Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1896-05-12
TO KEEP THE BOYS ON THE FARM.

lecture before the Missouri Board of
Agriculture, considered the reasons that
lead boys To leave the farm. She could
understand why New England boys
leave stony hillsides, but thought that
Missouri boys should not leave the Fertile
farms Of the West. A reason IL found
in conditions ere ited In farm homes. and
In the course OF considering these condi-
tioDs she says:
Dress your boy respectfully. Don't
couiine him to check shirts, overalls,
plow shoes aud those nondescript sea-
grass hats that are never the same shape
for two days In succession, aud each
change more grotesque than the last.
OF course he looks like 'clodhopper,
and, what Is worse, he feels like one.
As Henry Ward Beecher once said. 'Oi
course clothes do not make the man, but
when he is made he looks much better
well dressed Let him have neat, not
elegant, clothes for ordinary wear; Tor
exceptionally dirty work about pigpens
and stable, overalls, canvas coat and
rubber boots that are To be removed In
an inside room or back porch for pair
u -.
best coat Then most farm work can be
done as well and more comfortably with
gloves. have sometimes wondered II a
man thought himself better farmer De-
cause his hands were as brown and hairy
as a bears paws. Ny observation Is
that the average boy from l6 TO 20 takes
as much pride In the neat appearance of
his hands aud feet as the girl that is, he
would IL he could Il will say In pa
renihesis, the newspaper wits add their
mite i'm slurring AT farmers. Their names
are always Hayseed or Corntassel or
Wayback, and their Imaginary converse
,ions an ingenious compound OF nit
eracy.)
Now, having done somewhat for the
outward appearance OF the boy. furnish
him good, wholesome food for his physi-
cal interior. This does not mean that
his menu Is always 10 contain poultry
sud eggs and pound-cake; but don't
keep hundreds of hens and sell every
egg "a conscieniiously as YOU put your
nickel In the contribution basket on
SUNDAYS. A boy will do twice the
amount OF work with twice the amount
of cheerfulness IL he Is well fed; for his
mental food, q daily paper. II convenient,
at least one good farm journal ana a
high-class magazine, Harper. Scribuer or
the Century. II YOU can possibly DO so,
give him = year st an agricultural col
lrge. II will open his eyes so widely 10
the different capabilities of soils, values
Of various food products, and chemical
changes 10 be brought about before
this or that can be accomplished, that he
will never again 60 ploddiug down the
corn rows with no more idea of the origin
aud why and wherefore of life Than
Topsy, who thought she 'jist growed.
NOT 4 JACK OF ALL TRADES.
Mr.. Drake. in his address at the eighth
annual convention OF American colleges
aud experiment stations. discussed az
ricultural education. He favored manusl
training for the farmers boy. After
celebrating its advantages, he said;
The farmer boy comes to the agri-
cultural college with u definite Idea OF
getting such knowledge aud training aS
will enable him 10 accomplish more work
with less exertion. He wants To know
how 10 operate farm with the least ex-
pensc and the largest possible returns
In short, he desires TO find out how ne
can improve his circumstances ana AL
the same time make life easier for him.
self and his family. This Is not always
best brought about by making the farm
or more independent. Prosperity IN
general does not mean every man FOR
himself alone, but IL Is sure To follow II
hA .anftmRNf IN fht
saving. Live and let live" This Is In a
great measure the secret OF business
success. Que man says 10 another
..You buy of me aud will buy your
goods of you," aud In the transaction
each one makes profit. Therefore, !
do not think IL best Ia encourage the
farmer TO do by himself too much OF his
constructive work or repairs. Here and
there one may be found who Is capable
Of planning and building new barn
but in most cases IL will be cheaper In
the end for the farmer TO employ 4
builder, while he Is giving his time To
the more valuable operations, TO him, oil
harvesting and marketing his crops.
The thought OF MIR. Drake l. correct
While farmer may acquire handines'
In making his general repairs YET IL u
clearly true that good farm In the
hands of a trained farmer Is able To ex-
haust the normal powers OF its owner In
the direct work of growing aud market
ing crops, either through animals OF
directly. Any depression from this main
line will usually ne at u disadvantage
In thus speaking We would not dis
courage the lesser constructive worS
that can be done At manifest advantage
on the farm where labor is cheaper and
at times impressed with more essential
ork of the farm; yet there is class oi
farmers and of farm thinkers who advo'
cate and practice making such tools as
horse sleds aud some OF their working
wagons that require much time and
liberal measure Of skill. In short, the
farm has opportunities enough for NJ
active mind to occupy itself to full adj
vantage Mirror aud Farmer.