The daily intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Territory [i.e. Wash.]) 1876-1881, 1878-02-16
Farmers Boys.

Many farmers, who ~ their old age
find Themselves alone on tn cid "old
place." while their sons have CONT 20
the cities aud towns for business. have
only their own mistakes ~ blam'.
Children born to the older generation
now living came into the world with r
desire to read, 70 learn and improve
The spirit Of American progress and
culture found more :ongenisl Judgement
in the hearts Of the mothers thar the
minds Of the fathers The boys were
restless, aud longed for something bet
ter than the life before them as seen in
the experience OF boybood. soon as
age gave freedom to follow their own
inclination, they sought that some. hing
out in the world. Opportunities were
great and many made great success
Some failed. aud others male medium
mer Of business. Another generation.
Jared 10y the grand success of states
men like Lincoln and Douglass, manu-
facturers like Mccormick and S,ude-
baker. railroad builders like Sanford
and Croker, made haste to leave the
farm and seek the city to do. they cared
not what, so that it was out Of the
drudgery from four o'clock in the morn
ing till eight at night. Opportunities
lessened and seekers increased till we
saw the over crowded cities throwing up
by the sheer weight of responsibility,
the dregs OF the mass, the failures i'll
life led by demsgogues seeking their
own ends. We have the cry for work
at any price. We have the tramp and
the criminal class. Though these nre
led and taught by inbred crime from
the old world. nearly all Of American
pauperism and erminality may be
traced to mistakes ON the farm. 1t is
the farmer boys that swell the ranks of
foreign clamorers for bread from the
State. Who can blame them or speak
harshly to one who left home with high
hopes and pure intentions. if, after bat
thing with successive failures, he has
lost courage, hope and strength. and
turns 10 rail at capital?
The remedy lies deeper than telling
these to go back at work on the farm,
scolding them as Adventures. or, il one
turns book agent or peddler. calling
him blk and tramp. We must 60
back to our farm houses and make
them homes. the scat of culture, refine
ment, Joy aud peace. We must ill
them with books and papers, with pic
lures and music. Improved machinery
gives US power, and we must shorten
tho hours Of labor. We must stop
making the boys wear boots two or three
sizes too large, stop calling them
''dandiss" IL they use the backing
brush and like to wear . good coat.
We must do away with shoddy, illfitt-
ing garments. and patronize the tailor.
In fact make, our boys the peers 10
appearance Of their interiors in
thought. It will cost too much!
What II it does lessen the amount Of
money VIC annually put out at inter-
ests" If will keep the boys at home.
make them happy and contented. The
ownership of land is a kingly estate.
The farmer and the farmers son are
the most independent men on earth.
Then why should the farmers son be
made to feel that he is Of an inferior
race. doomed to an inferior calling.
when he comes in contact with the fol-
lowers of other professions There is
no reason. The bricklayer. the moulder.
the merchant, all professions in the
towns. threw off their working clothes
aud mingle with any assembly un-
marked; but 1t is reserved for III, far
ner's boy to show his calling at every
corner by the cut of his cloth
As said before, the remedy for the
overcrowded condition of our cities is
in Il radical change in treatment of the
farmers boys. They must be made to
feel proud of themselves and their
homes. They must have hours for rec
reation as we'll us labor. The old say
ing of the farmers wife who wished it
would rain nights and Sundays so the
boys could rest" is too near real on
many farms. Many boys have lett
home who would not have thought of
it. il there had been time for recrea-
ton except when it rained too hard to
work out doors or set fence posts.