The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1899-01-21
MAGNOLIA COUNTY MISSISSIPPI SATURDAY,

Aoili SGHIts ~ 10 tUc tfHItFAtiNt
duty of this convention to use its
utmost power to bring the people
to a fuller realization OF the fact
that more intellect is needed on
the farm. The growth of eco
nomic thought and understanding
has touched and enriched every
other departn eat OF mans activ-
ity, but on the farm the methods
are the same as they were forty
years ago Expansion in acres
of growing cotton, rot expansion
of brain, skill and judgment, is
characteristic OF the history Of
oui southern farmer.
To begin, with our educational
system is radically wrong. Why?
1t dresses the mind as men do
their bodies, in the prevailing
fashion. At each point in our
school curriculum the question
asked is not what knowledge is
of most worth in the building Of
character and the preparation for
comp etc living. but what will
give social prestige ard influ-
ence. How many men who are
employed in the production and
distribution of commodities really
understand anything OF the phys
ical, chemical, or vital properties
of the things with which he must
deal?
How many farmers have been
instructed in that knowledge
which bears directly upon the in
dustrial activities? How many
of them know anything OF the
analysis of manures and soil and
their adaptation to each other?
How many farmers know what
biology is, or why the keeping Of
cattle warm saves fodder? And
yet these are of vital concern to
the farmer who would make his
business a success. Do you know
that if men had learned only
what is taught in the schools
England would today lie buried
beneath a feudal barbarism. Our
school curriculums should be
brought into conformity with the
truth that education is something
more than a bare accomplish
ment, it is a necessity, and to
this end we think the elements OF
agricultural physics, chemistry,
and biology should be taught in
the public schools.
For when the farmer shall be-
gin to learn how to rotate crops
and enrich his soil when he shall
be made to feel, and to utilize
for his own advancement, the
marvellous array of forces that
surround him, when he shall be-
gin to realize that the farm is in
deed vast domain for the exer-
else of his highest intellectual
powers, when he shall come to
see that senseless conformity
to routine and one crop theory
leads not only to the impoverish-
ment of his soil, but to the de-
struction of his very brain and
soul. And finally when he shall
come to know thar brains per Sc
don't make the man, but that
brains and muscle must know
how to do a mans work and bear
a mans weight Of character and
duty, and that God intended life
as the great man developer an
character builder, then may we
hope for tbs complete indepen-
dence OF the American farmer,
| Nearly three centuries ago a
band of 101 careworn exiles land
ed on the bleak and inhospitable
shore Of Plymouth. Though the
soil was unproductlye and the
climate severe, they sought nc
richer fields. They were content
with liberty and an opportunity
Small the beginning, yet theii
work has blessed mankind and
given to the world its loftiest ex-
ample of the power OF patience
and energy. courage and forti-
tude. My friends, If you viii
carry into the work you here take
up but half the conservation ol
pl5rpose, but half the energy
possessed by that band Of Puri.
tan exiles you will yet clad these
pine hills with glorious harvesti
| and bring the sunshine OF peace
and plenty into many O desolat'
home.
i Remember that you live in /
lew and an exceptional age, al
age when idleness is a crime
Remember lhat, Notwithstanding
your seemingly hard lot, you arr
today in the full enjoyment o
blessings beyond the common al
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