National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1885-12-05
AGRICULTURAL AND ECONOMIC.
How to Make Rural Career Attrao-
tive.

tive.
The following sensible suggestion, from
the pen of j. II. Dodge, of the United States
department of agriculture, appear s In au
article on "Rural Recreations," in Outing
for December:
A very important element in the work
Of elevating and broadening farn-life Is in
connection with the boys and girls of the
farm. The difficulty Of keeping them In
the country has been favorite topic of
fam journalism. 1t is plain that It can
only be accomplished by making a rural
career attractive. Howl The distaste for
II has been acquired from the hardships
and limited range Of mental and social ex-
perience limited at in the foregoing para
graphs. 1t can only be cured by the avoid
0nce of them. The advance in popular in
tclligence and general culture, mental and
aesthetic, is felt by the young people of the
farm, and the fullness of opportunity for
social experience enjoyed in the city is COW
eted. Compensating advantages, similar
in tenor and effect, must be given them,
and an opportunity for the development Of
individuality and proper sense of personal
independence. The perpetual grind of
routine labor is peculiarly irksome to the
young, and the necessity for judicious fire.
Quent relief all the greater. A wise pro-
grGmme Of recreation would cause no dimi-
mutton of the results of labor, but would be
attended with greater willingness, diligence,
and intelligence The boy Of the farm
should understand that the dolt of the family
is no longer considered the most eligible
candidate for succession to the management
Of the farm. II is now appreciated that
calling In which all science, varied culture,
business aptitudes, and social graces have
an appropriate and healthful place, stands
ON par In dignity and deslrability with any
other in which bread-winnor can gain u
living. There are now graduates from our
highest institutions of learning who have
chosen the farm as the theater Of their
future career. Nor are they losttto the
world OF culture or of society by their
choice. When the physical, mental, and
social capabilities Of boys Of the farm have
adequate and equal opportunity for develop
ment there win be no complaint Of their
distaste for agriculture.
It would be quite impracticable, I'm a
brief magazine article, to indicate the
myriad forms which the idea of rural recre-
alton might suggest. The opportunities are
limitless; any view Of them must be kaleid-
oscopic. In the winter, the season Of com
paratiye leisure, the young people are at no
loss for amusement, with sleigh-rides, skat-
ing.parties, singing schools, and social
gatherings under various conditions. There
should be q due admixture of instruction
with amusement during the long evenings
of the long wintry season, else recreation
might degenerate into dissipation, two
ideas which are essentially opposite In any
true analysis. Reading-clubs, literary or
dramatic societies, lectures, would be in
order, In some Of which old and young
might participate 1t is very desirable that
the elders should be aroused from the leth-
argy Of sometimes stupid quietude, and
the entire household, the whole community,
| feel the effects OF n social and intellectual
| awakening.