Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1883-10-04
WHY Boys Leave The Farm.

II
the farm 10 engage IN some occupation
IN a large town with extreme regret or
consider il as akin to crime. Recently
a gentleman in indianapolis has been
Investigating the matter. He talked
with large number of city men, and
learned why they left the farm. He
also correspondent with large number
He learned that boys left the farm for a
great variety Of reasons Some were
worked quite too hard. Some had no
means of enjoyment and few opportunl-
ties for increasing their stock Of knowl-
edge Many complained that they
Were obliged TO do all the drudgery Of
The farm and about the hcuse, while the
adults were engaged in more pleasur-
able pursuits. Some stated that they
were never allowed any spending
money and had no opportunities 10
travel. Others complained fhat they
were not allowed the money they
earned in doing odd jobs, and were not
allowed to select the articles Of clolhlDg
they were to wear Some stated that
they were sometimes presented with
calf, colt, lamb, or pig, generally one
that had been deprived of maternal
care, and that they took pleasure IN
raising 1t in anticipation Of the money
it would bring IN the market when Il
became mature. They found, how Yer.
that ct the end Of a certain number Of
1non1 ms or wears another calf. colt, lamb
II 755E vas gwen ii exchange for the
gaatelra COW. horse. sheep or hog The
gFtse - number. however, rave as rea-
go <@- leaving the farm, that there was
!. 41k u refinement about It: that
there WAS no carriage TO ride in; 10
flowers in the yard, and no pictures and
nice furniture IN the house They
wanted all these. and SO came to the
city where they might enjoy them 10
their heart content.
There IS very much that is ridiculous
Ia most Of these statements. Every OBJ
server has noticed that most Of the
country boys who come to large towns
and cities leave good homes. where there
are many evidences Of refinement The
sons of the poor tenant farmers in New
England, Of the renters Of cotton and
tobacco patches Ia the Southern STATES,
of the CRACKERS" in the mountain re-
gions Of Georgia and Arkansas, Of the
herders in Texas and Colorado do not
flock to cities. They stay IN their mis-
cradle homes that are utterly devoid Of
all evidences of refinement. and con-
!
They see no flowers except those that
grow wild among the rocks They new
er ride in carriages. They have no pic
lures except those contained IN medical
almanacs. They rarely read book
They have no money, and an opportu-
nifty seldom occurs. in which they can
make any. They have no choice in the
garments they are TO wear They are
glad TO get almost anything. They have
no opportunities TO travel. They make
few acquaintance. Still such bows do
moi leave the farm. They are not at
fracted to large towns and cities. There
is no occasion for spending money in
books, pictures. carriages, billiard-ta-
bles. croquet-sets. shrabbery and flower
seeds TO induce them 10 stay As a rule
the boys most prone TO leave farms are
those who have rifles, fshing-tackle.
books, pictures. billiard-tables and other
means of anusements, who read daily
papers and illustrated magazines, who
sleep on sprinC-be1s, who ride in COW
cred carriages, who have money Of their
own, who wear fine clothes Of their own
selection. who attend parties, who have
stylish acquaintance, and who have
been about the world considerably
These boys wish to live in the cities they
have visited. They desire to share the
companionship Of the urbane acquainf-
ances they have formed, They leave
the farm.
II is hardly likely that many boys
leave the farm and come to a city n
order to escape drudgerv. IF they do
leave with that intention they are
destined to be speedily the victims OF
disappointment. The boy on the farm
has most Of the dradgery to perform to
be sure. If he has attained sufficient
size TO work in the field he Is generally
expected TO keep up with the hired man
IN doing most kinds of labor, and in
addition to run all the errands. He
must do the chores for the people in
the house as well as for those in the
fields Turning grindstone, churning
butter, and driving COWS TO pasture,
are duties that devolye on BOYS. The
smaller the boy the poorer are the tools
given him to use. The blame for nearly
every accident is put upon the small
boy. In many respects his -.lot is not
happy one But his condition in re-
spec1 to performing drudgery and doing
chores is not improved by leaving a
farm and going TO a city. Let him en-
ter an office, store. shop or manufac-
tory and he viii IND everyone above
him n age or position; IN large es-
Enlistment he viii be ordered round
by fifty persons instead OF by three or four
ON farm. He will be required 10 come
early and leave late. His duties viii
be numerous and. his opportunities for
enjoyment every few. His work viii
be hard and his pay very small Boys
do not, as rule, leave the farm and
come to the city because they expect to
escape from drudgery or be free from
doing chores Their motives are as va
rious as the disposition and tastes Of
the boys Some simply desire change,
and when they have enjoyed il lin
tied time they are glad to get hack to
their old pursuits. The majority, how
ever, think they are better adapted to
some, other pursuit than farming. II
such Is the case the change from the
country to the city Is highly beneficial
1aJ. 4