The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1877-04-04

plioe VI Joubulul DlOOu, Wal uSu WIN
energy, and hope, and ambition, to re.
juvenate its customs, traditions, and
ancient methods. AS men grow old,
they are little inclined to experiment,
to try new things, or to change their
habits if they have been successful,
they decline any addition to their rou-
tine knowledge if unsuccessful they
put in a plea of "too old to learn"
Farming, as trade or manufacture, is
largely in the hands of men advanced
in life, and, as a whole, is more sta
tionary than any other branch of busi-
ness. If by some combination, the
experience, prudence and caution of
the father could be united with the
ambition, push and activity of the sou,
decided advance might be expected
in farming. The best talent of the
family seldom stays on the farm; youth
receives no encouragement; the boy is
classsd with the hired help; he finds
nothing for his brain to feed upon,
nothing to arouse his pride, nothing to
fire his inventive genius, nothing to
satisfy his longing desire to step up
higher; hence he early seeks home
in some city or manufacturing village,
where the demand for brains is more
pronounced, and where the prizes Of
life are distributed in open compcti-
tion. Soon the boy, whose father, but
few years before, doubted his busi-
ness capacity, in even selling year
ling to the village butcher, stands at
the head of some mercantile house
whose weekly sales are thousands.
How that boys financial shrewdness
and business ability was needed on the
farm he left The youngster, whose
budding intellect was nippcd' by the
chill frost of parental sternness and
indifference, is heard from in after life
as the eminent lawyer. His sound
sense, reasoning power and keen per-
ceptions were sadly needed on the home
farm. The lad who pleaded in vain to
be allowed to lay out stone wall,
culvert or a lane, unwilling ly turns
his back on the scenes Of childhood,
yet the near future lays the world
tribute to his scientific skill in sus-
pension bridge or acqueduct. How
easily this engineer could double the
value of the ancestral acres by drain.
age and proper construction of roads
and buildings.
Farmers, think Of this: the very
boys you are rearing to-day, driven
from home, will fill the highest places
in the gift of commerce, art, mannfac-
ture and legislation. Why should the
farm see this talent depart? why rob
itself of their needed brains? If these,
your descendants, can give impulse to
trade, invention to mechanics, elo-
quence to the forum, why not induce
such ability te remain with you why
not encourage such talent to lift the
cultivation of the soil into the front
rank, to select with business sagacity
the profitable branches of culture, to
conduct with merchants shrewdness
the buying and selling Of tools, and
seeds, and products
If commerce or manufactures make
loud calls for your boys, make louder
calls yourself. Give the boys a chance
at homey encourage them, stimulate
them give them piece Of ground to
cultivate as their own, give them cattle
to rear; surround them with such
books and papers as your means af
ford ; permit them to make inexpen-
sive experiments; treat them as equals,
rs young men of brains of perceptive
faculties give them little authority,
little power; talk matters over with
them, consult with them, try their ca
pacity, put confidence in them. En-.
courage the village lyceum, the far
mer's club take the boys along let
them try little new seed, a little
poultry; let them iaise few early
lambs introduce any culture the sue
cess of which depends on their personal
attention to detail make the boys in
terested, thoughtful, anxious to excel.
Don't kill them with drudgery; brains
are worth more than stone walls,
knowledge is more powerful than iron
bars, study is more potent than physi-
cal force. Make home pleasant to
them, encourage social gatherings Of
young folks, promote sociability, COM
pany, amusement, variety of Occupa-
ton. These are among the city's at
Fractions, and the cause Of tho migra-
tion is apparent. Adopt the remedy
keep the boys on the farm if more
business is wanted, supply it in increas
ed and improved culture.
The writer of the above article
which appears in the American Cult,
vatOr, is evidently person of consid,
cradle experience, and good sense
But when he says "the very boys you
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