Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1891-01-15
Henry County Farmers
Hold their First Annual Institute
at the County Seat, and
Discuss Many Questions Pertaining
to their Vocation, Listen TO Many
Good Lectures and Adjourn
Well Satisfied.
A Well Planned Program of Two
Days Rendered to a Crowded
and Enthusiastic House.

The great success of the farmers Al
lance movement has aroused the far
mers in this locality to state Of ac-
tivity and interest never before known.
Not necessarily politltically-that may
come farther on-but it is with desire
to improve themselves in their domes-
tic relationship lend helping hand to
each other, utilizing ones misfortune
to avoid like calamity in another,
giving experience and gaining wisdom
thereby-it is for these reasons and
more, that several enterprising and in
fiuential farmers conceived the idea Of
a Farmers Institute, and no sooner
done than by energy and pluck the
project was successfully carried out.
It's tenable to all that the great pro-
gress of the last century is due direct
ly to the communication of experience,
belief and labor results to fellow
creatures. Then why not extend this
DEdCtlCe lIOiu IIO COuuuSo VI dACo dbu
science to agricultural pursuits where
the field is unlimited for uncertainty
"What is one mans meat is another's
poison" and what is applicable to one
farming district is wholly at variance
with an adjoining one, therefore YER
bal exchange of views of farmers of the
same neighborhood is more valuable
than perusal of many so called farm
papers published from afar.
Realizing the cogency of the propo'
sition, a Farmers Institute for Henry
County" was organized with E. M
Hollopeter President, and ]. G. Davis
Secretary. The Institute was widely
advertised throughout the county and
the successful results that rewarded the
organizers and promulgators of this
good were such to satisfy the most radi
cal enthusiast.
The program began Wednesday
morning at 10 O'Clock with piano sole
by Miss Edith Halter, which showed
the young musician to be anything
but a novice on this popular instru
ment. She kindly furnished the audi
ence with exhibitions of her musica
talent during the two days session, fo
which she has the thanks of all con
cerned.
Those doing the preponderance o
speaking were Rev. w. R. Parsons ant
Hon. N. III. Albaugh, of the Ohio Stat
Board of Agriculture.
President Hollopeter gave those as
sembled O hearty welcome as body O.
scholars or teachers, as we would have
1t, come together to learn practica
lessons and that all should constitute
himself or herself committee of ont
to make the institute a glowing success
His remarks were listened to with grea
interest. Following him
REV. w. X. PARSONS
aereeably introduced himself, giving {
short humorous sketch of his life, end
ing with the climax ''that about all HI
was good for was to come in handy
marrying people, attending Farmer
Institutes or preaching funerals" Hi
'spaper" which he was about to rea(
possessed one virtue that was incon
trovertable, viz: it had an end, pro
yided the audience permitted him Il
find it, and if said audience mani
tested no objections he would so do.
All the children on the farm have
great and ever present longing for th'
outside world, which invariably de
velopes into discomfort. This grumb
ling does not exist so much among tht
poorer class but it is among the pros
porous that this injurious habit is en-
couraged and harboled. This should
not be. With our present facilitie
such status should not exist. Still i
does exist, and the speaker drew lif'
sized portraits of the chronic grumb
ling existing in all walks of life-at th'
forge, in commercial transactions, OF
the farm, in political life and even ii
the pulpit. He drew contrast betweel
the prosperity of this grand and glori
Gus country aud the deplorable condi
tion of Naples, of Russia, of France, ,es
pecially during the revolution, of Eng
land and it's long line of crimes an,
wars, aud, after picturing us in our tru
light made a clear point of what tn
American pSUpi6 anu SopCCldly vi
farmer had to be thankful for even du
ring our darkest hours. Then portray
ing the great and almost magica
change that has taken place since W
are a nation from what our forefather
underwent, he framed in forcible langu
age reproof to them who are chroni
cally discontented with their lot.
Farmers, in reading of the grea
wealth that is being accumulated, ar
wont to look upon themselves as no
securing their just portion. Statistic
1850 show that the assessed valuatio
of farms was Ten Thousand Million
while 1889 shows Twenty-three Thous
and Millions of farm property on whic
assessments were made to carry on tn
government. Does this look as thoug
this element was retrograding financ
ally?
Farmers again are too apt to grum
BILE in presence of children which er
gepders dislike for farm life and
wish to fly 10 the city, where they sur
pose wealth is more easily cbtained.-
instead Of this our whole aim shoul
he to establish the correct belief ths
wealth is far superior to true happiness
Should we fail in this, our progeny ar
not fer from ruin. Teach them to &C
mire virtue and seek 1t and kingl
wealth will be theirs, and a farm III
has no other superior In attording OF
nortunities to acquire this kind {
mn ~ !, IA h esz ltsaYad