The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1874-06-11
The Cuttings OF Soeiety-What Shall
be Done With Them!

becoming q successful merchant. IHeH
the balance were carefully looked over. TO
find little mechanical ingenuity, which
was devoted, when found, to some useful
trade: while the unmarketable refuse, like
that of other farm products, were kept for
the home supply.
The most promising of the female por-
ton of the family absorbed nearly all the
educational advantages within its reach,
and was fitted for teaching school being
expected, as a matter of course, to marry
clergyman after a few seasons of useful
ness i'm her profession. What personal at
tractiveness there might be among the
daughters was hurried off to the city,
where the demand for this product always
exceeds the supply. After these selections
were made, the rest were retained to be-
come farmers wives.
The folly and injustice of this principle
has become so apparent, and the incompe-
tency of the judges who presumed to make
such division has been so thoroughly
proved. that there is no danger whatever
of the practice ever being revived. 1t Is
now universally acknowledged that there
is not only ample room in the agricultural
world for talent to display itself to advan-
tage, but that it demands at present, and in
fact always has demanded, the same ability
! that is requisite to success in any OF er Oc-
| cupation. Not only men possessed OF
wealth. talent and cultivated tastes turn
| ing to farm life in steadily increasing num-
| berS mot with a desire to escape even
mental labor, but seeking employment as
well as recreation, for brains as well as
| heads), but farmers themselves are gener-
ally aware that industry and economy are
| but the foundation of their favorite edifice,
and that its completion will require the
skillful labor of generations yet to come.
| They have seen that art is the same
efficient handmade of nature in ag-
ricultural pursuits that she is rep
resented to be in other fields of
labor. Parents have learned that if the
accomplishments of social life are not adj
mitted and favored in their homes in the
country, their sons and daughters will
leave those homes, and 60 in search of
them elsewhere and it has become well
established fact, that those city men who
prefer to go into the country in search of
wives, can find there intellectual cultiva-
ton and polished manners, as well as
healthy constitutions and moral purity.
Yet, notwithstanding this thorough
change has been effected in the views and
habits of country people, there is an eX-
| tremely unreasonable notion prevailing in
other quarters that the refuse of society in
the cities should be sent into the country.
| This idea is an especial favorite with social
economists and reformers generally; and
is pressed into the service of all schemes
for the improvement of society. All who
are too stupid to succeed, or too vicious
to be tolerated in the city, are advised Ito
go into the country" When the city vo-
taries of folly and dissipation have rem
dered due sacrifice to their deities, they are
expected to end their worse than reckless
lives in the country; and moral as well as
physical disease is admOnished that moth |
ing but change from city to country life
will do for it; and if they are not cured, |
they are not endured. at least by their for |
mer companions in the city.
These propositions, which. viewed in
their natural responsiveness, would arouse |
a feeling of resentment on the part OF cOun- |
try people, have been so sugared over |
with compliments to country intluen- |
ces," that they have been rather relished |
than otherwise by farmers, and have been |
supposed by them to be available as argu- |
ments to convince the rising generation in |
the country that they should be content to !
he deprived of all the advantages that city |
life holds out to them. But they now see
that in disposing of the surplus population |
of the cities, the dregs and cuttings are ap- |
=
like refus NC to accept any more of these |
unordered invoices of damaged goods.
There is never surplus of the right |
kind of population either in city or coun- |
try: and that which Obstructs the course !
of social advancement in the farming local /
ity is as much an encumbrance as in the |
former. Besides, the country is by no |
means the moral paradise that it has been .
represented to be. There is no need of
impOrtationS of idleness, dissipation and |
incOmpetency from the large cities. If
the cities find their products Increasing on
their hands. let them close the manufactO-
res of the same at once, and not crowd
them upon those who already have more
of them than they know what to do with.
Those who are an expensive burden to
society in the city, are told that they
s. should cease to be consumers, and be-
come producers :" and it seems to be eX-
pected that each member of this numerous
class needs nothing but "the will'' TO be
transformed at once from an idle, discOn-
tented being, indispOsed or incompetent to
properly fill the station for which he was
reared, to a skillful farm laborer. The
country is undoubtedly in want of labor
ers; but not of this grade. A mistaken
notion has always prevailed in society that
numbers are all that is wanted in the labor
fields in the country; when discipline of
both mind and muscle are as desirable here
as in the trades; and the progress in farm
skill with the continued change and I'M
in farm implements increases
the demand for Judgment and skill on The
part of workmen. The employer of farm
help finds. in making his selections, that
in this, as in other markets, - the best is
the cheapest" As a consequence OF the
general practice of this rule, we find in
farm labor a wide range in the rates of
wages; becoming still wider as the higher
grades of wOrkmen improve in skill, and
the numbers increase of those who take to
farming as a last resort, or are sent INTO
the country TO be got out OF sight, or to
be kept out of mischief.
But the power that "finds some mis-
chief still for idle hands to do" is by no
means at loss in furnishing employment
in the country for those under his charge;
and much of the discomfort so prevalent
among the young people of the country
may be traced to this source. The sentl-
confessions or exaggerated accounts
of the achievements of these veterans in
vice, create a morbid curiosity in the minds
of their credulous listeners in the field, by
the winter fire at home. or at the country
inn. and arouse an ambition to perform ]
deeds of similar character. 1t will be ,
found that very large proportion of those
who improve in condition while sojourn-
ing in the country, turn again TO their
former idols in the city, manifesting re- J
newed zeal and offering, with other sacri-
fees, fearful list of proselytes, having
established bond of union and sympathy
themselves and their new acquain- ,
tances in the country. !
The older farming districts are particu-
arlv unfortunate in this matter of dis {
the cuttings of society, especially
N regard to foreign emigration. Those ,
who are really in earnest in their agricul-
5ural undertakings, and whose means of v
experience make them desirable neighbOrs I
,r co-laborers, prefer to 60 where they can 5
become proprietors of land; the privations I
md labors of new country having no I
errors for them; while those who take to (
arming because they are not fitted for c
!nything else, remain as close as possible e
o cities and villages. =
d. H. question IVhot cho1l ba 1opa