Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-06-09
For the Monmouth Weekly Herald.
The Papers Of James Careful, Esq:
TO FARMERS BOYS.

TO FARMERS BOYS.
| sometimes think to myself that it is
the duty of every one to try and do some
good in life, and this week [ will task
myself tor that purpose. The " Monmouth
Weekly Herald" has a large circulation
for a paper printed in the country, and
its subscribers chiefly are farmers. / sup
pose a large number of boys, who work
or farms, and are able to read, look over
this paper week after week, and see arti-
Giles on nearly all subjects, and about all
sorts of persons but themselves. Now
my young friends am proud Of you, and
am glad that have an opportunity of
speaking through this paper, about some
things that may be Of use to all through
life. [ know that the difference between
your work and mine is very great, and
that, consequently, our experience in mat
tiers differ widely. Yours is all bodily
labor, and little study mine is all study
and little bodily labor; but | trust, that
although this difference exists, we NAV
both do much good. and grow wise as we
grow older. IF should study constantly
and take no exercise, / should soon be
come weak22d pale, and sickly, and per
baps die $3.50 mad completed my stud.
les; and if YOU work constantly, though
you may swell out your muscles, and grow
strong in bodily power, yet. if you ne.
glect your mind altogether, you will be
as weak in thought, without mental exer-
else, as should in study, without physical
exercise. 1t is your necessity of this,
that eompels nj to direct your attention
towards it, and intend to show briefly
that you can acquire a good deal more
knowledge than perhaps you think you
can in your leisure moments. [ do not
expect you to read or study every night,
but if you will do as | have done some.
times, [ think that at the end of a year
you will find yourself greatly benefited.
And | am asking you to do this, because
1t will not only prove a pleasure to you
but, because 50 many farmers boys who
have followed this course, have become
truly great men. l remember a good
many years ago when l had first learned
to read a little, my father told me to read
sign-board5 vrcr rode along a street in
our county town; or when | went into a
store, and saw bills stuck up, to read
them also. / followed that advice, and
simple as 1t may seem to you, I acquired
a taste for reading, and | never carried
a parcel wrapped up in a newspaper, but
what | found a spare moment to read, ii
it was only q few words. The conse-
quence of this was, that before many
years | was able to read almost any news
paper, aud spell, and write quite a good
letter. And now, l I'm gathering the
precious fruits Of that modest, simple
plant, so carelesaly stuck by the wayside
many years ago.
| wish | could whisper a word Of my
private history into the ear of every
farmers boy in Monmouth County;
warrant he would read after that, and
}oyfully too. l would sooner, boys, thai
you read usefplkooks than those tales
published in the kpers, but sooner than
read nothing, | would advise you to read
the stories, because, if you do not learn
a~ythlrg from tho matter, you will learn
to read and spell, and that you know is
a great deal.
Next to reading and Writing, the study
OF figures is the most useful of all branch
es OF learning. No man is fit for a bust
ness life if he does not understand arith
metlc to some extent. And here again
do not want my young reader to think
that he will not study them at all, if he
cannot learn to reckon everything, for
surely he does not want to reckon dis.
sances between stars and PLANETS, it is
enough | tru~t for him to be thankful for
their shining beauty. But | should feel
sad if you could not tell how many twelve
times three was, or if you was unable to
tell how much thirty barrels of potatoes
would comete-%$2.35 per barrel.
am certain that if my young reader can,
not tell now, he will before he lays down
this paper. A great many learned men
have spoken and written eloquently about
education, but the farmers boy could
scarcely understand those writings if he
had them. | think those gentlemen aim
altogether too high. They seem to think
it would be wasting powder and shot to
fire into the ranks Of farmers boys, but
as 1 thlhK lhat farming supports every
thing we enjoy in this country, and tina
farmers boys will 500 be farmers, l cal
upon you now in your youth. to fit your,
selves tor that position. IF, when you
grew up to be men you are ignorant Of
everything but farming, if you have nc
ideas of your country's government, and
cannot converse on common topics, you
will not be respected aud some men will
say of you =" be is a numb-skut1, he know.
nothing but potatoes and pumpkins" and
though this may seem cruel, yet the pow
II 4ds TO avert the
charge.
Photographing Sounds.
The following startling but visionary
idea is given by the London Photoeraphif