Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-18

I
much need of encouragement to do
good. The path of life, even whea
not up hill is rough and stony, and
each days journey little longer than
our strength admits of. How many
motives and ideas for good have fallen
all because we get discouraged and
discontented with our lot we fail; when
a little more patience and perseverance
with a great deal more of the right
kind of education mixed in would
have succeeded.
Nothing can be done wisely without a
clear apprehension of the aim of that
work. What shall we set before our
children as an ideal? Shall we aim to
make them rich? Fashionable?
Successful in business, or able to shine
in society? Shall we devote years to
the accumulation of property that they
may inherit when we are gone? VIII
this make them contented on the farm?
Or rather shall we remember they are
immortal beings and that their life here
is but the beginning Of an endless life,
for which this life is the school. Shall
we teach them that they are best fitted
for the life which is to come, when they
are best fitted for the life that now is?
But there is another value IN education
not only for the farmers Of to-day but
for their sons who are to be their
successors. 1t widens the boys views
of life until it no longer seems the
treadmill of drudgery or keen pursuit
of the Almighty dollar" It shows
him the independence of his position,
makes him the equal of those in other
professions and satisfies and contents
him with the farm.
Nothing would so greatly calm the
desire for something big Ito use
common parlance,) or check the tide of
discomfort, which like our river in
springtime overfiows its banks, as
well educated farming class. Never
before was the need of education more
urgent than at present.
from the plow to guide the destinies of
Rome down to the time farmers boy
won distinction as one of our greatest
generals, farmers have occupied
positions of Importance in the state.
Shall not then farmers as a class, fit
themselves for these positions instead
Of leaving them only for q few? for to
obtain honors one must desire them,
and to desire them one must be fitted
for them
The ignorant man, whether farmer
or not, cannot and will not stand in the
same class with the man Of education
and Intelligence The time will soon
come when the people viii advance,
and not pull back man, simply
because he is farmer. Let us then
wisely prepare ourselves and our
children for these coming days.
The children of the lowly have taken
high positions among the great Of our
nation a Washington, a Lincoln,
Garfield, have started from their cabin
homes, and stumpy fields with bale
feet and rimless hats for the capitol of
our nation and with steady tread stop
ping only to pluck here and there
flower of education which grew beside
their pathway, by their indomitahle
VIII and nntiring zeal to
excel have planted their banner on the
very topmost pinnacle of fame, and
to-day stand as an example of minds
that American farms can produce.
Is 1t more to be man than farmer?
To be true farmer makes true man
in its fullest meaning and will not
diminish the estimation in which he is
held by others.
The past history of our nation gives
much of encouragement, the future
promises more. Shakespeare says
1T is not in our stars but in ourselves
that we are underlings."
Government in a country like ours
is an educator, it is potent and constant
in its influence upon every individual
who is required to take part in it.
Man gains political wisdom and
intellectual strength from the exercise
of his right of citizenship, and so closely
are the affairs of the state interviewer
with the business prosperity of the
individual that TO be successful he must
take part in these affairs, must be a
man of mind, of broad views, a man
above bribery and chicanery. A mans
greatest glory is not only to be good
husband (although that is prime
! factor) but a grand, noble, generous,
royal souled man, carrying sunshine
into his home and with him every
where, and not shadows.
/ As you remember Cincinnattus left
! the plow and went to defend the state.
| Farmers then came to be represented.
/ Society has been struggling upward
ever since to the point where agricul-
ture should be the best and first
employment of man and where the
j farmers should have as much power
and intelligence as the politician and
the people who own the land should
have the privilege Of helping make
the laws
The drifts not toward the destruction
of landed estates. for landed property
is the foundation and all other property
the superstructure. This is the grand
est feature of American civilization.
The pillow has worked the masses up
from condition of serfs to freemen, and
from slaves fO land oyvDcrS If iS tbo