmer," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 3 (January 1916): 220.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1903unse start_page: 220 end_page: 220 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1916-01) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1903unse publication_year: 1916 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1916, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Thoughts of a Farmer Thoughts offa* Farmer BY DR. JOSEPH M. TANNER One of my biggest and best horses has been almost ruined.During the hot summer days, when flies and insect pests generallyare troublesome, the horses congregate in such shady places asthey can find, and in a peaceful attitude toward one another givemutual protection against a common pest. During the winter seasons, when the severe blizzards are on,and the thermometer 35 to 40 degrees below zero, the horses' allstand in the field in the best sheltered places they can find, close toone another, and in the friendliest spirit, as a protection against thesuffering common to them all. When the spring comes and the green grass puts on jts abund-ance of flesh, and animal life is in its highest exuberance, conditionschange. There is no longer that animal fraternity which they ex-ercised during the period of their intense suffering. With reliefand comfort and pleasurable surroundings, there develops withinthem a sort of mutual hostility. They kick, they bite one another.They feel good, and their joy in the beautiful spring days knowsno bounds; and in the midst of it all, they take on a viciousnesstowards one another that costs many an animal a bruised leg or abroken bone. What is in the joys and comforts of their lives thatmakes them vicious? The fatter they are, the better they aretreated, the more kindly nature is in bestowing upon them all hercomforts, the worse they treat one another. They are morejealous, more restless, more vicious, and more selfish. Their com-forts, their ease, and their material well-being generally destroythe old-time friendships, and they treat one another with scantyconsideration. Such is animal life. Such, in them, the lesson of suffering.Is there anything akin between animals and men? Where isenvy, jealousy, contempt and selfishness more abundantly bred?Where do vain ambitions clash, and men become more repellantone towards another ? Is it not in the so-called lofty circles of life,where friends and enjoyment are abundant, where the joys oflife are freely given, and where there is no common suffering toengender common sympathies that result in mutual friendshipsand kindness ? I have known men to act like my horses. If allmen would do so, I cannot say but there is something in sufferingboth in the animal and human world that begets sympathy andfriendship which nothing else bestows. ALBERTA. CANADA