Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-01-29
Work In Vermont.

The men who are successful in life are
those who work intelligently. Now and
then some man seems to give the he to-
this theory by doing what other people
call laundering into success, but hall the
time it is because the supposed blunderer
has been working in his own way with
purpose or because he has been getting
ready to do things when the time comes for
them to be done.
Years ago work in this state required
muscle and a comparatively small amount
of thought among men. Now it is not
question of clearing up so many acres and
getting the surplus wood out of the way by |
burning log heaps, but one of making tree
grow where you cut one, of taking crop
from n field and not taking the field with
it. of which of the industries to pursue, and
of choice among the various branches of
the particular form of industry chosen.
There is much said first and last about
keeping the boys in Vermont and sugges-
tions, many of merit, are made of methods
for doing that very desirable thing. 1t is
good thing for Vermont to keep them.
most of them, there isn't doubt about that.
How it is for the boys is another question
and to be answered according as You
light o. chaps We were reading the other
day how that outside of the Vermont dele
cation in congress there were three sena-
tors and ten representatives, born in this
state. Some of them were smart boys too
1t is no use trying to tie the young men
of the state, with a rope whose utmost
stretch shall take them only as far as our
borders to look out from safe seclusion up
on the world which is forbidden them.
Bat it is Of no use for a man who has not
strength of body and of mind enough to
"gct along" in Vermont to think of going
west. There is work there and sharp com
petition and hindrances peculiar to that re-
gion. The way is to give the boys their
Yankee training" which means physical
and mental strength, and let go. Most of
them will be in no hurry to leave our Dor
ders; those who are will leave and take their
chances of landing in congress or else
where. There are always risks to be run.
What will keep the boys here if they are
rightly trained more than anything else,
is the pursuit by their elders of lines of
work in which success is being achieved
Pounding with the head of an AK on wood
or b 5ating solid rock with its sharp edge
will not make the chips fly, and no Yankee
boy but wants to see them follow the swing
ing blow. There is no other way than to
study out in what lines our possible and
probable success as workers lies The
Vermont farmers cannot copy the man
whose acres are spread over the prairies of
Illinois.
There is much said of the remarkable
sale that certain goods have, such for in
stance as are produced by skilled artisans
who have devoted themselves to the study
and practice of particular branches of a
trade. When an article is to be sold it
must be done on the representation of its
owner or its own merits. If the merit does
not come up to the representation all the
chin music in the world will not palm
off a second fraud The skilled workman
needs few words to recommend him or his
work. He shows the latter and it takes its
place at the head of the market.
Our state is one excellently situated rs
to markets. That of New York is easily
reached and that of Boston is at our doors
So that what we produce ought to find
l., -
well of the demands of the market and
make it well. 1t is not our aim to speak
specially of manufactures, commonly so
called, or of distinctly commercial enter
prises. The field of manufactures is vet
almost unoccupied but we have shining in
stances of success by excellence by those at
st. Johnsbury and Brandon, by others at
BrattlebOro and Montpelier, where, not only
our own country but others come within
our borders for Vermont work. The rea-
son is it is made we'll, made with thought
The possible development of commerce in
our State and the opening of avenues for
our younger people is shown by the re-
markable success which has attended the
once good village, now grown into thriv-
ing city, of Burlington.
The main interests of Vermont are agri-
cultural. and in those lie the future, as well
as the past, work ofthc greater part of our
inhabitants These interests are not dis
tinct from those of other classes of labor
erS; on the success of other kinds of enter
Ill tl,o nd tbo
er gets above the raising of food for him
self. The agriculture of Vermont, inclul-
ing in the term all the work of the farmer.
stan Is for its success. in more senses than
one. on different ground from that of the
west There lie the great grain fields OF
the world, with their owners discontented
because they are not brought nearer the
world on the boats or cars of the present
lines and waiting impatiently for the com
ing line, Here with markets at our doors
the two questions are what to raise anC
how to raise it.
It is by devoting themselves to particu
lar branches that men come nearest per
lection in any work. The carpets of Bel
GUM, the watches of Switzerland, and tn
laces that mock the ordinary worker il
the arts that produce them, teach a lessor
that is worth learning. 1t is this, tina
finding in what line success is most clearl
promised the energies be bent to acquirin,
continually more knowledge and NOR
skill in that line. 1t will be found tina
the pursuit of specialties in agricultur
will not make the general farming of tn
worker grow worse.
The meeting of the Dairymen's Associa
+ion laSt ueak hac c,IIad ont discussion