The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1888-05-10
FARM And HOUSEHOLD !
IAmerican Agriculturist.l
Our Farmer Boys.

There is frequently recurring
complaint from the farm, reached
through the agricultural press, of the
reluctance of boys to remain in farm
ing pursuits, indeed sometimes even
enter on such life What is the
cause of this restless and unwilling
spirit? Are country emplnyments
odious in themselves? Is it a task
more dreary or more dangerous to
break fiery colt than it is to face the
winter as brakeman on freight
train? Is it more perilous to tend a
Shorthorn bull than it is to be po-
liceman and club burglars? Is it
worse to do chores as small boy on
his fathers farm than it is to work
for four dollars week and pay trav-
cling expenses to reach the office,
where the boy is the scapegoat who is
always wrong, and at whose door the
shortcomings of every other employe
lies? Is it harder lines to plow be-
behind your own team, to drive your
own moving machine, or do a good
part of your own carting, than it
would be to work in factory at any
one of the various industries carried
on throughout our land? While we
are compelled to acknowledge that
farming has its unsatisfactory points,
none can disprove that much discon-
tent is broadcast everywhere. The
advantages offered by agriculture to
its followers are: freedom not from
duties but from personal inconven-
fences. It is the farmers own fault
if his house lacks comfort; the arti-
san must work in his employers shop
or factory-the larger the establish
ment the less the individual. How
many type-setters have injured sight2
How many brakemen are manned and
killed? How long is the dark list of
mechanics worn out before they have
reached maturity from the hardships
incident to the duties of their callings.
So take look at higher social grade
as contrasted with what country avo-
cations offer. 1t is appalling to note
the young lives wrecked in cities;
youths who strain every nerve and !
use every means to attain a profess
sion, who just reach the threshold and |
then snccumb, worn out in mind and |
crushed in body. Of the vast multi
tudes who year after year leave their
country homes to seek fortune in cit
les, how many succeed? The percent
age is very small, even Of those who
find a moderate amount of success.
Some lack ability, others endurance,
and many do not possess sufficient
strength.
From these remarks it must not be
Inferred that dull and weakly boys are
oy nature best fitted to remain in the
country and become farmers. The
Iblest men mentally are none too en-
ightened, none too capable, to cope
With the many difficult problems of
agriculture. To-day the land ques-
ion holds the attention of Europe,
nd with our abundance of territory,
IS yet sparsely populated, we are not
many generations distant from scare
ty Of land and its inevitable difficult
les. The hardest part of farm life is
is seeming monotony. We adyisedly
se. the word seeming, because farm
lfe is more varied than is professional
r mechanical life. The four seasons
ring to the farmer varied occupations
nd varied pleasures. The journalist,
he lawyer, the doctor, in their call
lgs know no seasons; three hundred
nd sixty-five days annually are the
'orking days Of those who toll in the
aths Of the higher professions. Arti-
ms and mechanics enjoy rest on one
~ in every week. Railroad en-
loyes generally obtain two, some
mes three, Sundays rest out of ten
onths of the year. During the
srce heat of summer the public will Z
ayel. and the railroad men, from the q
ny newsboy to the general superin-
ndent, must be at their posts. =
Our counsel to boys is, before you e =
cided to leave the farm for other :
ork, seek information, and make as !,
re as you can that you are more fit =
4 for city than for country life. To :,
e farmers we would say. if your '
Us are well treated they will recog-
ze it; if your boys are overworked,
orly clothed, badly fed, and boor-
lily treated, make haste to change u
d to mend your ways. A bad en- ., .,
oyer gets an unwilling service The ~ ~
st tempered boy can be made sullen; "a "a
, most ambitious can be discour- ~
ed. When boy is old enough to 81
rk for his father, and when his LII
rk is satisfactory. he earns his paw "n