Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1878-02-13
Farm Boys.

~ " "ti'eiy peaceful HE.
Farm Boys.
Now, doubtless, many of the bows will
be cogltating their brains to find some
pleasant way Of spending the long win
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 rousiny up suf-
hclently 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 tireside 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 go hunting one night,
and then had to 60 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 better right than our
farm boy to every possible grain of en-
Jo:y,ment that can be gotten from ripe,
rich nut, or nice, yellow apple, and it
is right that all should have some time
to engage in innocent, mirth-provoking
pastimes, 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.
it might, with equal propriety, be urged
that our average farmer boy is not half
so studious a youth as the prosperity of
a rising generation seems to demand.
Under existing circumstances the ed
vocational advantages of farmers bows
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 liberal. if
not an extensive education.
Boys, how n any of you are willing to
the pleasant and useful task
of selfculture?
Though deprived of many of the priv
ileges of those who live in towns and
cities, there are none who have such
long quiet evenings which may be de-
voted to reading and studying as those
who live on the farm.
Suppose every farm boy throughout
the land who has reached the age of
fourteen should inaugurate now-1S7S-I
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 twen-
ty-one years of age? Their intellectual
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
value, while those who are
would be amply rewarded by the rapid
it would enable them to
make there. Though it might seem
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 pleasure. The intricate mazes of
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 a manner so
clear, concise and forcibe as not to be
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
1erstood. / have heard what would
otherwise be very creditable address
entirely spoiled by the speakers utter
ignorance of the first principles of cor
rect versification or grammatical con-
When delivered in a grace
ful style of language even the silliest
speeches are sometimes applauded,
while ideas of the greatest wit and bril-
fancy may lose all force because Of
heir miserable phraseology, Just as we
,Om etimeS see q polished. well dressed