The Red Cloud chief., 1883-05-11
m ns.~u UeffHr IN q E~rsnavsu atp,

An Open Letter to . FARMERS hoy.
Mr. DEAR JAMEs:-YOu ask me for
some advice as Ia your future work in
life. You say that you are dissatisfied
with the prospect Of being a h%ard-work-
ing farmer all your days. but at the same
time you do not consider yourself a
genius. and do not expect to become a
Stewart or a Vanderbilt, or to acquire n
vast fortune by speculation. You ex-
pect to work for your living; but you
think there may be some pursuit which
would be equally rcmunerative and not
so laborious and monotonous rs the
farmers. You ask if it would not be
better for You TO become n ''iirst-class
mechanic" than To be a farmer.
This is nm important question, not
alone TO You, but To many other boys
who take a serious view of life: whose
common sense gives them a fairly cor
rect estimate of their own powers and
capabilities, and who wish to learn a
business for which they are adapted.
which will give them fair wages, a rca-
sonable amount of leisure, and a re-
spectacle position in life.
Now. it is a curious fac, that workers
in almost every branch of industry take
a gloomy view of their W business,
think almost everybody else is better of
than they are. and generally try to dis
courage others from entering their vo-
cation. The farmer and mechanic are
about equally ready to say: ..Our bust
ness is going to the dogs. II l were a
young man !. should learn something
else" Sometimes they do this from the
selfish desire TO keep down the supply
Of workers in their own line. in order
that the demand for them may be great
er; sometimes from the habit Of Judging
other occupations by the standard of
their most successful men.
But the fact remains. in spite Of this
almost universal disparagement of their
own pursuits among workingmcn. that
some occupations are more. some less,
desirable than others; and | shall try to
give a few reasons for thinking that a
farmers boy, unless he has a decided
bent for mechanical pursuits. such rs
will quickly take him into that ..upper
story" where there is always plenty of
o and recompense, had better
stick 10 the farm"
First. the farmer has the priceless
boon Of independence. He is his own
employer. He ONE and goes when
he p~leases. not when another man
p~leases. He is responsible to no one
but himself. He is captain on his own
ship. No matter if he only has a pota-
To patch from which to get his living, he
is master of that potato patch; his rule
there is none TO dispute in his workshop.
His prosperity depends on his own
thrift and enterprise, not upon the pros
perity and liberality of an employer.
He asks no man what he shall do or
how he shall do it, except as q matter
Of advice. He ''cares no more for Lord
James Douglas than Lord James Doug
las cares for him." He is man among
men, q sovereign in his own domain. The
man who own and cultivates his little
piece OF ground can snap his fingers at
Mr.. Lofty, and sit on his fence with his
hands in his pockets when the Great
Mogul goes by; tor he is getting his liv-
ing at first hand. and need ask no IA
vors Of anyone. The average mechanic,
on the other hand. is little more than a
hired serf while he remains q mechanic:
he surrenders his individual liberty 10
his employer for his wages. and works
through another mans brains; he is an
autOmaton manipulated by the golden
wires of capital. He learns to gauge
his work by what is required of him. not
by the standard of intelligent and con-
scientious service. Unless he is an ex-
ceptional case, his self-respect is un-
dermined by the temptation to loaf
xa-hSIn tho 80 hnScs . ~4A v,,l:r- .- A.
work industriously under his eye He
becomes a school-boy instead of q man;
learns to look furtively and fearfully at
his employer, and brides his manhood
through the necessity of pleasing him or
losing his work. The mechanic is a
subordinate in his department; the
farmer is chief officer in his; and it is
better to be captain of a canal-boat and
preserve your independence. than to be
secOnd-mate on the Great Eastern and
have no mind of your own.
Secondly, the farmer has health; or
the means of getting it free of cost If
he does not possess it. His business as
sures him. in larger measure than al
most any other, natures grand con-
servers of health-air and exercise.
xtCSC 0AC OCtNCA WINS Nu0n Oily WHICH
60 into peoples stomachs. City pa
tients get them after paying for q doc
tors prescription, but to the farmer
they come .'as free rs air." Better
than any one else the farmer can COM
bine business and the hygienist's golden
rule:
TAKE the open air-ths more you take the
v.,aoS .ss.,.,. a.v. IN the v.r, e&,er.
Let The doctors 30 to the Bay Of Biecay,
Let alone III gin. the brandy y the whisky.
Freely exercise. keep pour spirits cheerful.
Let no dEead OF sckness ever make you
fearful:
Hat Is snpsest food. drink Tie pure cold
Ihsa yos WIN b ~sll-ors At 'sas' yoa ought
The farmer is free from many of the
tsmptatjons which beset workingmen
whose occupations bring many meu
into close association. The seductions
of tie dram-shop and Of fast society do
not appeal to him Is they do to the
townsnau. BE can choose his 1850
ciates instead Of having them forced
upon him He b not compelled to lis
IN y tie Idle stoH Or The pro6tless