The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-05-21
Short Talks with the Boys.
I am a larmers son and am not salts.

hS0 VIII NY SutTOuuulukB.'' ..aE.aJhJs 49,
This paragraph or portion of it 10
letters received from the country, and it
is matter which should be investigated.
Our statesmen and Journalists and phil
anthropists are continually praisiug agrI-
| culture as vocation, and the idea that
the farmer is independent and happy
| prevails in every story Of rural life.
| What has dissatisfied farmery sons9
| Why is 1t that SO many Of them want to
leave the farm for any work which will
bring them good living? In most
cases the trouble will be found with the
farmer instead of his son.
| 1t is o curious position in which IN
| old fashioned farmer and his son are
placed. The old man Is content with
some Improvements on the ideas of fifty
years ago. he, can't see why any ono
should want anything better than bare
aoors, Windsor chairs and cowhide boots.
He would as soon 60 to meeting without
o collar as with one. He l"ratheg likes'
the muaic of an organ, but If he buys an
organ he won't feel like building that
addition to the barn. He can't really see
how any one can cit down aud get inter.
eated in books, and why Henry and
William should want Mroal cloth" collars
and cuffs is deep conandrum. When
iS o'clock comes he gets ready for
bed, and he can't see how the boys and
girls can "abear" company who keep
them up until 10. The farm Is conduct.
ed after the fashion Of q quarter of the
last century. The house may be painted
once In five years, but the chances are
that 1t Is allowed to 60 ten. The barns
it's cheaper to lose ton OF hay By. the
leaks than to buy new shingles. Tho
fences are rotting down, but next Winter
will be good time to split rails. There,
are half dozen .panes of glass needed
about the house, but if the broken lights
were renewed they might be smashed
again. The democrat wagon has been
"about worn out" for tho last Eve years,
and that's the excuse for not having IL
painted. The harness will hardly hold
together, but they must last for another
year. The boys are held To ''serve their :
time," like go many slaves or convicts,
and the amount of cash finding its way
into their pockets yearly would not keep
q boot black In stock to do business.
1s the picture overdrGwn2 I can add
twenty per cent. to the atrength Of each
assertion and then not exceed the truth.
And now what's the matter with farm.
Oh boys? They live in new world
the father in an old one. No matter how
little schooling they have had, they are
better educated than he is. No matter if
the father refuses to do more than aub.
scribe to weekly newspaper, his boys
are fairly pos.ed on the daily happen.
ings all over the world. He wants to
farm after old ideas--they after new
ones. He got along without knowing
I whether England was east or west of the
,, United dStates-without grammar, orthog-
Iaaphy or being able to moro than write
, his name-without collars or cuffs or
neckties-without books or papers or
. amusements, and he is quite certain that
. . the boys can do the same. sEa
q The number OF farmers sons who are
IN ivaving home, either with half-heaEtei
& cor 'ens, or running away, Ia greater than
= You dream ef. They flock to the towns
: aud cities to learn trades; to accspt of
!, tnen!al positions ; to take any work which
I will pay their way and prevent the reces.
4 HitT nf re.-. ming to farm work.
q .HAe farmer who realizes this must ask
= hiE1seif where The blame lies, and then
8 seek 9 remedy. Is there remedy? Let
uH sse.
In tae fin. place, farmers soma are
ovsrWorked. There 10 no doubt that ths
farmer ig. TOO. but that doesn't alter the
cass. When you ront boy Of IA, is or
ID out OF bed aS 4:3Q or s O'Clock In the
: morntng, and work him tiiS z or half
past, you are making white, slave Of
him. You not only peril his health, but
you deform hfsl body. That's the cause
Of so many cons OF farmers being lep
: ahouldered, bowsbacked or otherwise
! deformed, and the origin can be traced to
overexertion while growing. E a5 s.fsi' q d
There isn'eia farm ii sthis country on
: which the hours Of labor couldn't be
9 shortened TO ten hours without cansiug q
: !oss 9f $40 ger yeas. Is Zen hours Is
enough for 9 ditch; digger IL isall that q
endure. IF there are tSo, iio,Irs i,stNesn a an
!, l6 o'clock and darkness on Cd StIfnrnar,s
D evening the boy. can take up d book or
I Epaper, or put it to good USE fiji s0nne other
!. way. las 1t Is now, he knows ne iesex
I pected to elaye from day. light tStiM daris
, and when night comes he To- YeargSi.
} tbody and aggravated in spirit. &c
Aid the remedy Is not altoset Her ii.
shortening the hours Of work. 9 Ilis boys
must have things to interest and amnse
theu1s They want books nnagazine8 end
d newspapers. If there's o chance TO fi1
!; up bowling alley let the boys 60 ahead
! and make one. The game OF bowls Is d
healthy exercise. and furnishes plenty Of
I sport. If one of the boys has o taste for
: l
3 have q fiddle, accordion, organ, or what.
ever. instrument he feels he can bring
music out Of Bat boys and girls should
be encouraged to sing. To this end they
!, should be encouraged to- get up singing
CLASSES, which might meet around from
house to house. a young people's social
club, TO meet In the same manner would
proyS Tery interesting. 81.
. The farm can be- made pieasanser than
|, the Workshop the farm.h house an full OF
|, comfort and happiness. as any home In
the city. When fhis takes place the
farmers son will not bs the young man
he is. He Will be jovial, contens, and
enthusiastic. Hewitt be abla To- appear
well in any society. 70 converse with any
, on the topics Of the day, snd he will
have some future ontside Of tha lsy In;
and day ont toll which Is crooking his
back and thickening up His brains.-
) Ms Quad in Detroit Ffee Press. I,
1 sssigsa NY Nane Il 10 / sghat.,, @
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