Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1878-02-13
Farm Bows.

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Farm Boys.
Now, doubtless, many Of the BOYS will
be cogitating their brains to find some
pleasant way Of spending the long win
I ter evenings. Far too many will think
Of little else, perhaps, than to sit in the
corner doing away the time between
dark and bedtime, just rousing up suf-
fciently now and then to crack few
nuts or eat an apple, while others may
anticipate much innocent though not
very profitable enjoyment from partici-
pating in the fireside games, Of which
there are such variety. Others, again.
think it royal fun to go hunting one or
two nights out of every week. / have
known boys to 60 hunting one night,
and then had to go to bed about two
hours earlier for two succeeding nights,
to "sleep up for lost time" thus vast
ing fully six hours each of precious
time, all for the possibility Of killing one
poor coon.
No one has a better right than our
farm boy to every possible grain of en-
! joyment that can be gotten from a ripe,
rich nut, or a nice, yellow apple, and it
is right that all should have some time
to engage in innocent, mirth-
pastlmes, but youth is short and leisure
hours too few and far between for any
to spend them all just in gratifying the
appetite or seeking what some call
pleasure.
While it is argued on all sides that
our average farmer does too much with
his hands and too little with his brains.
1t might, with equal propriety, be urged
that our average farmer boy is not half
so studious youth as the prosperity of
q rising generation seems to demand.
Under existing circumstances the ed
ucational advantages Of farmers boys
are inferior to those Of any other class
of equal standing in society, even farm
ers' girls being often more favored in
this respect than they. Yet, notwith-
standing their comparatively limited
chances and the frequent disadvantages
under which they receive instruction, it
is within the power of almost every farm
boy to acquire for himself a liberal. if
not an extensive education
Boys, how n any of you are willing to
undertake the pleasant and useful task
Of self-culture?
Though deprived Of many of the priv
ileges of those who live in towns and
long quiet evenings which may be de-
voted to reading and studying as those
who live on the farm. ,a
Suppose every farm boy throughout
the land who has reached the age of
fourteen should inaugurate now-1S7S-
the practice Of spending, during the win
ter season, at least two hours every
night in reading instructive books and
the pursuit Of one or more useful stud
les. and strictly adhere to it until TWEEN
ty-one years Of age? Their intellectual
superiority over the average farmer of
twenty-one at the present day would be
almost incomprehensible.
| To those who are unable to attend the
public schools such a course would be of
incalculable value, while those who are
would be amply rewarded by the rapid
advancement it would enable them to
make there. Though it might seem
| irksOme at first, [ have never known one
who adopted this course that did not
soon learn to love knowledge for knowl-
edges sake, and esteem the pursuit Of
| it a pleasure The intricate mazes of
mathematics, metaphysics, and all 9th
er atics and 'ysics, may be left to those
who have nothing to do but follow them.
| What our farm boy wants-and our
farmer, too, for that matter-is some
thing to develop the latent power with
in him, and enable him to have ideas
and form opinions of his own also to
deliver them to others in manner so
| misunderstood.
| Familiarity with good books and pa
pers may suffice for the former, but an
understanding Of grammar and rhetoric
are necessary for the latter. In fact,
these two branches of study grammar
especially-are indispensable to every
one who ever expects to expound an
idea either on paper or orally, yet among
country people generally there is moth
ing so much neglected Or so little I'M
derstood. [ have heard what would
otherwise be a very creditable address
entirely spoiled by the speakers utter
ignorance Of the first princip Piles of cor
rect versifcation or grammatical con-
|
full style Of language even the silliest
speeches are sometimes applauded,
while ideas Of the greatest wit and bril-
liancy may lose all force because Of
their miserable phraseology, just as we
sometimes see polished, well dressed
villain, palming himself off for a gen
tleman, while the poor, honest laborer
is jostled by the crowd and passed with
sheer, because of the rags which cover
/ him.
Now that / have had word to the
boys, [ should like, before closing this
little talk, to have word for the boys.
Parents, fathers, mothers, if you would
have your boys grow up brave, generous,
manly and intelligent, first set the prop
Ell example, and then encourage them
by commentator and counsel in all
they would undertake for their moral
and intellectual Improvement
| Would you have them brave, teach
them that it often requires more cour-
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