Evening capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1888-1893, 1888-06-06
WHAT Is THE MATTER?
WHY DO AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE
STUDENTS LEAVE THE FARMi

They Study Law or Medicine, or Engag'
in Mercantile Pursuits-sOme Of the
Reasons why They Learn to Dislike
Farming.
A gentleman who had been invited to de-
liver commencement address at an agri-
cultural college, in which he had once held
a professors chair, recently told the writer
| Of this article that he found it impossible 10
select a subject. We suggested several topics
more or less connected with farmers and
their calling, but the ex-professor shook his
head "It is useless to talk TO the young
men about agriculture" )" he said, "the fact is,
when the students leave the college none Of
them go to farming
Seeing our bewildered look, the ex-profes-
sor went on TO say that although the students
went from the farm TO the college and took
an agricultural course, they all left the insti-
tuition TO study law or medicine, or to en-
gage in mercantile pursuits
THEY GET HIGH NOTIONS.
81 don't know how it is,n he said, "but
they all get high notions in their heads, and
they think that farming is too slow and un-
profitable to suit them. During the whole
time was at the college, never knew one
out Of the hundreds Of students to return to
the FARM
All.this was said in deliberate, matter Of
fact way, and we at once jumped TO the con-
clusion that If our agricultural schools were
simply used to turn young farmers into law
yers, doctors and merchants, there was some
thing wrong somewhere.
If these facts have not been unconsciously
overstated, the advocates Of agricultural ed
ucation will very naturally feel inclined to
ask a few questions. Are the teachers, as a
rule, men who have a fancy for the learned
professionsl Do the students in their debates
discuss literary and political subjectsl Are
they allowed to devote much time to reading
novels, poetry, history and the newspapers
An affirmative 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, writer's and successful business
mon, will fall into their way OF thinking.
Political debates will fire him with the ambi-
tion to distinguish himself at the bar or in
public life. Too much time devoted TO bellies
ettres will make him think Of everything in
the world except diversified farming
But 1t may be that none OF the points men
Toned can be urged against the agricultural
schools and their teachers What, then, is
he matteri Do our youngsters naturally
AXE a dislike 10 farm lifei Do their fathers |
ell them that there is no money in it and |
hat the farmers are growing poorer every
yearl
There Is something in this way Of putting |
l. When farmers take a gloomy homeless /
view Of their occupation, they cannot ex-
lect their sons to look ON the bright side of |
hings. And yet in spite Of all that can be |
aid, the fact remains that the young and |
Industrious farmer who goes to work with |
he advantage OF a scientific education, has |
{ in his power SO make himself happy, in
dependent, prosperous and distinguished. |
But, after all, success does not depend so |
much upon the education, or the land, as it
Ioes upon the man. n-Atlanta Constitution