The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1893-09-19

ever made i'll life was that they did not
receive thorough training in the
schools before entering into business
life. They have made money, it is true;
but they are not mentally equipped for
the circle and opportunities to which
their money and labor have brought
them. You will observe that these men
are the most determined that their chill
dren shall be thoroughly educated.
They do not want their sons and
daughters to repeat their folly or in
herit their misfortunes. Boys have
much more to do in determining this
matter than they think. Almost every
father will be found willing to educate
his son, even with great labor and sac
ritice to himself, provided the boy
shows proper ambition to rise above
the common level and exhibit praise
worthy diligence in the use of the op-
portunities which his father provides
for him. You may have thought of it,
but it is really a great affliction for
parents to have sons who are without
an ambition to be something in the
world; who will not, when in school at
home or abroad, study and strive to
excel who are content to be nothing or
next to nothing. Are you willing to be
One Of these2 The world shall have you
to answer little later in life There
is in this day and in this land no ex-
cuse for one who fails to become edu-
Gated. ANY young man with a good
mind and good health can educate him
self and thus become fitted for a grand
and useful life. Many Of our brightest
and best boys and young men are be-
ing ruined by going too early into what
is called business They, and some
times their parents, feel complimented
that they are called at the age Of II or
Is years to take places of responsibility
in the schoolroon1, shop or Office. Such
boys are more likely to be only an
Office boy at so, the compliments van
ished and the serious results begin to
appear. Any position in business
takes away taste for the drill work
necessary to thorough education.
The right time for this education
process having passed it can never be
recalled, and thus the young man by
one fat Il mistake has bound his life to
n lower plane. There are many young
men who fail for lack Of higher stan
dard. They seek ouly fair academic
training and then go off for a few
months to a so called business school"
and get thore a little technical training
and think that they are prepared for
life. They seek a bread and butter
education, and they will probably find
it; but they will also find when it is
too late that they.have prepared them,
selves for being only the servants and
followers Of other men, instead Of their
leaders. The stores, farms and schools
are bringing up our seed corn to satisfy
the hunger Of avarice.
In this whole matter of securing an
education you must beware of indiffer-
ences and delay. Look at the advan-
tages of one course and the advantages
of the other. 4 failure to start at the
right time often results in a failure to
go at all. Putting eff till next fall
what you ought to begin this fall may
prevent you, as it has thousands of
others, from ever becoming educated.
Develop to their fulness the talents
which God has conferred upon you.
The day in which you live demands
thoroughly educated men as none be-
fore it has ever done. 1t must have
them. Yours fraternally,
J. NJ. PEELER.