Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1874-02-04
Board Of Agriculture-Meeting at Ran.
dOlph.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON. Jan. u. The
Academy Hall was well filed with the
farmers of Randolph and the adjoining
towns, and among them were n number Of
ladies. attracted no doubt by the promise
of paper How shall we do our Wash
ing and Baking by Prof. Conant.
The meeting was called to order by Mr.
Halbert of Essex, who stated that the ex-
ercises would consist Of papers and discus
sions. Discussions. however, in which all
interested can join and relate their expe-
rience and ideas, is the principal object.
Mr. Mex. Eddy of Randolph was then
elected chairman.
The first paper was read by Norman G.
Davis, Esq, of Brookfield, upon 1.-The
needs of Vermont Agriculture"
The discussion thai followed Mr.. Davis
paper turned upon the education of our
girls. and was opened by Col Mead. Said
he, was once told by friend that he
intended to give his daughters the best edu-
cation possible, that they should receive a
thorough culture. | asked my friend what
he considered thorough culture and how
the girls were to receive it? He replied
They shall have the best teachers obtain
able, and pursue a course of study at the
highest seminaries in the land Said L,
my friend, if that, regardless of anything
else, is your idea of thorough culture, l am
not with you. want my girls to be able
to do homework; to be able. in case
of sickness in neighbours family, to
render them material aid, either in tax
ing care of the sick or in managing the
household affairs Mothers too often teach
their daughters that at the age of twenty
it is about time to be thinking of marriage
and that they should keep their eye out for
a good offer. This is wrong. Let us
bring to their minds some of the things
needful to make them good wives, make
them feel that it is an honor to be able to
take charge of a house. to care for the
sick or to teach the young
DR.. Hoskins said: Il have resolved
that in my own family l shall carry out the
principles advocated by Col. Mead. The
matter of getting ones own living is a
serious thing for young women to con-
template. l want to educate them so they
can win their own way in the world so
they can go alone. | am in favor of
women's voting. 1t is rather against the
good old New England doctrine to refuse
their votes while they are taxed. But
when they vote they will have to assume
new responsibilities | once heard a lady
say she preferred woman's privileges to
woman's rights. She liked the privilege
of being supported by a man.
Mr.. Halbert of Essex: - think we al
agree that the mothers of the present gen
GRAFTON should be enlightened somewhat
in regard to the education Of their daugh-
ters. Our grandmothers and great-grand-
mothers had about the right idea on this
subject. Girls should be taught that labor
is honorable and should be participated j.
by all. This does not preclude their
learning the arts and sciences -
n. G.. Davis of Brookfield: Col. Mead
says ladies are over burdened by fashion
but where is the Young man that will moi
choose one of these modern-stvle Young
ladies for a wife in preference to an honest
Woodworking girl who has to earn hel
own living. Fathers, you have duty to
do in the education of your as"
DR.. Hoskins The tendency is tc
raise such girls as rich men only cal
marry. Demand, however, will regulot,
the supply. When young men let it be
known that they want the honest. hard
working sort of girls, that kind will h,
| forthcoming
The discussion closing, Mr.. Conant wa.
called upon and spoke for fifteen minutes
upon " How shall we do our Wash anC
Baking" The improvement in Iabo,
saving machines during the last tween Y
| five years, has been in favor of man r,the,
than of woman. 1t seems to me procti.
cable that some improvements can be mad,
that shall benefit woman. In the wasbino
and baking rs done in the family a loss <
ent.,iled which would be saved by doino
business on Il larger scale. A loss follow,
from the unsklled labor employed. for thai
a person may be skilled in any one nI1rsui,
he or she must devote their whole time f.
1t and must also have Il special aufitu,l,
for 1t. There Is Il loss also of time and O
fuel to say nothing of the wear and tear O
a woman nerves and temper. | proDos,
that we endeavOr to have this work don,
on larger scale by men who will brine
skilled labor to it. who will invest none,
In 1t, and their interests being involved
will do their work we'll and cheaplv. |
does not follow that all the househol,
washing and baking would be done at
laundry or bakery. Some of the inciden
tails would be done ut home, but the bull
OF the labor, claim, could be done cheap
er and better ut the laundry and bakery
Cheese and butter factories are comm,
into fashion and lifting great load from
women's shoulders. Judging from wha
L see, the tendency of the people is (,
gather themselves into villages and croups
and whenever cheap and easily portable
fertilizer is discovered the necessity fo
living apart will be removed Then worI
which can be done in common. such as tn
making of cheese. butter. bread. etc will
be placed in the hand of skilled fkmen
to the great relief of wives and mothers
who will thus be able to devote more tim
to the rearing of children and to maxine
home happy"
Rev. Mr. Colwell said: During ciob
years of my married life, the bread 70
my family has been baked out of tn
house. | found it to be great conven
fence. [ know village of 600 inhabitant
IN which are three bakeries, each dom,
we'll. They come to the house and ex
change bread for flour, pound for pound"
Mr. r. ID. Mason of Richmond, said
"lhls question is not new one to me
and see no more difficulties in the wa
OF IL than IN all new enterprises. w
must get together and talk the matter over
When first started II cheese factory. m
nelghbors said it would not pay, and tina
1t could not be kept up. Now in on
county OF sixteen towns, there are twenty
four cheese factories. and three or fou
more about starting"
DR.. Hoskins said: 1.-The probable hin
dra1ce to the establishment of bakery, i
the fact that our housewives are such 900
cooks. ! have never eaten bakers brea,
equal in quality to that of homemade
really don't know why laundries canno
succeed. We have tried 1t in st. Johns
bury but it soon died out. Did YOU eve
visit community Of Shakers and see hoy
they succeed in their cooperative establish
ments9 1t is singular thing, but Shaker
always make money. A German colon
which settled in Ohio fifty years ago, at
cumulated SO much money that when
broke up it left each member wealthy.
should really like to know if it is reall
necessary for us to eschew marriage an
turn Shakers that we may succeed in &C
operation.
In the evening Gov Converse presided
nd mfr 90