Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-03-18
FARMERS INSTITUTES.
EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCES AT WORK
TO ENNoBLE THE FARMERS LIFE.

read sufficiently well to get along, ant
understand figures simply or indiffer
emily.
A different state of affairs prevails a,
the present time. A still different state
of farmer and farming affairs will pre-
vail in the future. For advancement
has come To be the watchword with the
farming community of people as will
other business men and women. Mucl
of the understanding of the need has
been brought about through the direct
influence of the well established insti
tute, that has become popular feature
of rural life, and that has been in force
for number of years, in measure.
There is yet room for vast improve
ment and for Institutes by tens where
only one is at present held or planned for
Farmers Institutes are increasing, but
not with the forceful multiplying OF
numbers required for the making OF
every farming community what it might
be- Great things have been accom-
plished as the fruits of thought expressed
at these gatherings of farmers and their
wives, and entire neighborhoods have
so changed In their manner of living,
doing and working that they have grown
TO be likened unto well populated viii
lagos, but with decided advantages over
them.
Farmer people who have lived to see
the daily mail brought to their doors
and the telephone into their houses have
great advantage over village people in
all that rural life brings to them, but
does not bring to the village people.
Farm homes thus equipped and beauti-
fully built up are the envy of business
men everywhere. Ii is no unusual thing
to hear a well to do business man in the
city or village express his desire to own
prosperous farm with its attendant
privileges of all outdoors to swing about
in. quiet from turmoil and din, and the
independence that always seems to be
connected with farming rs business.
The entire world, it appears, with one
accord acknowledges the farmer the
most independent man on earth.
But that depends. If he has lived up
to his opportunities, made the best of
his life and released himself from all
indebtedness and built up for himself and
family a home beautiful, he is independ-
ent. If, upon the other hand, he has
allowed mortgage and bills of every
description to accumulate and to rob,
he is not independent.
Our institutes of agricultural character
have done and are now doing much to
show men wherein they may be, if they
are not already, practically the most in
dependent class of working people on
the broad face of the universe. Men
have been encouraged to send their sons
to agricultural colleges and experimental
farms for seasons and sessions, as well
as to the high school, and then to
business colleges, universities, and TO
take special courses. Boys have caught
the infection of desire to be educated
men and educated farmers at these same
simple but great institutions of learn
ing-farmers' Institutes. The work has
thus been widespread and uplifting
Dormant ambitions have been aroused
to renewed energy, and united effort has
made the country beautiful and to wear
an appearance of true prosperity and
prOgreSsivenesS.
The institute spurs a man to the doing
of better farming, closer calculating and
to the adopting of improved methods OF
doing things, by which he receives the
better financial returns that enables him
to still further beautify his surround
ings and provide for his family after the
better approved manner of providing.
IL is a daily and constant educational
factor in the life of farmer people. Our
men and women grow refined and come
into an intellectual atmosphere that they
are capable of filling and enjoying:
People who isolate themselves and
devote all time and energies to simple
work fall fast into an apathetic state OF
mind and manner of accepting and look
inc upon life. But institute people who
are truly institute workers and enthu-
siasts are never found among the plod-
ding classes.
There is one little fault to be found
with them, one item to which their at
tention should be called at the very
outset of an institute season. This fault
should be so continuously and Slaringiy
put before our farmer men that they
shall have no reason for forgetfulness,
and no excuse for negligence. l speak
from an observers standpoint, and am
sorry to have it SO. Our farmers are
proverbially poor dressers. Not our
young men so much, but the fathers and
grandfathers of our young farmers. 1t
is true, however, that many, too, of the
Younger men think to make themselves
brave for the institute session by ap-
pearing in farm garb. 1t is blot upon
the fair name of the farmer. 1t is blot
upon the face of their profession. 1t
belittles their avocation. 1t heralds to
the onlookers from other business lines
of pursuits that the farming classes are
principally made up of men of ignorance,
slothfulness and poverty. Farmer men
grow careless as TO appearance all too
often.
Women are less inclined to do these
things. Many a woman who attends the
institute comes nicely dressed-even
very attractively dressed. Her daugh-
tiers, prettily attired, are also attractive
to the eye, and they command the
respectful attention that becoming
clothing always commands. Nor has the
family till been robbed to provide such
clothing. thus leaving husband and
brothers to appear in barnyard attire OF
overalls tucked into muddy or Drowned
boots, slouch hat, husking gloves and
threadbare coat and overcoat. Wives
and daughters on farms, generally speak
ing, provide for themselves both money
and wearing apparel.
A wife or daughter is ashamed to see
her husband, father and son coming into
the hall to attend institute sessions clad
as described. Yet in many instances
the writer has noted this style of dress.
ing among men to prevail. Now and
then farmer appears at institute meet
ings dressed as if for church. One in
voluntarily wishes that all men were
like him. ''Why will not our men dig
nifty their profession% l have often
found myself saying silently when feast
ing my eyes upon a fine specimen OF
manhood from the farm, well dressed
and deporting himself in erectness and
entire good form, as if to the manner
born.
A man may till the soil and care for
live stock, milk cows and feed swine
and sheep and do all the rough and
clothes soiling labor connected with
farming, and yet be gentleman not
only at heart, but in appearance.
But why will he so oftentimes present
himself at institute meetings bearing the
soil and odor of the barnyard and with
hair uncombed, and giving the world To
understand he considers himself "oniy a
farmer? When a man says he is "oniy
a farmer he is helping to make city and
village people believe farmer entirely
Ant M