The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1903-06-24
CIcmson,s Graduates.

taken the agricultural course. Fifty
six graduate from the engineering
textile and kindred courses. From this
it is argued and with truth that Glenn
son is not peculiarly u farmers col
lege. While it is to be deplored that
technical training in agriculture is not
more sought aftor by young men, while
we regreU that II larger number OF
young men are not becoming special
lists in farming, it is well for Clemson
that it is not u single-barrelled inst
tuition. 1t is well for the people that
ia Clemson they have a fine school for
training their boys in all the practical
as distinguished from the learned pro-
fessions. At Clemson q boy can obtain a
good English education and atsame the
time his eyes and hands are taught so
that they can be used for making
things and earning money instantly
that his school days are ver.
1t is history that Clemson was
founded on a false pretense. The farm
crs wero tod that they would have a
college at which their boys could for
the most part earn their expenses by
four or fyo hours of farm work each
day. IL was proclaimed all over South
Carolina that the poorest farmer would
be able, III this way, to send his boys
to Clemson. At the time, it was in
s~istently pointed out b. newspapers
and others that such thing was wildly
improbable and net compatible with
collegiate instruction. In those days
the politicians were at the back Of
Clemson, It's establishment was indis-
pansablo to the personal success OF GER
tain politicians and the warning was
not needed. The people voted the
money, y high successful tcchnologi-
cal school in Columbia was abandoned,
and Clemson was founded. In a few
years, if it WAS tried at all, the expert
ment OF student farming with the OBJ
ject Of earning expenses, ended. How
small 4 figure it cuts rs u farmer boys
college is illustrated by the fact that
Charleston county, with only a hundred
or W farmers in its limits, probably
sends mo boys to Clemson than any
other county except Anderson.
In spite Of the institutions opeless
failure 20 provide the farmers with
what the politicians promised, Clemson
IS one of the most excellent and valua-
BILE schools that South Carolina has.
Higher education in the state had been
almost wholly on literary lines. The
need for mechanical education was
urgcnt-aud is yet urgent. The oppor-
tuntttcs for the educated artisan and
mechanic were rich-lnd are yet rich.
Clemson is today sending out numerous
young men who are accomplishing a
great work in developing the resources
of the state, who are helping to enrich
the state and who arc themselves being
handsomely paid. Another influential
factor in Clcmson's popularity Is that
the expenses are perhaps q little less
than ut other colleges in the state
consequently it appeals to o wider cir.
Gle of patrons than other colleges.
To the very poor boy it isas far away
as the others. To most boys a 5000.
q year school is as distant as a $500. a
year school--for the simple reason that
either is beyond his reach.
We know of no way to drive boys to
study farming in colleges. "As the
twig is bent, so is the rec jnclined''
but II year old lads are, as rule, stout
and stubborn saplings. They won't be
bent. The time will come when many
of the young fellows who are coming
out OF Clemson, the South Carolina
College, Charleston College, Furman
and Woiford, will be sorry that they
did not take up farming. AS we have
often said, there is 40 other calling
that offers 50 much TO the intelligent
youth who is willing to work. or the
90 Clemson graduates of this year who
did not take the farming course, mum
her VIII be farmers after al. They will
regret that they neglected the oppor-
tuniIy to acquire a thorough scientific
knowledge of it.
1T is claimed that Clemson is receiv-
ing q rather abundant share of public
funds, in II way or another. We have
no objection. This state is not mis-
spending q dollar in any sort of educa-
tiop, and Clemson is perhaps at this
particular time the most useful Of our
great schools. However, might it not
be practicable for a part of the funds
of Clemson to be set aside to pay the
expenses of II or two poor boys from
each county with the condition that
they take the farming course?