The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1900-01-09

THE matter Of supreme oncern IN
Il connection with the small farm
is not it's advantage in the pro
duction of wealth, but its advantage
in the production OF character. Con-
ing to northwestern Minnesota in the
early days, Mr.. Curry had taken up
three quarter sections Of land-oDe
under the homestead act, n under
the pre- emption act, ard the third
under the timber culture act-Rpd later
had bought another quarter section
for SIS from a neignbor who was un
able to keep up payments on a S4OO
mortgage and unwilling to throw the
lands into the hands Of The mortgage
He had but a single son in his large
family, yet the remarkab'e thing about
his farm was his independence OF hired
help. Only one man vas kept, except
in the busy seasons. my wife and
girls" he said, until the older girls
went away to school, took entire chare
OF the milking and butter making "
This was one of the most important
parts Of the farm, and was managed
ideally. There Was q herd of one hun
dred COWS and calves, and the COW
stable was planned with such economy
that q small building housed them all,
with each IN a separate compartment
Yet the wife and the girls who KEEP
up the most profitable part of the farm
we're said to be among the finest wo-
men in the State. Mr.. Curry himself
spoke about the girls in q way that
was charming. My oldest girl" he
said, graduated at Bishop Whippe ls
academy as valedjctorian, was cent q
year to Wellesley, and is now back at
st. Mary's as a teacher. 1t was not
because she was an ~uncommonly smart
girl, for she isn's but because she has
been accustomed all her life to take
hold of things with energy and stitch
TO them until they were accomplished.
All the teaching she had got Was from
her mother and me, aud If you know
anything about a farm you know that
was pretty irregular. Now we bave
two more daughters ct St. Mary's
They have just as little fear
when q COW approaches them as when
they are entertaining a bishop" To
my deep regret, Twas unable to accepr
Nh. Curry's invitation 20 stay for din
ner, but as we Grove away I was glad
to see q pretty sixteen-yesr old girl at
the kitchen steps helping with tn
heaviest homework. 1t vas as charm
ing as the sight Of the College girls
aud educati Jnally is was more whole
ing developed into the flest woman
hood under an education that made
them healthful, self reliant, able, and
willing to serve in the common things
of life. Not only sound bodies AID
minds, bnt sound tearts, comes from
teaching like this. These girls seemed
TO me types of the American women
tina are to be when all thall recogn'z
that the best education ia that which
trains US TO minister and not to be
ministered unto.
For women, as we'll as men, the
average farm gives the training 10
self-9elisnce and self res oect upon
which the development OF democracy
rests Nowhere else have l found con
ditions so hopeiul. There are hard
ships enough, due to the prevaIe nee
Of debt, Of low prices, OF excessive
railroad rates, and the ike. But the
forces that deeply effect the character
Of the people are 10 a wonderful degree
working together for coed The great
farm with a low grade of independent
labor is giving place to the small farm
with a high grade of independent
labor. Tn Independent snail farmer,
by diveTsifying his crops, is avoiding
the crises when hired labor must b.
called IN, aud the increased use of ma
chinery, though less profitable than 1t
is often thought, still further reduces
the call for casual labor. More and
more the farming population is be
coming one Of iudependenT families
who plan for themselves and are their
own masters. Meanwhile thu educa-
tional movement, that has such aston