The patron of husbandry., 1880-06-26
For the Ladies' sclamn.
ImbOrtahee OF Education and
Unity.

Inn mbOrtahce OF Education and
Unity.
Among all the questions of funda-
mental interest, to be discussed at
our Grange meetings, we should
urge that the question of education
and unity be considered of para
mount importance; and see that
proper measures be taken to edu.
cate our children in the Grange, and
to establish and conduct neighbcr-
hood schools as they should be,
with the view to teaching our boys
how to be intellectual farmers, and
our daughters how to take an intel
ligent interest in those matters which
will make them helpful and worthy
COMPANIONS. Do We care to make
our calling so noble, that we will
not lose all of our most promising
young men? If SO, let ali unite and
use the means we have at hand to
make it honorable; let US honor
those who have proved themselves
worthy by their devotion to farm,
ers' interests. 1t can be done. We
must all bend our energies to one
point, if we wish success. 1t will
never do to turn back. Education
and united efforts should be the
watchword In the march to inn
provement it is impossible to do
without the skilled, intelligent and
educated. This should be entered
into with zeal The educator stands
at the point of power, and holds
the highest office in social economy.
In legislative halls farmers are
shamefully represented, and legisla-
ton in their interest is about the
last thing that ever receives as much
as feeting thought. Why is this?
Want of edncatton, unity and fnde-
beudence. They sit back in their
ola shuck- bottom chair or three-leg
stool content with what little their
farm can make; then give two
thirds of that away to the so-called
intelligent merchant to sell for him;
then go home grumbling because
he has no comforts, or money to
educate his children. The narrow
minded and ignorant still pursue
the same course with these facts
before them. Their weakness grows
out of their ignorance and want of
political independence. They have
been uniting against themselves.
They fill the halls of legislation with
lawyers and money lsnders. There
are at least one hundred farmers to
one lawyer or money lender, and
yet ten of the latter classes will be
elected to one farmer. No wonder
we have hard times, and are brought
up in ignorance. They have kept
the farmers divided until the Grange
was breathed into life, and so doing
have burdened them numerically
with all manner of burdens. They
found it an easy matter to rule them,
and they have ruled with a rod of
iron. Must this be so foreve~?
Hold on to the Grange like man,
and say, no!
We should have more literature
through which to reach the public
eye and ear. Our work demands
it. Our paper should have a wide
circulation. Ne must sustain 1T, If
zVe 7ViSh success. All other organ
izations have their literature through
which to prosecute their work;
Why not we?
We must also unite in beautify-
ing our homes, and making farm
life more attractive to our children.
A neat dwelling and fine grounds
not only confer pleasure to the fam
lily but all who pass by, and excite
every man and woman of any
spirit to improve. We should do
every thing to arrest the rush of our
youths to the cities. 1t is very easy
to diffuse what is best of the cities
through the country. He who sur
rounds his children with books re-
fines their thoughts.
The youth of our Grange families
should study the objects of the Or
der, and prepare themselves for a
proud succession to the place now
occupied by their fathers and moth
ers. We must lay aside all envy
and jealousy, and not be afraid In
helping ourselves we will help all
that will unite with us in this grand
and noble work. Let the clouds
lower and the storm threaten-hold
fast to the Grange and its truths,
showing to the outside world what
education, unity, fidelity and perse-
verance can do. MINNIE.
Capleville, Shelby Co., Tenn.