The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-04-24
COUNTRY VS.. CITY.
Their Comparative Advantages Tor Ac-
qutrfnz knowledge.

quirfnz knowledge.
Rev. A. W. Manguin in Rural New Yorker.
Some farmers sons may desire to 60
to the city because they will there have
specially favorable opportunities to
gather informstion-to become very in
telligent. / do not deny that facilities
for acquiring knowledge of certain kinds
abound much mere in towns than in
rural districts. But you should under
stand that the country furnishes really
better opportunities, in some respects, to
the student than the city does. When
once regularly engaged as clerk in
mercantile house, or as a subordinate in
any city business, your time for self
improvement, if not entirely wanting, is,
at most, limited. Your work is apt to
need, and your employer to demand,
most, if not all, of your time.
1t is better to attend school in the
country than in town. The fewer and
simpler the attractions around the school,
the more likely you will be to study
faithfully and learn fast. do not hest
tate to say that the farm is a good place
for gathering information snd cultivating
the mind. There any literary work is
more like recreation. l know what it is
to plow all day and sit down and read
by torch light at night. The njght-all
the year round-in the farmers home
furnishes excellent opportunities for
mental improvement. There are also
many rainy days or other times of leisure
which can be occupied in reading and
study. AS you have less company-less
to divert your mind-in the country,
you will there feel more interest III your
books. They can charm you more be-
cause they have fewer and less potent
rivals than in town. And you ought to
learn much and have we'll trained mind
before yon wander from the circle of
indulgent friends to risk your fortune
among strangers.
As to the essential literary advantages,
you can find them or procure them in
your rural home or community. Good
publications OF every kind ara numerous
and cheap. You cannot spend your
money more wisely than in the purchase
of valuable publications, both periodi-
Gals and books. You should be careful to
spend your precious time on such books
as will make you the wiser for the read
ing.
But you may have attended high
schools and colleges. If so, you will be
liable to conclude that you ought at
once to seek place of greater promi-
nence than the quiet farmhouse. Don't
be in too great a hurry. Read Study
Work Wait! If you expect to en-
ter literary profession-One that will
thrust you before the public-and feel
the need of location where there il more
business than around your home, even
then you will, likely, be the more respect
ed and the more successful if you take
time to furnish your mind thoroughly
and to grow strong before you enter into
hazardous competition with the able and
experienced. Young men, like young
plants, do not often thrive when they
are under too thick a shade.
There is also decided advantage in
recognizing the relations between plain,
practical work and the duties of one of
the so-called Cleaned professions"
1t will be profitable to you if You will
take recreation from your professional
studies by devotipg yourself, now and
then, to some practical pursuits on the
farm. It will harden and strengthen
your muscles and make you capable OF
more and better work with your mind.
1t will nurture that invaluable mentor
common sense-withOut which even
the master of books is the slave of folly.
1t will enable you to carry with you
into your profession rational sympa-
thy with the interests and peculiarities
of the great laboring masses. 1t will de-
yelop that wisdom which will guide you
in your efforts to utilize your powers
and sttainments for the welfare OF those
unto whom you hope to be benefactor.
Il will aid materially in the formation
and maintenance of that spirit of trust
and kindness which ought to prevail be-
tween those who pursue, respectively,
the practical and professional duties in
society. 1t will fasten in you q true re-
gard for that great, all sustaining depart
ment of human lsbor-.the cultivation
of the fields-and save you from the
disastrous folly of divorcing, in you
Judgment and feelings or by your con-
duct, the two independent departments
of human enterprise plain toll of
production and more intellectual work
of the learned profession.