The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-04-20
Give the Boys a Chance.

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 plea of "too old to learn"
Farming, as trade or manufacture, is
largely in the hands of men advanced
in lite, and, as whole, is more station
airy than any other branch of business.
If, by some combination, the expert
ence, prudence and caution of the father
could be united, with the ambition. push
and activity of the son, decided adj
vance might be expected in farming.
The best talent of the family seldom
stays on the farm; youth receives no
encouragement; the boy is classed 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 manufac-
turing village, where the demand for
brains is more pronounced, and where
the prizes Of life are distributed in open
competition. Soon the boy, whose
father, but few years before, doubted
his business capacity IN even selling a
yearling to village butcher, stands at
the head of some mercantile house whose,
weekly sales are thousands. How that
boys financial shrewdness and business
was needed on the farm he left! The
youngster, whose budding intellect was
nipped 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
perceptions were sadly needed on the
home farm. The lad who pleaded IN
vain to be allowed to lay out q stone
wall, culvert or lane, unwillingly turns
his back on the scenes of childhood,
yet the near future lays the world trib-
ute to his scientific skill in suspension
bridge or aqueduct. How easily the
engineer could double the value of tie
ancestral acres by drainage 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 comerce, art, manufacture 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, eloquence to
the forum, why not induce such ability
to 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 branch
es of culture, to conduct with merchants
shrewdness the buying and selling of
tools, and seeds, and products:
1t commerce or manufactures make
loud calls for your boys, make louder
calls yourself. Give the boys a chance
at home, 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 afford per-
nit them TO make inexpensive expert
ments; treat them as equals, as young
men Of brains; of perceptive faculties;
give them a little authority, a little
power; talk matters over with them,
consult with them. Encourage the vii
lage lyceum, the farmers club; take the
boys along; let them try a little new
seed, little poultry; let them raise a
few early lambs; introduce any culture
the success of which depends on their
personal attention in detail; make the
boys interested, anxious to excel. Don.
kill them with drudgery; brains are
worth more than stone walls, knowledge
is more powerful than iron bars, study
is more potent than physical force.
Make home pleasant for them, encour
age social gatherings of young folks,
promote sociabiity, company, amuse-
ments, variety OF occupation. These
are among the city's att actions, and
the cause of the migration is apparent.
Adopt the remedy, keep the boys on the
farm; If more business is wanted. sun
ply it in increased and improved cul-
ture.
The writer of the above article, which
appears in the american Cultivator,
is evidently person of considerable |
experience, and good sense. But when
he says: ''the very boys you are rearing
to-day, driven from home, will fill the