Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-02-15
Farmers Club.

A true Farmers Club should consist of all
tie families residing in small township, so
far as they can he induced to attend 1t, even
tbouoh OnIy half their members should be
present at any one meeting. 1t should limit
speeches to ten minute, excepting only those
addresses or essays which emlnently quallhed
persons are requested to specially prepare
and read. 1t should have President, ready
and able to repress all ill-natured PERSONAL
ties. all irrelevant talk, and especially all
straying into the forbidden regions OF poht-
ical or theological disputation. At edeh
meeting the subject should be chosen tor the
next. and not less than four members pledged
to make some observations thereon, with
liberty to read them if unused TO speaking
in public. These having been heard, the
subject should be open to discussion 10y all
present, the humblest and youngest being
specially encouraged to state any facts within
their knowledge, which they deem per
tinent nd c0gent. Let every person present
be thus melted to say something calculated
to shed light on the subject, to say this IN
the iewest words possible, and with the ut
most care not to annoy or offend others, and
it is hardly possible that one evening per
week devoted to these meetings should not he
spent with equal pleasure and profit
The chief end to be achieved through such
meetings is development of the faculty OF
observation and the habit of reflection. Too
many of us pass through life, essentially
| blind and deaf to the wonders and glorles
manifest to clearer eyes all around us. 1he
magnificent phenomena of the seasons, even
the awakening of Nature from death to life
in spring-time, make little impression on
their senses. still less on their understanding
There are men who have passed forty times
through a forest, and yet could not name,
within half a dozen, the various species o.
trees which compose it and so with every
/ thing else to which they are accustomed.
/ They need even more than knowledge an
/ intellectual awakening, and this they could
hardly fail to receive from the discussions OF
an intelligent and earnest Farmers Club.
A genuine and lively interest in their Yo-
cation is needed by many farmers, and by
most farmers sons Too many Of these re-
/ gard their homesteads as a prison, IN which
| thew must remain until some avenue OF
escape into the great world shall open before
\ themT The farm to such Is but the hollow
! log into which a bear orawls to wear out the
rigors Of winter and await the advent OF
spring Too many Of our boys fancy that
| they know too much for farmers, when IN
fact they know far too little. good Farm
ers' Club, faithfully attended, would take
this eonceit out of them, imbuIng them IN
stead with realizing sense Of their Igno-
rance and incomIetency, and hearty desire
for practical wisdom.
Almost every good farmer or gardener will
sometimes have choice seeds or gratis to
spare, which he does not care or cannot e1-
| ect to sell, and these being distributed to
the Club, will not only increase Its popular
ity, but give him right to share when an
other surplus is in like manner distributed.
If one has choice fruits to give away, the
Club will afford him an excellent opportunity,
but would rather not attract persons to it's
meetings by prospect Of having their appe-
tites thus gratifed at another's expense.
The organization of Farmers Club is its
chief difficulty. The larger number Of those
who ought to participate, usually prefer to
stand back, not committing themselves to the
effort until after its success has been assured
To obyiate this embarrassment, let paper
: be circulated for signatures, pledging each
signer to attend the Introductory meeting
aud bring at least a part of his family
, When forty have signed such call, success
: will be well-nigh assured.-Hordce Greeley