Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1875-03-26
GbeOermont 4banit.


through which we have passed, and are
passing, there is a large class that must DO
helped to keep them from cruel suffering.
Still the cities grow, while whole regions
of the country, specially its older por-
tons, are depopulatel year by year. Yet
the fact is patent to-day thatIhe only pros
ferrous class is the agricultural. We have
now the anomaly Of thrifty farmers and
Starving tradesmen. The agricultural
classes Of the West are prosperous. They
had good crop last year, and have receiv-
ed good prices for all their products; and
while the cities are in trouble, and manu-
factories are running on half time, or not
running at all, the Western farmer has
money in his pocket, and ready market
for everything he has to sell. The country
must be fed, and he feeds ii. The city fam
ily may do without new clothes. and a
thousand luxurious appliances, but it
must have bread and meat. There is moth
ing that can prevent the steady prosperity
of The American farmer hu; the comhina-
lions and "corners" of middle-men. that
force unnatural conditions upon the iinauc-
e. and markets Of the country.
This is not the first occasion we have had
for allusion to this snliecl, and it is not
likely TO lie the last. The forsaking Of the
farm for city life is one Of the great evils Of
the time, and, 50 far, it las received no ap-
preciable check. Every young man, ap-
parently, who thinks he can get living in
the city, or at the minor ceuters Of popua-
ton, quits his lonely home upon the farm
and joins the multitude. Once in the city.
he never returns. Notwithstanding the
confinement and the straitened conditions
OF his new life, he clings to il until he dies,
adding his family TO the permanent popu-
lation OF his new home. Mr.. Greeley, In
his days of active philanthropy, used to
urge men to leave the ciLy-to go West
to join the agricultural population, and
thus make themselves sure of a competent
livelihood. lie might as well have talked
TO the wind. \ city population can neither
he coaxed nor driven into agricultural pur-
suits. 1t is not that they are afraid OF
work. The average worker Of the city tolls
more hours than the average farmer in any
quarter of the country. lie is neither fed
nor lodged a. we'll as the farmer. lie is
less Independent than the farmer. He is a
bond-slavC to his employers and his condi-
lions; yet the agricultural life has no
charms for him.
Whatever the reason for this may be, it
is not based in the nature of The work, or
in its material rewards. The farmer is de-
monstrably better off than the worker Of
the city. He is more independent, has
more command of his own time, fares bet
ter at table, lodges better, and gets better
return for his labor. What is The reason,
then, that the farmers boy runs TO the city
the first chance he can get, and remains, If
lie can possibly lind there the means Of
life?
IT can only be found, we believe, in the
social leanness, or social starvation, Of
American agricultural life. The American
larmer in all his planning, and all his
building, has never made provision for
life. lie has only considered the means OF
getting a living. Everything outside Of
this-everything relating to society aid
culturo-has been steadily ignored. He
gives his children the advantages ofschools,
no: recognizing the fact that these very adj
vantages call into life a new set of social
wants. A bright well-educated family, in
lonely farm house, is very different ma
ierial from family brought mp in ignOr-
ance. An American iAitner's children,
who have had few terms at a neighbOr-
ing academy, resemble in no degree The
children of the European peasant. They
come home with new ideas and new wants,
and if there is no provision made for these
new wants, and they find. no opportunities
for their satisfaction, they will be ready,
on reaching their majority, 10 fly The arm
and seek the city.
II the Americ IAN farmer wishes to keep
his children near him, he must learn the
difference between living and getting a
living; and we mistake him and his grade
Of culture altogether if he does not stop
over this statement and wonder what we
mean by it. To gets living, TO make mon
ey, TO become "lorehanded this is the
whole Of life TO agricultural multitudes,
discouraging in their numbers to contem-
plate. To them there is no difference be-
tween living and getting living. Their
whole life consists in getting living; and
when their families come back TO them
from their schooling, and find that, really,
this is the only pursuit that has any recOg-
milton under the paternal roof, they must
20 away. The boys push TO the centres or
the cities, and the girls follow them i. they
can. A young man or young woman,
raised TO the point where they apprehend
the difference between living and getting a
living, can never be satisfied with the lat
ter alone. Either the farmers children
must be kept ignorant, or provision must
be made for their social wants. Brains and
hearts need food and clothing as well as
bodies and those who have learned TO rec
ognize brains and hearts as the best and
most important part of their personal pos
sessions, will go where they can find the
ministry they need.
What is the remedy? How shall far
mers manage to keep their children near
them? How can we discourage the influx
of unnecessary-nay, burdensome -popu-
lations into the cities? We answer: BY
making agricultural society attractive. Fill
The farm houses with periodicals and books.
Establish central reading-rooms, or neigh
horhood clubs. Encourage the social meet
ings Of the young. Have concerts, lee
lures, amateur dramatic associations. Is
tablish a bright, active, social lille, that
shall give some significance 10 labor.
Above all, build, as far as possible, in viii
lagos. 1t is better 10 so a mile TO ones
daily labor than TO place ones self mile
away from neighbor. The isolation of
American farm-life is the great curse of
that life, and it falls upon the women with
hardship that the men cannot appre-
clate, and drives the educated young away.
Dr. j. Q Holland in ScribRer for -iprH.