The Portland daily press., 1868-08-01
A Lesson for our Young Men.

M. Emile dc La~aleye has contributed an
article to the Rerue des DeuI Mondes in
which an interesting account is given of the
progress made by Prussia during fifty years
of peace. Prussia has recently risen to a
high position among the nations of the earth.
Her schools have always been models of per-
fection, and her children are probably better
educated than those of any other nation
She even excels our own beloved New kng-
land. But we now wish to speak of her ag-
rcultural interests, or rather of her agricul-
tural laborers. In our country other profess
sions have been too often considered more
honorable than farming, especially by our
young men. 1t is not so in Prussia. The
writer above alluded to says that nearly all
the landowners cultivate their own estates.
Such is the rule, and renting detached por-
tions is the exception. The care of their own
estates keeps them at home. We all know
that nothing more imperiously requires the
eye of a master than rural industry. $50 -ao-
The educated young men OF Prussia, those
belonging to the first families and just leaving
an agricultural college, remain for certain
time on some large estate to learn practical les
| sons which shall fit them for the management
| oftheir own estates. This is an ancient custom
the novitiate being still preserved in many
trades. They don't half do things as we do,
running headlong into business they know
nothing about. The son OF a rich hotel
keeper will not hesitate to enter another ho-
tel as butler or waiter to be initiated INTO all
| the details of the service over which he will
one day have to preside. In visiting the
farms in that country one is astonislied to
see the son of banker, baron or q rich
| landowner, the superintendent who works
| himself and not merely struts about as a
lord. These educated, rich young men feel
| it no disgrace to drive cart or hold a plow.
At noon they return, groom their horses, and
| then 90 and dress themselves and dine at the
owners table to whom they are not inferior,
either in instruction, birth, or manners. AZ
ter their meals they resume their working
dress and return to their rustic occupation,
never once thinking of being ashamed OF
their labors. ...
Thus we find in feudal Prussia examples
worthy of imitation in our own democratic
| America. What valuable lessons we can
learn from such people! What contrast
hAt.uAen tho young men of our country and
those of Prussia, and even in New Eng
land such a contrast is observable
The truth is. too many OF our young men are
anxious to get living outside Of the prodac-
ing classes. They don't feel ashamed to
| consume, but seem to feel it disgrace to
produce. This has always been in the South
besettng sin, and the young men OF other
portions of our country are not entirely free
from it. To feel and believe that his dignity
is compromised in performing farm or me-
chanical labor is an unfortunate condition for
any young man to be placed in. The sons O
our Southern planters have been too long in
that condition for their own good. Since
slavery has been abolished we hore there will
be some improvement in these matters
Slavery has done an immense amount o
evil in our country and its effects will be fel
for years to come. But the change that ha:
already taken place betokens good for the iu-
ture, for revolutions never so backward We
are told.
Our young men, both North and South may
be assured that agriculture is very honora
bic employment, and is growing more an(
more honorable every day.
Let them read the history of Prussi
whose young men are glory and an homo
to any nation. Let them follow the nobl
examples which Prussian young men have Sc
before the world. The laws of nature can
not be violated with impunity, and a lie o
laziness is life OF misery. ...