Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1902-07-24

region, where narrow trails edge dizzy
precipices and horse must jump like
a rabbit over bank and bowlder. And,
besides, how could woman ride upon
a sidesaddle and rope steer?
When one of the Misses Walker needs
training stable and select it for her,
examining every point to see that it is
perfectly gated and warranted safe
and gentle. The girl springs upon a
horse she has already broken, and away
she gallops into the midst of the wild
looks at them till she finds one that
suits her fancy; then she lassoes it un-
erringly, brings it to the ground and
breaks it in like a rough rider in the
wild west show. 1t snorts insanely,
struggles and bucks frantically; but it
bucks against fate, for the young lady
is it's master. When it was a wild
colt a year old, this same girl or one
of her sisters lassoed it, threw it and
helped to brand it. Woman's weak
ness has been effectually developed out
of her by the brave, free bringing up
the Oregon sisters have had.
In addition to their other accomplish
ments, they are unerring rifle shots
and carry gun and blanket with them
when in the saddle. Woman's coward
ice has here also been eliminated, and
the woman is all the better for it. She
will love her children just as devoted
ly when she has them and will be all
the better able to take care of them.
At one of the state agricultural
schools woman is proving that she is
physically strong enough to take on
herself the teamwork that it has been
supposed hitherto only men could do
Girls at this school are being trained
not only to manage farms, but actually
to perform with their hands the labor.
At any time in the season young lady
students may be seen blowing, har
rowing, planting, sowing and reaping
and doing all scientifically under the
eye of professor. A woman may not
perhaps as yet be able to throw a stone,
but she undoubtedly has proved she
can cut straight furrow with the
pillow. What Is more, when the young
lady student has done her stint at
blowing or narrowing she must unhar-
ness her horse, feed, water, halter,
stall him and curry him. No detail is
omitted that will accomplish her as a
practical farmer, and every one of the
girl students has proved she has the
physical strength to stand up to her
work; also that this strength increases
with the exercise of it; also that it is
wholly compatible with perfect WON
anly refinement and gentleness.
The young ladies who are graduated
from this agricultural school will be
prepared to take entire charge of
country place as farm superintendent.
The course of instruction also includes
dairying, live stock raising and horti-
culture.
In fruit culture and dairying there is
certainly promising field for women
skilled in the practical knowledge of
them. 1t can no longer be said that a
woman has not strength to do farm
work, especially the lighter kinds, when
she is proving that she is equal even to
the heavier part. On the abandoned
little rocky farms of New England.
which are near to good market, thou
sands of dissatisfied, dependent wom-
en- might today be earning a noble liv-
ing at dairying, poultry rearing and
fruit and flower culture.
SUSAN PEPPER.