The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1870-12-26
NAees.a.l steaister.
Farmers Clubs.

EoEh&CEb SAuD&. /.
lifelong evenings are now at hand, and
the farmer finding little leisure after
the labors ofthe day looks about him for
some means of pleasure and amuse-
ment wherewith to occupy the time.
He will find no more profitable way to
spend an occasional evening than in
a wideawake Farmers Club. Better
by far is it than to doze the time away,
smoking pipe in the chimney corner,
or lounging at the country store. The
book and the paper tire after while
these organizations come in to occupy
a portion OF time in just such way AZ
the hard-working farmer needs. Here
he can in measure obtain that
MENTAL CULTURE
Which is so much negl 4eted by those
who labor day alter day upon their
farms, 1t is very natural for them TO
slide into almost entire neglect of any
intellectual effort, and unless they have
something Of q character in which they
are particularly interested, and which
pertains TO the business in which they
are daily engaged, any effort in that d.
rect'on soon becomes laborious, and f.
naiiy is discontinued altogether. All
the time, they are inclined too much to
physical exercise of the mind. Even at
many OF our County Fairs, the annual
address which once offered little men
tai stimulus, has been discontinued.
and the time is occupied in a manner
winch does not, 10 say the least, draw
out any mental effort The Maine
State Soc,e at their Fair last autumn,
deeming intellectual treats out of place
among farmers. or for some other rea-
son unknown, failed to have the usual
address.
Again, much of the farmers time is
spent alone, or in company with bid
help not in any way remarkable for their
intelligence, and the mind runs along
in the old groves with but little 10 ex-
cite 1t TO activity. 1t becomes sluggish.
Mind needs contact with mind to rub it
into activity. The more we associate
with other individuals, the more the
mind is aroused; we think, we study.
These Farmers Clubs then, are lust
what is needed TO draw the farmers to-
gether, and to give them an opportunity
TO bring their minds in contact. The
exercises are such rs pertain TO their
every day affairs, and therefore such as
they are more or less familiar with.
While exercising the mind, they are
reaping other advantages as well
PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE
Is acquired. However humble the in
divjduals composing the Club. however
ignorant in book learning" however
rough their exterior, if they are practi-
cal farmers each one knows something
which will be an advantage TO the
others Some rough and otherwise ig-
norant men are critical observers, ard
are possessed OF fund of practical
knowledge, which, if it can be drawn
out, will be OF interest to all All
farmers need a share in their knowl-
edge, but it is very difficult to obtain.
They are not public takers, and any
effort made under the fOrmalities OF a
public meeting would quite surely result
in failure. ] have seen such men at
farmers conventions, after the meeting
was dissolved, gather together in knots
and talk over the subject under discus
sion in a manner which would have
done honor to the lecturer himself A
Farmers Club is the very best place to
draw out the knowledge of such men,
and at the same time it ia a good place
to draw out the knowledge of those who
are accustomed to public speaking
ASSOCIATED EFFORT.
Another advantage Of these organiza-
tons is in associated effort, This ad-
vantage will manifest itself in many
ways Great good will come from as,
ISOLATION alone without combining in
effort. When men come together and
,c,,,norn nOtas as tho cayip1 10 " hon