The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-06-25
A Young Farmers ThOughts---An
Old Ones Comments.

WTlJeb 10 uS bS IOHOWS : leol bhdt youi
labors with pen and hand are not wasted
A neighboring friend and farmer, quite a
student and thinker, reads carefully and
preserves all your articles, and another
farmer said, Il consider DR.. Hoskins the
greatest farmer in Vermont So don't be
weary in well-doing, but be assured the
good seed you are sowing takes root in
the brains of thinking farmers, and will
bear good fruit. What could be more
honorable, more worthy, or more cheering
than this end to yourself and your CO.
workers 2 What is this miserable snob-
berry which regards the farmers calling as
of necessity degrading or devoid of prog
ress and aspiration If farmers them
selves will be alive to the true worth and
dignity and possibilities of their occupa-
ton, they would not remain the dupes of
scheming lawyers and politicians, and
selfish men generally. fear we ourselves,
as class, are largely responsible for the
lamentable ignorance and dormant, stag
nant position which the rural class still
occupies. Reform should begin at the
very fountain. The education of the
young should have some reference to the
leading and basis industry of our state.
Farmers should be alive to their own
interests. They should, by cooperation,
oroo,ra tha;r fart;I;,aro atc az xuboJooaIo
rates. 1t seems as if they were blind and
asleep over their own interests. Instead
of seeking out their neighboring farmers
and securing concerted action, they wrap
themselves in their own selfshness and
exclusive notions, to their own loss, finan-
cially, mentally and socially. Here in
Vermont they meekly occupy back seat
and allow legislation to be shaped and
directed in the interest of minority classes
Lawyers, capitalists, railroad men, in
short, all classes but their own. Is it not
humiEating? confess to some humilia-
ton on my own part over the position the
farming class occupy in these matters.
If it is desirable to have dominant class
in this country, all facts and conditions
demand that it should be the farming
class. l fear there is tendency toward
aristocracy and monarchy, and unless a
high standard of education, intelligence
and morality can be erected and main.
tanned among the very basis of democratic
government-the people-then popular
government must die, for popular govern
ment involves responsibility in the very
source of power-the people; and unless
the people show themselves capable of
creditable action, an aristocracy and mon
archy will come of necessity"
COMMENTS BY AGRICULTURAL EDITOR.
We not unfrequently receive communi.
cations from young men of the farm, in
substance like the one from which the
above extracts are made. They all ex-
press impotence at the limitations of a
farmers life, as it now exists, and at the
low comparative position of farmers as
citizens, and of farmers families in 80.
ciety. We sympathize heartily with our
young friends, and confess to being fat
tered by their confidence. So far as our
advice may have weight with them, we
would urge them-young women as we'll
as young men-frst to take an interest in
behalf of their local schools, and see that
they are well equipped for teaching all
the elementary branches; that capable
teachers are engaged and sufficiently paid /;
and that the school.houses are made COM
Portable, healthy and pleasant at all sea-
sons of the year. This pride and interest
in the nearest means of education is capa-
BILE of working wonders. When instead
of the disgraceful, indecent, bare, cold
and unwholesome little cabins, which
still house the majority of New England
country schools, we have neat, comforta-
BILE and convenient buildings, we'll sup
piled with the implements of teaching
and in charge of those who know how to
use them, the first great step will be taken
in the elevation of the farmers as class
We hope to see the time when in every
district the schoolhouse will be the pride
instead of the disgrace of the neighbour
hood--when it will be shaded with fine
trees and surrounded with a well.kept
garden, in which every child will fee
pride, and from which practical knowl
edge of plants will be taught. This ii
the first great step towards an elevation
of the social condition of farmers.
In regard to cooperation, the grang'
offers every facility that is required. Blu
to make such an organization effectiv
there must be at least a few who will
take an active interest in everything be
longing to progress. Let the older mel
and women have the offices, but let tn
young ones put their shoulders to the &C
tive work, and make things move. Tn
first thing should be to accumulate fun,
to do business with. A grange withou
the capital to buy feed and fertilizer
by the carload is like an armless mar
Use strict economy in management; saw
the dues and initiation fees, and pu