Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1881-09-10
COMMUNICATED.
WILLIAMS GROVE, PENN,

Mr.. Editor-This Tri-State Farmers
Picnic has grown in eight years from
small gathering of few representative
men and w omen from subordinate Oranges
in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey
| and West Virginia, with their baskets 10
spend a few hours In social intercourse
and with view to- concentrating their
trade movements into huge gathering Of
the producing and mechanical clements
of the different States of the Union, bring
ing together the varied products OF their
labor. Here the farmer exhibits his pro-
ducts and tue artisan his machine 10 aid
him il his labor, from the traction engine
to the swinging churn, which after con-
verting the cream into butter can be util-
lied as cradle to rock the baby in. This,
Mr.. Editor, is an important piece OF
household furniture which you should
avail yourself Of.
This meeting being the representative
of the great labor element of the country,
which element tames the wildncss of ere
ated nature, and therefore at the founda-
ton of civilization was regarded fit
place for the exhibition of 10 the poor IN
dian. About 80 Indian boys and girls who
are placed in school al Carlisle under the
patronage Of our government, were
brought 10 the grounds by Capt. Pratt
and his lady assistants; their manifest
adaptability 10 high order of civilization
is marked commentary upon the former
practice of this government, towards
these much abused people, if indeed 1t
has not been prolonged crime. Capt.
Pratt informed me that these Indian chill
dren had only been at school about Is
months, that they not only learned their
books rapidly but exhibited habits of in
Gustry and mechanical skill. Within the
past year, in the mechanical department
were manufactured over II 900 articles of
tinware, rs sets Of double harness, &c.
All these articles were shipped to the va
riouS agencies in the West for the use of
the tribes. Besides the foregoing they
made many of their own boots and shoes
and done all their own mending. This |
regard as practical education, and think
it could be adyantageOu.ly taught TO many
Of the white boys and girls. The vocal
! and instrumental concert given by these
| wild scions of the forest was highly cred
liable, showing that they possessed native
refinement; the boys played their pieces
with great accuracy and the little girls
sung gently and sweetly. Two Of the
Indian boys delivered brief and appropri-
ate speeches one of them concluded his
| speech after the expression of the Indians
| desire to become educated in all things
that make man useful member Of socie-
", that the first man OH American soil
had become last, but in the proYidenccs
of God he might become first. This might
prove a significant remark, it certainly
| in my opinion has higher claim upon the
| serious consideration of 4 truly civilized
and christian people, than the following
remark which fell from Doctor LOring
! present Commissioner Of Agriculture, who
| after cnumerating the vast surplus pro-
duets of the South which had contributed
so wonderfully in aiding the government
to float through its vast debt thanked
God that ii all had been produced from
FREE SOIL WITH LABOR" but he did not
add the prefix that that free soil and free
! labor had cost very many millions Of
! precious lives, which might have been
saved by little Puritan forbearance and
the letting Of other peoples business alone.
With the foregoing exceptional remark
this great Changers gathering was purely
noa- partizan, as it should be, and Therefore
harmonious and successful. As an en-
! enlargement to your farmer boys and
girls | would add that this gathering to-
gether of the Patrons Of Husbandry con-
tinued for five days. 1t was 4 season for
the feast of reason and flow Of soul,
| and was participated in by thousands of
the sturdy yeomanry of the land OF
"Pcnn." Il.