The Marlboro democrat. [volume] (Bennettsville, S.C.) 1882-1908, 1905-09-29
Full Text Of the Speech Of Or.
s. ]. Summers at
CLEMSON COLLEGE.
lie Tells Why Farmers Should be Edu.
Gated, and What Good Use a Far
mer Can Put an Education
to, Every Young Man
Should Read 1t,

u6us-
Realizing, rs we do, the exodus of
our young men from the country to
the towns and cities, and the low es.
TEEN In which farming has been held
since the Civil War, Let us consider
the causes. When the cry Of war
went throughout cur Southland our
men both old and young responded
nobly and as this great struggle con-
tlnued and cur ranks were thinned,
our boys answered to the call filling in
the breaches caused by the death Of
their fathers, brothers and friends.
After four years Of this terrible war,
with all Of its disasters, the survivors
returned to their homes, to find them
In ruin and destruction. Their build
tngs were dilapidated; their lands had
grown up in bushes and briars, and
their bitches filed in. The negro
was free and demoral!zed. Little, If
any, stock was left and farming i'm.
PIGMENTS scarce.
In view Of this spectacle is 1T at all
remarkable that the survivors of the
Lost Cause became discouraged? Aud
yet, with that determination which
made them fight as never mon fought,
they determined to bring order out or
chaos,
After struggling for years, trying
to support their families and, at the
same time, give their children such
educational advantages as possible,
they made little progress. Reading
was neglected; homes began to lose
their attractiveness and farming was
considered a drudge Feeling that al
they could earn vas necessary for the
support OF the family, their boys and
girls were not allowed any pocket
money. Besides they neglected to
plant those crops which we've neces-
sary for the support Of the family,
depending largely upon coJton to fur
nish means by which they could buy
grain, hay and meat. This lack Of
diversiHcation and also the large yields
OF cotton, without organization and
protection and placing all Of IL on tie
market very naturally brought bhe
price so low that Is was Impossible to
make ends meets. With these facts
staring them In the face, 60 we won
der that fathers and mothers, who
loved their children and wished to
have them relieved OF such burdens
and hardships, induced them to leave
the farm and enter the professions or
seek employment In the cities? The
cities with their many attractions
naturally lured our boys and girls. and
they continued to go until the coun,
try was almost depleted.
But the times have changed. The
farmer after dsar experiences, has
learned to diversity. He is farming
from a rational and reasonable stand.
point. To-day, he Is reading az hs
never read before, and we find moro
Intelligence among this class OF mel
than the world ever knew. He Il
educating his boys and girls, ant
placing them in such circumstance.
as render them the peer OF any. He
Is improving farm and home, making
them more and more attractive, anC
yet we still reaiizs the TACT that many
OF our young men are leaving Tho
farms for the various professions
thinking there is more dignity anC
financial gain to be derived therefrom.
They still look upon the farm as 10
curing too much hard work and. toe
little pay. They do not appreciate
the fact that farming, to be success
ful, requires a good education and
more scientific knowledge tlan any
Of the professions. Education witt,
common sense and energy properly
directed Is the keynote to succs So.
And without these our boys are plac.
ed at q great disadvantage. Fellow far.
mers, do not hest cate to give your
boys the best educational advantages,
Tor as they enter upon this great work
or farming they will greatly need it.
There never was such q demand for
thorough educated and practical men
on the farm as to date. Now do not
understand me to say that q young
man without a collegiate education
cannot succeed, for some OF our best
farmers In our State TO day have
fever matriculated at a college, but |
do mean to say, that other things be-
Ing equal, the educated young maj
has by far the greater advantage
Again, education Ots not consist Of
mere knowledge Of books; or, in other
words, theory alone, but tie truly
educated nan Is the one who has
studied, observed and read and can
make practical application or what he
has learned. Some Of the greatest
men CT the past were self educated.
So, gentlemen, education in the tue
sense consists OF that power to reason
n draw conclusions IN are actual
facts; and success is to put these facts
into practical use. Where ave we
a broader field for knowledge than On
the farm where we come in contact
day by day with nature and Ter nar-
velous works? Where may we study
the soil with its various Clements,
and plaintiff as the chemical changes
take place thereby feeding upon the
clements and developing into a thing
Of beauty ard profit? In what pro
ftssion Is Chemistry, Botany, Bacter.
iOlogy and Materia- Medica more need
ed than that Of farming? When VIC
look into nature and see her great
works and prepare ourselves to solve
these problems In such o manner as
to be able to assist her In bringing
about the proper changes and condi
tions to accomplish the greatest re-.
suits, then and only then Shall we be.
ONT Intelligent and successful far
mers. Then may we expect Ioeults
such as the world has never before
Witnessed.
And now, young gentlemen, will
you look upon farming az a CALLING of