The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1873-10-17
REBELLION OF FARMERS AGAINST
DRUD6ERY.

Into the initiation of the order
of the Patrons there enter, as ma.
chinery or symbols, music and
song, the expression of exalted
sentiments, ceremonies replete,
without exception, with signifi-
canoe and instruction, together
with fruits and grains and flowers
and simple feasts. Two funda-
mental objects of the organization
are social and intellectual culture.
The widespread realization of the
Importance of these among the
people is the first great step to-
ward securing them, and the first
unmistakable sign that such step
has already been taken is the re-
helling against pure drudgery. To
be sure, the sages in all times haye
taught that there was a time to
sing and time to dance, as well
as a time to labor, but it is not
fifty years since it was generally
accepted by the masses that a per-
son might spend every day of his
adult life in monotonous manual
labor, and yet, other things being
favorable, be just as intelligent,
just as polished in manner, and
graceful in bearing as if his occu-
patton was varied, and the more
laborious portions of tt never con
tinued long at y time. To-day
this faliacy is beginning to be gen
orally recognized. Go into any
farming district and you will find
that the farmers sons who are reg
ularly engaged in one kind of labor
all day, as ploughing, planting,
moving, are great, awkward, heavy
hammered youths, while his daugh-
tiers are, in comparison, easy in
their movements and agreeable in
their address; and simply because,
though their labor has been as I'M
RENTING, it has been far less mo-
notonous. AS a general rule they
go from one thing to another, and
through a great variety of muscu-
lar exercises from hour to hour.
1t is no wonder, then, that the
farmers sons, to get rid of the
terrible monotony of farm labor
as now organized, find peddiing
tin kettles an acceptable substitute,
or turning somersets in a third
class circus a fortunate escape.
The reason why country youths
are so impatient with farm labor,
is not that they are less virtuous
than formerly, but because they
are wiser; and the railroad has
opened q thousand fields for their
ambitious daring undreamed of as
possibilities in the olden time.
Not even the combination of at
fractions afforded by the oranges.
with their libraries and reading
rooms, their professions and pic
mics, the decoration of grange
halls in company with the ladies
of the order, the working of de-
grees, the music, social re- unions,
balls and concerts can keep young
men on the farm unless something
is done to render the labor less
monotonous and disagreeable.
One of the Patrons, during late
discussion of these questions, pre-
dicted from the growing intelli-
gence of the people, and their bet
ter understanding of the pessibil-
tiles of organization, that within
a few years we shall see magnifi-
cent social palaces, something like
the famous one at Guise, in many
places in this country; and he went
on to show how social and indus
trial life might be organized so as
to secure the most complete hber-
ty of the individual or family,
magnificent educational advant-
ages, remuneratiye occupation and
varied amusements for all, with
perfect insurance against want for
orphans for the sick and the aged.
Each palace was to be the center
of a great agricultural district ex-
plotted in the most scientific man
ner, and through the varied econi-
ums resulting from combination
all the luxuries of industry and
all the conditions for high culture
were to be secured to all who
were willing to labor even one-half
the hours that the farmer now
does. 1t was a glowing picture,
and certainly very entertaining,
whether a possibility of this, or,
as one of the company suggested,
of some happier planet than ours.
From ''Patrons of Husbandry,"
in Lippincotts Magazine for Sep
TENDER.