Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1884-04-17
The Ridicuie Of Farmers.

which affects great deal of humor. 1
, they wish man 20 appear ridiculous
, be is painted as a farmer, usually Al
, ''old farmer" very illiterate, : bad
speller. ungrammatical. very penurious
and dressed in Oufl2ndish garb. Or i
, not an ''old farmer" of this style, h.
still has the peSuliarities of ignorance
and awkwardness. and is held uD as 8
type ofwhat the rural districts produce
creature of some use. perhaps, par.
ticularly about election time, but alwzy:
shown up ~ a disadvantage in contrast
with the highly cultured classes with
whom he is brought into contact
This is such a common thing that
many writers, who never 90 into the
country and mingle with the better
class of farmers. or sec them in their
conventions or other gatherings. really
think that farmer Is q synonym for
illiteracy and awkvardneSs, Just As
some people stil think the term s'Yan-
kee" implies a gawkish. whiting, lean.
garrulOus. shrewd. nasal talker, whose
Industrial tastes lead him into swim
ding agencies. or peddling. for a
living. Even prominent agricultural
paper could not illustrate rural scene
some years age without putting an old
couple-man and wife-in the fcre-
ground, both decrepit. and driving 4
decrepit old horse hitched to 4 rickety
wagon Of City years ago. Is its idea Of
what IS to be seen in rural localities.
II is worth while for reading and re-
Elective farmers 10 ask themselves why
il is that their vocation. more than any
4 rfh - haa Oh.
Dickens. in his stories, usually selects
individuals from among the low city
classes; vet he hardly takes them as
tgpes, but rather IS exceptional cases.
which they are But when We read 4
story now of n farmers eccentricities or
awkwardness, there is rarely any pre-
tense Of iimitatiOn-it is so pointed and
lifted out that il conveys the idea that
the class is ridiculous rs n whole. But
whatever il might have been. saT n hun
dred years ago. this i not true now. but
il is well to consider why this idea is &
slow to be laid aside
In spite of all that education and
closer association have done for the ad-
Tancement of farmers as class. thert
Is still large remnant of ill.teracy in
rural communities. the wisdom of which
Is sometimes boldly defended. Ii IS
urged that We are going too fast In the
line Of schools and education. because
one direct result is TO make farmers
children feel above their calling"
The boys. when they get an ednca-
ton, 90 into business or the profes-
sions. and the girls put up their noses
at the idea of marrying farmers sons.
Such results are not the natural effects
OF education. but Oftener than other
wise, the result of m;sdirected home
teachings Some ignorant farmers who,
through previous Self-denial. OF the at
tainment of q legacy in middle life, be-
come able 10 educate their children are.
themselves quite apt TO look upon farm
ing rs unworthy an ambitious mind.
and frequently so express themselves
before their childrens and thus poison
their minds. Besides. the education
given in such cases is usually super
hcial, and not that which develops tine
mind. When 4 farmer sees something
more than labor in his business. finds
en- n.Oymenf in its wOndrOus tranSforna-
tons. and reflects also how far such
work Is really shove that of most
other callings in It's usefulness to man.
kind and in its closensss to NATURES
mysteries, he will not long consider il
as wanting in pleasures. 1t is ignO-
rance and narrow views that belittle it,
and which give 4 sting to the story-tell.
er's ridicule.
To remedy the matter is not to rail 1t
the ignorant man. who in most cases is |
not reached by anything published in |
the agricultural papers or books, or Ut |
tered in agricultural gatherings; but to |
engage somewhat in missionary work. !
The Intelligent neader and farmer must |
himself. in spe 'ch and act. encourage
ever, thing which aims at the farmers
advancement. and not be brake TO his /
progress. lie should practice the best
system Of farming with regard 70
and never cOuntenauce the
silly idea that mental development. can
harm the business. He sbOnld remem-
Der that all the drawbacks to Us useful
ness. and to its influence as a force in
the Government of the country, sre due
10 Ignorance and habit of melLal de-
pendence IN others for political guild
ance- Farmers should be as indyeead-
ent in thought and political aciioa as
their business fits them TO be indeprnd-
ent Of the ordinary business troubles OF
other callingS- At present they have
little political Standing as 4 class. The
men sent 10 our Legislatures have little
0f what agriculture is OF
what Il needs; but they know that 1t i
4 constituency with no conference, and
hat il Is usually safe TO disregard such
appeals as come from its foremost mer.
because of the Indifference of the masses
behind them Here then is reason
,nough for work.
Let me add, however, that by an edu-
alton | do not mean n long term at
'chOOl. a. finished NJ last by n college
graduation. That is ali vel when there
; taste for il and the means to graf
fy il. and II there has been no =. so. ten
ng OF the bra n" before goin-. shere
Ein not often be aficrward. Educa
ion should comprise not only what a
armer specially needs as such, but ev-
'rything that tends to develop him as 4 =
nan and citizen. He should be the I
'guai in culture. in speech. in address. Z
4 other intelligent men. 50 that when Q
le associates with them he j. not likely {
o appear singular from awkwardness I
4 manner, ungrammatical talk or want I
Il capacity TO express himself in con-
'ersation or on paper. or clearly and
erSely in occasional speeches. His dress
n the farm, AMI his complexion, are Of 2
title account; but what he does wan
nd can lave is the sbility to hold hi !.
~n IN the contests. great or small.
hat come up among free citizens. The
iSreSpect in which farming stands
mong most other classes. is due TO 9 {
cry general lack OF self assertion. snd
bat Is founded on the consciousness of
ienial incapscity and the need of ira n 7
Y. In manners. intelligence and gem y
raj bearing the farmer should be in
istinguishable from other classes. and .
len he VII readily hold his own n
rains- .hnr, al IL. q Ill - n