Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1902-10-09
GIVE THE BOYS A CHANCE.
Don't Keep Their In the Old Ruts,
and Then YOu May Keep Them
On the Farm.

Progress requires that each sue
ceeding generation shall be an i'm
provement upon the previous one.
Therefore, every boy should be a bet
ter man than his father; for if he is
not, probably it is the fathers fault.
The rising generation of farmers
should be better farmers than their
fathers, just as their fathers are bet
ter farmers than their grandfathers
were. Each generation should make
greater improvement, because better
opportunities are available; because
each generation has within its reach
all the knowledge of all the preced-
ing generations, and all the special
advantages that progress has placed
within its reach. And yet there are
many boys born on farms who will
follow in the footsteps of their IA
Tiers, turning neither to the right nor
the left to find a better way. And
many others will become dis
gusted with farming as they
see it p~racticed, go to town and
plunge into the whirlpool of strenu-
Gus existence, taking their chances to
sink or swim. These latter are the
ones who ought to stay on the farm,
because they have ambition, which,
if properly directed, would revolu-
-ionize the system of farming to
which they have been subjected. Their
experience has impressed them that
- r,ofnn &c har4 marE NOON ~ aDl
a continuous life of hardships, and,
having the germs of progressive man
hood about them, they kick out of the
traces and seek more e%ongenial en-
ployment elsewhere. Such a boy. Civ
en- a course at the A. and college, and
would begin to see the possibilities of
agriculture and town life would lose
its attractions for him. Recently a
young man who graduated at the
Texas A. and NJ. college in 1898. and
has since been managing his fathers
extensive farm in McLenan county
Texas, visited the college for the pur-
pose of inducing some of his old col
lege chums to go home with him and
spend a week there. The writer talked
with him on the occasion, and his
evident pride in his farm. which he
made no effort to conceal. was re-
freshing and gratifying. The young
nsen went home with him. spent a
week there and returned gratifed and
their agricultural enthusiasm greatly
stimulated. The father of this young
man has retired from active manage
ment of the farm, and the boy is max
ing good use of the knowledge ac-
quired at the A. and NJ. college. 1t is
needless TO add that the Gurley farm
is profitable, and that John Gurley
has no thought of going to town to
live. Give the boys a chance to learn,
and then give them a chance to put
their learning into practice. If they
want to revolutionize the old farm,
don't tell them to .'let well enough
alone" for nothing is well enough
that can be made better. If they
want L adopt new methods. don't
veto the propositions; but hear their
reasons, counsel with them; perhaps
you can learn something yourself
from such consultations, for gray
hairs are not an infallible indication
Of wisdom. Neither is it certain that
the boy is a fool because he proposes
methods you know nothing about. II
you are not too old to learn. see if
you can't gain some information from