The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-06-25

The Grange is securing better
schools. Farmers are realizing that
farming is something more than an
important accident, that it can be
made to yield returns in pleasure,
money and brain power that few
other occupations give. And they
are struggling to give their sons and
daughters a better education that
they may be enabled to obtain these
increased eniOyments. Many Oranges
are founding libraries, so that the
Grange hall becomes not only the
club house of American farm life,
but the intellectual center as we'll.
In the Grange hall are held enter
tainments of various kinds. Leo
turers, such as would do credit to a
good-sized town, are brought here to
contribute to the enjoyment of the
farmer. Indeed, in many instances
the town is not slow to come to the
country to gain intellectual food.
Contact with one another is en-
HANGING the natural graces of q
sons and daughters, rubbing off the
rough corners and the mannerisms
so common to young people. This
social contact, adding grace and dig
nifty as it does, is breaking down the
barriers between the town and cOun-
try. The town finds as much grace
and culture and refinement in the
couftry as in its own select circles,
and is glad to go to it, and have the
country come to the town. Both
can meet on common ground. Neither
is awkward or constrained. Each
gives and receives and is happy in
the exchange. Here l fnG one of
the chief advantages OF the Grange.
No one can doubt the brightness nor
%acuteness of the country youth who
watches him winning laurels in col
leges and in after life. But any one
who has been through the trying or
deal, will tell you that the fercest
struggle he had in his early college
career was not with his lessons
those he could easily master-but
with his bashfulness, and his inabil-
ity to tell logically the result of his
study. He knew, and he knew that
he knew in a broader and fuller
sense than that glib-spOken young
man, the lesson assigned him. 1t
does not contribute to his peace of
mind to know that he is graded down
because he lacked self confidence.
The Grange is training its mem
bers in elf-confidence. 1t is train
ing them to think and speak on their
feet, and to follow the line of thought
of another speaker. A man we'll
grounded in Grange doctrine, who
has been faithful in his attendance,
and who has taken part in the dis
cussiOns, does not sit agape with
wonder at Il political convention
while some little tin god is trotted
out to be reverenCed. No, he sees
him in his true light, and all the
cheering and plaudits of the packed
convention cannot win his approba-
ton. A Grange friend attended n
of these conventions. "What do
you think of the nominee?" l asked.
q never dreamed we had such small
timber running our affairs" replied
he. "7Why, l would fine one of
Changers if lie couldn't make a bet
ter speech than was made at the con-
ventiOn. 1 rather believe such stu
pidity would warrant his being
politely excused from further at
tendance. All those fello VS. know is
u few tricks. They are possessed of
cunning, not ens l guess We can
get what we want" Thus contact
with one another breeds self-conf-
dence and ability to look after our
interests.
The real work of the Grange is
written in living letters of light
wherever a strong organization ex-
lists. It's power for good is seen in
better schools and churches, better
farms and stock, happier faces, and
happier homes. After all it is only
the logical outcome of a band VI N
telligent, hopeful sturdy men and
women, anxious to hasten in every
way possible that good time
"When man to man the world DER
Shall brothers be for a that"
The true foundation of republican