The patron of husbandry., 1882-02-11
FROM MISSISSIPPI.
Ne Soto COnnfy.

principles and | wish to give u
few thoughts. At the meeting OF
our last State Grange the subject
of our free school system was some
what discussed, hence these few
ideas. The lack or an education
among farmers and their families
is what | wish especially 10 notice.
The simple ability to read, write
and cipher Is not enough, but
more liberal culture,-a culture
that fits one for any position in life
And although our free schools may
not be all we wish them | would
not undervalue them, but try and
utilize them to the best advantage,
for many of our children can avail
| themselves of no other. If the
members of ncighborhood would
all unite and cooperate together
and procure a good and efficient
teacher, all our children could be
well educated at home at much less
expense and danger of bad associ
tion than by sending them away
from home. What the farmers
want is the diffusion of more gem
erous enthusiasm for sound learn
ing, a love for truth and wholesome
knowledge, a wise consideration of
the worth of the mind, and the
greater worth of a we'll trained
mind and of the just value of a
liberal education, and this can only
be done by cordial corporation
of a whole neighborhood. Now
under the present circumstances
the great mass of our young folks
acquire but a meagre education and
whether satisfied or not with their
requirements have to go into life
fit, as it were, only for the menial
services of society, consequently
unfit for any of the honorable or
important positions.
Now, this places the uncultured
at great disadvantage when re-
sponsible and important positions
are to be filed, frequently at the
sacrifice of moral worth and better
judgment We deplore the fact that
farmers and their children, who are
being fitted for farm life, are seem>
ingIy content with so little educa
ton. We seem to acquiesce in the
prevailing sentiment that our call
ing is a menial one, that it is in
compatible with culture and refine
ment, and that, as a class, we are
| pi iedestined to condition of abject
servitude to other classes, and fall
ing to qualify ourselves for these
honorable and responsible positions
in society we virtually conceds
these places to other classes. Then
let US try to eleva.e public senti-
ment concerning education and
convince the people that education
is Of more value than money, and
that the time in acquiring il is bet
ter spent than in mental idleness
or some small remunerative EN-
ployment. Books and papers are
cheap, and every farmer should
have as good a library as his means
will allow and every Grange should
not only have a good library but
should be we'll supplied with our
q ange literature, and we should
read freely and frequently. Our
Grange meetings are we'll capaci-
tated to educate and realize the i'm
portance of higher degree of in
telligence and refinement, and a
better appreciation of the educa~
tional facilities within cur reach,
and thereby elevate and dignity
our calling till the average farmer
shall be in truth, as by industry he
may be and as of right he should
be, in point of intelligence the peer
of the average man in any other
calling. We believe the farmer has
brains liberal in quantity and equal
in quality with any other class, and
that these On y need to be polished
to solve the problem I hat the farmer
with rough hands, fresh from the
plow handle, and with a bronzed
brow upon which the summers
sun has crayoned the badge of
habitual exposure, possesses an in
tellect second to no other class. We
should realize the fact that there is
no superiority above moral and
mental greatness. 1t was knowl-
edge that raised the "mill boy O.
the slashes" to be one Of the great
est statesmen of America. 1t was
knowledge that elevated the tailor,
Andrew Johnson, from his tailor's
bench to be President of the United
States, and it was also knowledge
that raised our deceased President
from poverty and obscur'ty to the
position he occupied when assasi-
mated And Watts the poet has
tru y said
Though could reach from pole to pole,
And grasp creation in my span,
| must be measured by my soul,
The minds the standard of the man.
Then in order to avail ourselves
OF the benefit of our free school
system let the different neigh bor-
hoods unite and corporate together
in a school and, as before said, pro.
cure good and efficient teacher for
at least ten months in the year.
using whatever of the free school
money that they are entitled TO and
make up the balance of the teachers
salary by voluntary subscription
then our sons and daughters can he