Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1889-08-30

first aud second terms enough of algebra
and geometry is taught Co. lead up iu the
last term to surveying as related To- the
measuring aud plotting OF land methods
and systems of drainage, road making
bridges. etc There is throughout the
course AN abundance OF practical Elaborate
ry work and the students will have the
benefit Of observation of the work which is
Systematically doue at the state experiment
station The strictly practical part Of the
course concludes with general farm man
agemei g. and very properly there is in the
last term a short course In political economy
Students in this course are not charged
for tuition and there are no laboratory
fees the only items Of expense are for
books and board The cost Of table board
in the commons hall is only 81 30 to 81 -
a week. and room aud board IN private
families can be had for $500 to Loo "a
week There will be a chance for several
students to pay part of their expenses in
work
We have been thus explicit in describing
/
our home college seems TO us an important
one 1t puts within the reach of hundreds
of energetic farmer, boys and aspiring
Young farmers the means of obtaining a
liberal education for their lfework 1t is
hardly too much t. say that there is no
earnest. ambitious self reliant young man
Ia the state who cannot find a way to avail
himself ol the advantages here offered. If
he but set himself about it and we should
regard 1t as "a sign full of promise for the
future OF Vermont farming and Vermont
prosperity in general, if the coming year
should see an hundred students entering
upon this course
The last twenty five years have wrought
a complete change in the requirements for
success in every department of business
life Thorough preparation must go hand
in hand with industry and ambition as nev-
err before and Of no calling Is TINS gen
eral rule more true than of the farmers
Mere physical force alone cannot win the
day Hand 0ud brain must he educated
together and work together The academic
steadily IN numbers and IN patronage hut
they have been far outstripped in this re
spect by the schools of applied science and
practical training for mechanical and sci
entic pursuits. Every such school, where
mechanical and civil engineering. the sci
ence and practice of chemistry and the
kindred professions are taught Is crowded
with eager students; and the pressure
grows greater and the standard grows
higher year by year Besides the boys who
are making this preparation for their life
work. 1t is the rule rather than the eXcep-
tion to find in these schools young men of
% and 30 years, who have begun IN the old
way. discovered what they lacked TO assure
them high measure OF real success. and
have then resolutely gone To these schools
to study and work side by side with their
younger companions
1t is to give to the boys and young men
ON our farms fair start ON level with
their fellows IN other pursuits that this
short course in agriculture mas been estab
ished 1t will not do all that four years of
study would d. but it will do much if uu
dertaken with an open and appreciative
mind. The primary question IN deciding
whether such a course shall be taken Is not
one of dollars and cents 1t Is question
of breadth of mind and character. of large
ness of life, of being well equipped for the
work one sees before him, of making one
self master of himself and the peer of those
about him
The true ankee always asks whether
thing will pay and no observant man
doubts that thorough preparation for work
in any calling or profession yields a good
pecuniary return But the real question,
after all is not upon this point. 1t is
question of going To work with a definite
purpose in view, and of looking forward to
mature life and seeing "a man who Is max
ing of himself something worth making
The trouble with the majority of our boys
aud young men today is that they set out
in life having no higher thought than How
shall / get "A living ~ when they ought to
he asking. How shall go to work 10 make
something Of myself -
The farmer vocation Is no exception 10
this general rule, and in the years to come
those who conform themselves to it will
reap the surest success. Cur state agricul
tural college recognizes the situation, and
is trying 10 meet the demand of the times
Let some of our bright active and hopeful
farmers boys who are now thinking only
OF now they shall get away from the farm,
think instead of what diligent, ambitious
work in this two years course would mean
for them of the mental awakening it
would bring to them of the new world 1t
would open TO them of the self-poise and
Independence it would give them in years to
| come,-and then see if there be not some
way boy which they can avail themselves
of it,