The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1871-01-12
Objectionable Farm Help.

Objectionable Farm Help.
In othing do farmers run a greater
risk than in the employment Of hired
men who are to work with their sons
in the cultivation Of the farm; and it
must be confessed, that IN few things
do they manifest so little concern.
When it comes time to commence
spring work, the rule is to engage the
first man that comes along, providing,
he will work for the wages offered,
and providing, also, he appears 10
have the requisite physical qualifica-
tiOns to enable him to use the spade,
plOw or pitchfork. Seme questions
may be asked about the candidates
experience in farming; but with these
all catechising ceases, and a bargain
is struck. Is the stranger applying 70
you for employment freshly dlscharg-
ed from a Jail or pentitentiary? Was
he convicted Of vagrancy or Of some
crime against society by the police
court in some large city, and judg-
ment suspended forty-eight hours pro-
viding he would leave town. Is he
grossly immoral, irreligiOus, intemp-
crate OF Iicentious? Is he vulgar, in
decent or profane in his language2 In
too many eases no answer is sought
to these and equally Important ques-
,tions.
Now, this same farmer, who shows
so little interest in ascertaining the
moral and intellectual character Of the
man who Is to form part Of his
household, and who is to be the init
mate companion Of his sons, would be
much more particular and much more
diligent in his inquiries if he was
about 70 purchase a horse, albeit he
did not expect to keep him SIX
months, and was at liberty 70 t=ade
him of in a weeks time. He would
satisfy himself that the horse that
was to ploW his corn, draw his manure
from his stable, and carry his grist 70
mill, was not vicious. The disposi-
ton Of the animal in relation to jump
ing fences, kicking, baking, would be
a subject of earnest inquiry. This
farmer who thinks that he can take
the measure OF a man, morally and In
tellectually, as well as physically, by
simply looking at him, viii not trust
SO much tc his eye-sight when he
comes to buy a horse. AhOrse which
Is to mate another in a team fOrplow-
ing. and be turned into apastuIe with
a lot Of colts, must have a character.
He must be an upright horse as well
as a strong and dOcile one.
Few persons are ever placed in
Dosftion to exercise so much influence
over the manners and morals of farm
ersJ bows, as are the hired men who
are nut to labor with them in the field.
They enjoy a familiarity and an equal
ity with them such as is sseldom found
in other pursuits. As a rule the great
er strangers they are when they come
on the farm, the greater will be their
opportunities for evil Country boys
are fond of new comers, and manifest
great curiosity in learning about Their
previous pursuits and companions.
They are quick to pick up slang
phrases, and are often easy subjects
to be taught vice and immortality.
The farmer, himself, is often away on
business or is employed in superin-
tending affairs at distance from his
sons and his hired men. At such
times there are free opportunities fOI
the corrupt influence Of 'evil cOmmu-
nicatiOns." Again, the hired men Of
ten share the same apartment al
night with the boys Of the family, so
that by day and by night, while at
work and at rest, the boys and the
hired men are together.
It matters little how wisely the faith
er may direct his household, how ten
DERBY the mother may watch over the
moral and social development Of her
solIs-they are almost sure to fall the
prey to pernicious habits and to evil
conversation, if unworthy men are
placed with them aslabOrers. A good
woman once said to the writer of this
article, HI send my sons to your
school to receive an instruction, and
am more than satisfied with their adj
vancement; but am sorry to say the
bows in the street educate them.n The
counterpart Of this may be found on
many Western farms, where the boys
have refined parents and are sent TO
good schools. Their companions on
the farm are slovenly in their appear
ance, uncouth in their manners, lax
in their morals, and profane in their
language.
This state OF things viii be so till
farmers exercise as much judgment
and manifest as much scrutiny in the
selection Of q man as they do in the
selection of horse that is to work on
the farm. It will remain as it is now
TIL farmers are willing to pay more
per month to man of good habits
than to q man OF loose or bad ones.
Farmers must offer an incentive to
sobriety, morality and to correct de-
pertinent. Until then hired men may
think like the honest Hibernian
soldier In the old days of low pay in
the regular army. He replied to the
officer who upbraided him for appear
ing on parade in state of intOXica-
ton, Hi1Ow can you expect man to
practice all the cardinal virtues for
seven collars a month, when the
meanest soldier gets that any how"
There may be a reasonable pre-
sumption that man who applies for
work on farm by the month is in
dustrious and not opposed to labor.
Ee is not to be looked upon with as
much suspicion as a person who in
quires for some easy position in a
large town OF who seeks a govern
ment clerkship. Still the relation
which he bears to the family Of his
employer is so more intimate than in
most other occupations, that a cores
.ponding scrutiny is required before he
Is judged trustworthy. a good farm
hand Is not one whose only merit con-
sists in doing very large amount OF
work and doing it well. He should
be more than a strong, capable animal.
As farmers families are now consti-
tuted, he should be free from those
vices that viii contaminate the young
with whom he is brought in contact;
while his manners and language
should be free from eoarseness and
vulgarity.-Pndir5e Farmer.
Whipping Horses, Dangerous.
would caution those who train OF
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