The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1886-05-21
FRIDAY. MAY 81, 1886.
CORRESPONDENCE

The city of Guelph has become
something of manufacturing center.
Quite number of sewing machine,
organ and other factories are located
here and it draws trade from a large
section of country, especially to the
north. While here took the oppor.
tunity of visiting the Ontario 'Agri.
cultural College. The president, Mr..
Mills, was absent, but through the
courtesy of Professor Panton was
shown through the buildings and
around the premises. This is an in.
stitution for making theoretical and
practical farmers. The students are
young men supposed to be preparing
for the business of farming, which
they are doing in the majority
of cases. The course EN-.
braces instruction in agricultural,
stock.raising, arboriculture, agricul.
tural chemistry. meteorology, &c also
experimental farming. Farmers sons
who take course here, leave immense.
ly better qualified for the successful
pursuit of their work. OF course,
there are those amongst them that
come home so puffed up with theories,
technical knowledge and college airs
that their fathers could not tie a COW
to suit them. But the boy soon gets
his conceit rubbed off and is really
qualified to give his father many new
ideas. This institution is useful to Il
much greater extent in it's direct in.
tluence in stimulating throughout the
Province the intelligent study of the
theory AMI practice of farming in all
its departments. A class of students
sometimes u little troublesome-I
didn't hear this at the college, though
are the young Englishmen who come
across here to become qualified for
farming in Canada, of well.to.do
parents, with feeling of their superb.
GRITTY and a hearty contempt for every.
thing OH this continent. they need to
be thwarted once in Il while-jostled
and treated to a little of the coarse
curry.comb, before they settle down
to practical Canadian life-or return
home in disgust. Stock raising is now
one of the principal sources of money
making to Ontario farmers. The
elephantlne beef raised in many places
now contrasts very much with the
dwarfish animals mostly seen twenty
years ago. While referring to this
subject l will quote Il few lines from
Mr.. Mills annual report, which is as
applicable to farming in Dakota as it
is to here: "WhaJ we do maintain is,
that neither theory nor practice should
stand alone; but that they should go
hand in hand, and the farm apprentice
receive instruction in both. In fact,
we are unable to see how any one can
doubt the statement that the young
man who has chosen agriculture as his
occupation will be benefited by &C.
quainting himself with the experience
of the most successful farmers, by
studying their practice and discussing
the principles and maxims which
guided them OH the way to success"
Across the street from where had
the pleasure of being entertained in
Guelph is large brick building owned
and used by the Salvation Army as
their "barracks. Early Sunday
morning the soldiers had a '' hallelujah
breakfast "a prayer-meeting.) In
the afternoon they formed in line,
marched through the principal streets
Ill their uniform, headed by their brass
band, playing, Rescue the perishing,"
"Anywhere with Jesus and similar
airs. They hold their meetings every
night in the week. Many criticise
their methods but few their motives,
while amongst their number are found
not a few hitherto seemingly hopeless
drunkards but now jealous members
of the army and Industrious and re.
spected citizens. Few of these people
have much intelligence or culture and
the most natural thing for many is to
criticise their actions; but the safest
thing for all is, at least, not to throw a
straw in their way.
The people of Ontario are particular.
ly proud of their public school system,
which they believe to be the best in
the world. The standard of quail.
lication for teachers is high, including
course of drilling in the model
schools in the art OF teaching. 1t is a
great place to hatch out teachers. The
home demand is supplied and quite al
overflow is sent to Manitoba and
Dakota us well as to Michigan and
other states. Nor arguing the question
Of Ontario's superiority in her public
school system, / venture to say that
reading and penmanship are more sue,
cessfully taught in at least several
states than they are here. A good
many teachers who crossed the line
from this side will bear me out in this.
Again the public school course here is
too crowded, involving too much force
work. The pupil is burdeIeq too much
in his early life with facts, figures,
theories and technicalities, the facul.
ties Of reason and observation not
being made to do their full share with
that Of the memory. Teachers every.
where are under high pressure to rush
i IL