Fair play., 1886-01-16

owe IL themselves, their families aud
the community and notably such Is
pertain 10 mental and moral develop
inanr and Improvement. Touching
some nj the >easonable duties of farm
cr- which lead in this direction, We
offer Il few suggestions.
Having made ample provision for
all physical wants, our seEio. rural
readers can, during the leisure of win
ter. devote special attention to the
mental training of the various mem-
bers of their Households. Those who
have families of children should inter-
est themselves in the district school,
and see that it is well taught and sus-
| tanned. No farmer who is parent
can afford - neglect his duty in this
matter. and should manifest lively
interest in the school where his own
and neighbors' children receive their
! rudimentary. if not principal, educa-
| tion. Able school trustees and COM
missioners. with capable and efficient
teachers, are important requisites, and
II is the incumbent duty of every par
| ent to aid in securing these desirable
auxiliaries to public and home educa-
zion. To this end. attend the school
meeting, vote for the best men for
school trustees. and aid in making
liberal provision for iirst-class school
in your district. And do not fail to
visit the same occasionally. and en-
courage the teacher. In thi, and 9TH
or ways YOU can do much to improve
the school. and every iudic,ous effort
in that direction will rebound to the
benefit of all inieres,ed-parents, pu-
pills and teachers. Good officers and
teachers can best be secured through
the personal attention and influence of
parents who manifest lively interest iu
their selection and management, and
no one should fail to discharge his
whole duty in the premises.
Another important duty deyolvIng
upon the rural citizen is. to See tha,
his family is provided with pure aud
useful books and periodicals. Money
invested in reading matter of the right
quality paws large dividends. The
rule should be to ''get the st,r-only
such publications "a are instructive
useful, and clevating. Avoid all trashy
stOsv naners and other reading of a
senseless aId seDsationai character
Of the nickle novel and lOve-and-
murder genera. They are demOraliz-
ing, and worse than poison for young
people. Instead Of such useless trash,
secure standard works pertaining TO
rural and domestic affairs, as well as
history, science. and literature. In
these days first class books and Jour
nails eau be easily and cheaplv obtain
ed even in remote aud sparsely settled
sections OF the country, and il is in-
combent upon the head Of every
rural household to provide mental
pabulum suitable fOr::the various men,
bers Ofhis family-not only textbooks
for study but the best periodicals are
indispensable as educators. besides
having a refining and eleva,ing in
flucnce and the farmer whose literary
shelves and center table are stocked
with II judiciOus selection OF timelv
aud useful publications will be far
more fortunate IN rearing his sons and
daughters Alright. than one who fails
TO supply such essential aids TO schol-
as,ic instruction aud incutal discipline
and improvement.
But aside from district schools, and
the reading and study Of books and
periodicals., there are other important
auxiiaries in turthering mental de-
velopment aud home education in
rural communities. Among these,
and the most essential, are debating
societies, village lyceums. farmers
clubs and institutes. and like pro-
gressive and beneficial associations.
The meetings OF these organizations
are usually interesting and instructive
for at them lectures are delivered,
papers read, and discussions had on
practical, scientific. historical. and
other subjects, which il is well to hear
aud understand. Those who par,ici-
pate in the proceedings ON such oc-
casions, cannot fail to acquire much
useful knowledge, while they will
make more or less progress iu learn.
Ing TO think, write, and speak correct
ly, on topics with which they become
familiar. Thus believing We urge our
readers, and especially the Young to
become active workers in all organiza-
tions designed to instruct and qualify
them for the discharge of their duties
at home, or in whatever positions they
may be placed in future. This branch
of our subject is an important one
bu. We lack space for its further dis
cussion. -fmericda dgric4lturist.
There is no more pleasurabie wav of
sending an evening on the farm, than
m III x,,l,. Z, 4,