Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1872-01-26
westminster Farmers club.

Jan. 18th, and discussed the following
resolution; ResoIped, That the present
system of educating farmers families is
not the most commendable.
w. Il. KMBALL.-Mr. President,
The resolution is broad in its character,
as we'll as important in its practical re-
suits. We are apt to apply the test to
our neighbors, laying the fault to their
charge and not looking enough at home
Children are not so well disciplined and
brought up as they were 20 years ago.
We think too much of them, love them
too well, we bring them up in too much
idleness, lettering about stores, shops,
groceries, &c. To bring out reform we
must begin at home, start them right,
drill them in work, steady, not to over
task, and they will love work. If we
wish to reform our boys from the habit
of hanging around stores and public pla-
ces, we must do it much by example
We indu &c them too much in the luxu-
ry of dress, struggling to keep up with
styles. We have departed from the old
and better way, to use the frock twice
a day; now the frail coat must be used
in every way, and for everything. Again
in our farm labor, we hire too much,
spend too many leisure hours ourselves,
setting bad examples before our children.
n. G. PIERcE.-The resolution Brings
against us as parents terrible accusa-
ton. for one plead guilty, because of
the force of fashion. l know the disci-
pline, training and educating of our fam
lilies is not 50 commendablc as % years
ago. | know that when we repremand
our children for indecorum, how that
when | was boy aud went to school,
and the traveller passed US on the way. or
in the school yard, the boys and girls
would all make their manners, all was
whist and quiet. Now, sir, it is impossi-
BILE 10 pass the school house without hear
ing the most vile language, and having
your hat knocked of by a shower of snow
balls if not your head badly bruised.
Fifty years ago in my neighborhood
there were but three, so called fast young
men, drove fast horses, drank, &c, and
sir, one of those was executed for crime.
and another inearcerated in prison. Out
OF thirty not more than one used profane
language, they thought it was wrong,
they were taught it in our schools and at
home that it was wicked. Isay, sir, when
we rehearse this in our families, they call
us fogys and laugh, and if we attempt to
bring our families under theold discipline,
we are called by our neighbors, severe,
tyranical; hence how can one parent do
much alone in this needed reformation,
none other way than by example. am
aware that I governed better in my fam
lily % years ago than now, it may be the
fault IS mine. [ feel like doing all can
to retard this awful tendency to insubor-
dination, prolifgacy, ruin.
HENRY FLoYD.-One thing can see
that fetched up my children different
from what they do now, though not as /
should. But | would have them love
work, not oyertask, yet they ought to be
learnt to regard properly their time.
Then we did not so much bring up our
children to learning as now the fashion
is, though l do think they do not spend
their time as well and close to their books
as years ago, more time spent at stores
and public places. If we love our chill
dren we will restrain them. Sir, fifty
years ago well remember how farmers
boys were kept upon the farm until 81.
They knew nothing about chewing tobac-
co or smoking, now a great meerschaum
hanging from their mouths as soon as ten
years old. Look at Jim Fisk, lived Just
as his father brought him up; our boys
are coming up just like it, before they be-
come of age they want to get father off
from the farm into some other place, they
must run the machine, yet if they were
brought up to do as they might, by econ
omizing time with proper appliances, a
farmer might be a good lawyer, doctor or
minister, but there is something wrong.
and l fear the blame comes right back to
the gray head.
j. B MoRsE-In discussing this ques
ton | take the affirmative. | must say
we are living in fast age, commercial
Iy, financially, the natural tendency is
\ perform less and less, because the
Young man has never been brought up
and educated to say, 1 will-never to
consider they are responsible for their
own conduct. But rather to treat edu-
cation as dress,up, caused by to indul-
gent fathers, who find money and fast
horses for them to drive. Young Amer
lea who care far nothing. This is an
age of facts and figures, young men must
be governed by right ideas, and those
ideas must be the fruit of practical
education, if to be farmer, be educated