Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-01-24

/ but when compared with the life of the
average wage Garner in our cities the pai-
ance is largely on the side of a he on the
farm.
But how shall our boys and girls be in
duced 10 realize the situation before theE
go through the bitter experience OF tflai
of city life? This is one of the problems
FOR the grange to solve.
| In the first place the parents of the boys
| or girls on our farms should begin early
| to instiIl into their minds love FOR coun-
trv life: they should be taught to know
| and distinguish the various kinds of birds
| that abound in their vcinity-to recOg-
nize their different songs, their habits of
nesting and of rearing their young-thcir
| harmful or beneficial propensities re-
lated TO the farmers crops and otherwise
The different animals and their habits
should be taught them. They should be
made to understand that nowhere else but
in the country can these creatures be seen
and enjoyed TO the fullest extent. They
should teach them how to plant seeds in
the soil, to watch them germinate and
grow in:o the mature plant, each after its
own kind. Our domestic animals their
origin and various uses for mans service.
At early age the father should attemp;
10 cultivate an interest in the boy in the
work of the farm-cOnsut with him as to
how to do certain things. whether he fol-
low his advice or not. The boy will be
made to feel that he is of consequence in
the management of the farm. DO not
make him simply a machine for carrying
wood and water. AS he grows Older and
able to assist materially in the farm work
don't over tax his strength. Don't set
him TO do tasks that you dislike To do
yourself. Explain to him the reasons tor
what YOU ask him to do if he does not
understand. Give him an interest in some
of the farm animals Set apart piece of
land for him TO raise a crop himself and
don't forget to let him have the proceeds
of it, DO rot decrv the calling of the
farmer in the presence OF your hoy -"
not send him TO school telling him that
You want him to learn so he can get a
living easier than by farming. in snort
educate the boy toward a country life and
toward the farm instead OF away from II.
When he is grown to mature years should
he then develop a decided dIstaste for
farm life and an equally decided taste for
some other particular calling, then give
him your blessing and utmost assistance.
You have done Your duty ana ii the boy
was made for some other business than
farming he will be none the worse for
having had instilled into his mind love
for country life As with the boy so with
the girl Let the parents endeavor tn
make her home life so pleasant and at
tractive that she will wish to remain
there She is as much needed in the c3un-
try bone as the boy and the perils Of city
life FOR her are tenfold those of the boy.
Our public schools should also be a
medium for intoxicating these same ideas.
They should be taught love Of home and
the many advantage of a life in the
country. The underlying principles of
agriculture should be required to be
taught in all of our country public
schools. The grange through discussion
and the personal influence of each of its
members should strive to mould public
opinion in this direction. The grange
prides itself in being an educational in
stitutiOn; it is one of its prominent
fea lures 1t has accomplished much, but
much more remains to be done, and moth
ing seems to me of more Importance than
constant effort along the lines which
have attempted to indicate.