The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-09-25
Practical Hints.

A sPractical Farmer sends the follow
ing to the Rural Neao Yorker:
When my boys got to be IA years old
| laid aside every week one dollar for each
of them to be considered as wages When
they wanted some new clothes took them
into town and let them pick out samples
themselves and get just what they wanted.
The money for the clothes came out of
their wage money, and other expenses
were figured in the same way. The plan
worked well in every way. My boys got
an idea of business that has stuck to them.
Too many boys are just taught to lie and
steal by their fathers. l know men who
tell their boys they must not touch an ap-
pie, or peach, or any other fruit. Who
ever yet heard of boy who kept away
from fruit when he really wanted it and it
was right before him? wouldn't give a
cent for such boy even if he could be
found. A wise man will have barrel of
fruit open and tell the boys to go and get
what they want. If they do this there
won't be any sneaking about to get an ap-
pie, or any trying to hide the fact after the
apple has been taken. Be fair and honest
with the boys if you want them to make
men.
Different people have different hobbies
regarding health. | have mine. Some
people want one kind of patent medicine
and some another. take my medicine
in the shape of plenty of fruit, lots of cold
water and a coarse towel The fruit eat
A part of the water drink, but the most
of it goes on the outside of the skin /
never could begin the days work right
without a bath all over with cold water.
In ten minutes l can sponge myself all
over and rub myself into !, glow Those
ten minutes do me more good than an
hour more in bed would do When 1
come in to dinner, with clothes just drip
ping with perspiration, l don't sit right
down to the table as | am. In ten
minutes | can rub myself all over with a
coarse towl and change my clothing The
wet clothes, hung out in the sun, will be
all right for the next days change l en-
Joy my dinner far more than would if /
sat down wet and hot from work, and the
ten minutes time is never lost. This
practice pays me well, and l would not
discontinue it for anything. am well
satisfied that there are dozens of diseases
that can be rubbed out of the system with
coarse towl if they are only taken in
time. Try it, farmers, and see if it doesn't
pay you.
Farmers WHO try to buy wit for their
boys will find that it costs more than it
comes to. A neighbor of mine has found
this out to his sorrow. He started some
years ago on new farm and worked like
slave to bring it up into shape. He had
large family of boys, and they were all
sent to school, summer and winter The
man said that as he never had any chance
himself he proposed to give his boys every
chance they wanted. Every one Of them
had to have horse and buggy to drive by
the time he was eighteen, with money to
spend at every dance within ten miles.
The man bought new farm, giving
security on his old place. The family was
strong handed in the house and out, if the
boys had only. been brought up to work.
They had the incest chance in the world to
get a fine place, but instead of that they
lost the whole thing Those boys would
not settle down to work at all. They went
driving round over the country and let
their father hire help. The result was
that he could not meet his payments and
had to give up. That is what comes of
this way of thinking that our sons must
have an easier time than we had. That is
all nonsense. There is no reason why
farmer should make slave of himself in
order to keep his son in luxury. It iss
tough knocks, the rough rubbing against
the world. that makes a man; and It is
most mistaken Kindness to try to pay q
boys way for him.