The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1892-09-30

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teilectual appetiteS and cravings that
are quite as strong as the physical
The greater his culture and intelli-
gence, the more exacting they become.
Our system Of popular education, our
high standard of living, the form OF
our institutions and the state of geu
eral intelligence among the people,
all tend to develop and intensity the
social and intellectual wants of the
people. In meeting these wants, l
fear that farm life has not kept pace
with the times and the changed con-
dition under which we live. The aim,
or at least the effect, of an advancing
civilization, seems to be to increase
and multiply our wants. have heard
my mother say, many time, and /
presume you have heard yours, when
l was child children would not have
thought of asking for such a thing
in answer to the expression Of a new
want. This is to me most convinc-
ing proof of our progress. Instead of
regretting or trying to repress these
new tangled notions" as some call
them, our aim should be to CRAFTY
these new wants in all reasonable
ways. However you may view this,
the fact remains that these new
wants exist in the young people and
| if they cannot be satisfied on the farm
they will go where they believe
| that they can obtain the food
they crave. Can we blame them?
| Don't we all seek food when we are
hungry? By a proper study of the
question and a united effort on the
part of the people, l believe that the
conditions of farm life can be made
such as TO satisfy these wants on the
farm. | believe that | have suggest
ed the key to solve this problem. Its
solution must be worked out in time
and by all of US. As to details l can
make but few suggestions.
This fair: by maintaining your
society vigorous and active and
getting the young people inter
eSted in it is one way. 1t
brings you together young and old in
social cOncOurse. 1t eXciteS a spir-
it of rivalry and an appreciation of
excellence in your work. 1t might be
we'll TO carry it step farther and
have township organizations and COM
petitiye exhibits. Let me offer anOth-
er-one that j think is very impor-
tant. Every township should have
a good town hall. Large, well loca-
Gated. with a kitchen and dining room
annexed to 1.-THE same as our halls
in the towns. This would be used
principally, of course, for town pur-
poses proper. Political and all kinds
of meetings would be held in it. 1t
could and should be made the great
head quarters for social gatherings
and dining room annex which would
cost but little would prove great
convenience. The scholars Of the va
riOus districts in the town could
meet for spelling down" and other
exercises. 1t would be just the place
for holding alliance meetings and for
the debating society; for singing
school, The band could meet here
for practice, and it would be an ideal
place for a little oyster supper and a
dance. Concerts and plays could be
given. If the girls met there of an
afternoon with their sewing society,
the boys could report at six
for supper and to take them
home. The park should have dia-
mOnd, and small track for training
the colts, scattering shade trees with
green grass would complete the park.
Five acres of ground with forty-fve
hundred dollars would secure this.
Books and papers you have now. If
they are wanting don't fail to procure
them. Many little things can be
made to contribute to the social en-
joyment Of the young, such as games,
parties, ETC., which your own expert
ence and judgment will suggest much
better than l could.
Too much labor should not be ex-
acted from the young. If you do it
becomes dIudgery. They learn to
shun and dread all work. / have
known farmers who could not be in
duced to put a harness on a horse, to
work him. before he was four years
old, who would not hesitate to put a
work. This is worse than cruelty to
animals.
Let me suggest another way for
providing enjoyment for the young on
the farm, for if we can make their life
happy there, they will certainly stay.
1t is pretty difficult to define happi-
ness. Ii | were asked to do so, | should
say that it consists in having wants
and being able to satisfy them. The
young already have wants, as l have
shown. that they think they can be
best satisfied in the city. To Offset
this make it your care to create wants
in them that can only be satisfied on
the farm. If you succeed in this you
will attach them to the farm. We
practice this suggestion on dumb
beasts, why not apply the same prin-
ciple to the training of the young. We
give a goat tobacco and young colt
or pup sugar. At first they do not
like it, but by and by it becomes a
want and they would undergo almost
anything to have the want gratitied.
Get the boys interested in raising
flowers, in planting shrubbery, vines,
an orchard and trees. They take to
this naturally. All they need is lit
tie help and encouragement. If
assisted and encouraged in it. the love
of it will become a fixed want in their
make up that can only be satisfied on
the farm. The same in regard to cul-
tivating pride in fine corn. and the
low for domestic animals Give the
boy a colt, or a calf even, for his own
as soon as he is big enough to help
tend and play with it. If he wants
saddle or even sulky later on, he
should have it. If he is fond of chick
ems help him build good house for
them and give him dollar or two to
send off for eggs to experiment with
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