Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-21

TRAINING AND EDUCATING rARxERs.

1t was once the prevailing conviction
among all classes Of citizens that the tiller
Of the soil, from the nature of his liveli-
hood, must be uneducated, rude in
speech, and uncultivated in manners-a
mere "hewer of wood. and drawer of
water" In that twilight of the Ozark
Ages" the universal conviction was also
that if boy or young man happened to
be slow to learn, and not so brilliant and
ambitious as is desirable, it would be the
height of folly to attempt to educate him
for any of the stations occupied by law
yers, physicians and clergymen; yet, he
would make good farmer. But with the
changes which have been wrought by re-
volving years, and with the developments
Of science and the Improvements in the
mechanic arts, new views have supplant-
ed the erroneous notions of many Of our
ancestors. Now, the impression is preva-
lent that the science and the art of agri-
culture require young men and boys OF
energy and talent. With the change
which time has wrought, the once plod-
ding tiller of the soil has been elevated in
his calling, so that he sees and feels that
mind, brains and education give him an
almost irresistible power over the elements
which he handles. Instead of making .
machine of his own delicately organized
body. he now mounts an easy seat and
without enduring the fatigue incident to
the wearisome labor of long and sultry
day, accomplishes an equal task in less
than one hour. More suspicious times
have dawned ON farmers. The problem
has long ago been solved, that he who di-
reefs the operations of husbandry, even if
his hands are calloused and his brow
tanned, may be refined in language. and
courteous and polished in his manners.
No class of citizens can have-and none
do have-so much leisure and so many ex-
cellent opportunities to read or write, to
study, and to become wiser and better,
than tillers Of the soil, if they will seize
the leisure moments. Every farmer and
farmers son may, if he will, appropriate
at least two to four hours every day to
reading, writing and useful study. Ten
hours is as long as any person can labor
proftably for any one. A manual laborer
will perform more by working only ten
hours daily during the season. than if he
attempts to keep going fourteen hours.
in the dirt, it does not follow that he must
parel of ditcher. A man can slip off his
"OihAuS, NiCSSt WoSu ohu DAuou up ouu
be ready for the sitting-room in fifteen
minutes. Young men and boys. who
must frequently labor at dirty work, should
be taught to dress according to their du-
ties; then, when the dav is ended, put on
Il suit that is not unbecoming in the recep-
tion-room. After boys have been led on
in manual employment. they should be
taught that they have delicate bodies to
be cared for. An effort should be made
TO elevate them in the scale of being to
higher and nobler manhood. Don't keep
boys on the 60 from early dawn till bed
time. Lei the duties of the day be judi
ciou, ly laid out, so that every one can see
what is to be performed and how many
hours may be appropriated to every job.
Farmers should strive to divest their
sons of the notion that their livelihood is
but an endless routine of irksome drudge
ry. Parents and guardians should make
an effort to prevent the prevalent notion
in the minds of most farmers boys, that
almost any other place is more desirable
than home. Let suitable books be provid-
ed for the young. Let them be taught
that after few hours have been spent in
manual labor, they have important duties
to perform by way of improving the mind
and cultivating the rough manhood, which
will mould the boy who associates with
uncouth lsborers, if he is not daily
brought under the refining and elevating
restraints of education and refined society.
-CObserrer.