Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1888-05-07
WHAT is THE MATTER?
Why DO Agricultural College Students
Leave the Farm-They Study
Law or Ne d,clHe,
Or Engage in Mercantile Pursuifs-some
Of the Reasons why They Learn TO =
Dislike Farming. " =
.. Ananta Constitution.

AHant2 Coustitp!ion.
A gentleman who had been invited I,
deliver . commencement address at al
agricultural college, in which he had ono,
held professors chair, recently told tn,
writer OF this article that he found Il i'm
possible to select subject. We sdg
gested several topics more or less con
nected with farmers and their calling, bu
the 1-professor shock his head. at IL
useless to talk to the young men assu'
agriculture" he ssid, "the fact Is, wher
the students leave the college;noHe Of
them 60 to farming"
ESeelng our beWildered look, the ex
professor went on to say that although
the students went from the farm to the
college and took an agricultural course,
they all lett the institution to study Law
or medicine, or to engage in mercantile
pursuits.
THEY GET HIGH NOTIONS.
81 don's know how IL is," he said,
"bus they ali get high notions in their
heads, and they think thst farming Is
TOO slow and Improbable to sui. them.
During the whole tim, 1 was st the
college, never knew one of the hun
dreds Of students to return to tae farm ~
All this was said in deliberate, natter
of-fact way, and we ct once jumped to
the conclusion that If our agricultural
schools we're simply used to turn young
farmers into lawyers, doctors ard mer.
chants, there was something wrong some
where.
II these facts have not been uncon-
sciOusly Cve~stated, the advocates OF
agricultural education will very naturally
feel inclined to ask few questions. Are
the teachers, as & rule, men who have 8
fancy for the leaned professions? Do the
students In their debates discnsss literary
and political subjects! Are they allowed
10 devote much time to reading novels,
poetry, history and the pewspspers7 An
xficmative answer to these questions Will
explain much that is now mysterious.
THOUGHTS WHICH LEAD AsTRAY,
The young agricultural student who
finds his professors always talking about
great lawyers, writers and successful
business men, will fall into their way of
thinking. Political debates will fire him
with the ambition to distinguish himself
at the bar or in public life. Too much
time devoted to bellies lettres Will make
hiiAi snioh VI SVoi yIEiaS Ill WIG WOIiu TX
cept diversified farming.
But II may be that none OF the points
mentioned can be urged against the ogri-
cultural schools and their teachers.
What, then, is the matter? Do our
Youngsters naturally take q dislike to
farm life! Do their fathers tell them
that there is no money iu il, and that the
farmers are growing poorer every year?
There is something in the way of put
ting 1t. When farmers take q gloomy,
hopeless view Of their occupation, they
cannot expect their sons to look on the
bright side Of things. And yet, ia spite
Of all that can BE- said, the fact remains
that the yonng and Industrious farmer
who goes to work With the advantage Of
scientific education, has it in his power
so make himself hsppy, independent,
prosperous and distinguished. But,
after all, success does not depend SO
much upon the education, or the land, as
1t does upon the man.