Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-12-12

usually receives. but the daily paper.
too. and the illustrated weekly. the
popular-pri"ed monthly and the book
publishers catalogue or bulletin
II is true that there are papers. which
the common phrase calls yellow" which
the farm home is better off without
Luridly sensational in their description
Of crimes and scandals; delibern tely dts
honest in their distortlonso of news reports
10 suit personal prejudices or interests
reckless and hastv IN their statements
and judgments; open to bribery. direct
and indirect. which makes their adver-
Using pages an abomination. their news
pages mtrustworthy and their editorial
columns D., mockery, they are an evil in
1uonco In the land, TO bee dreaded and
stunned
BIT the number Of these Journalistic
black sheep is very small, when COM
pared with the srcat army OF honest
clean. well-edted newspapers 10 bc
found IN every State in the Union. These
journals are sincere in their desire TO
hold up true mirror 10 tho times; to re-
port tho events of the day with readab BILE
interest Yet promptly. fully and fairly;
to comment upon them wisely and wit
llN, without UlitCe ana WIKI serious
purpose TO me It IS n matter Of con-
slant wonder and admiration that our
newspaper men OF to-day do the work
they do as well as they do with the
hindrances ana limitations to which
they arc subject. Their share IN the cred
il for the progress OF America IS a
great one.
To an equal or, perhaps even greater
extent the weekly and monthly pubica-
tons OF national circulation are factors
of great weight and good weight in our
progress; and in the tremendous output
OF the book publishers each year. while
there is much trash there Is much that
is useful, informing and interesting. And
In the matter of books T. is always pos
siblo to apply the one final test. that Of
time. The worthy cndures the unworthy
is forgotten,
This the American farmer has learned
and is learning His literary taste, it not
wide is usually good at bottom. and IT
is improving as tho WHY book agents can
testify who ind It increasingly difficult
to place in farm homes tho gaudily
bound products OF literary hacks which
were once their main stock IN trade.
But, after all. tho education by per-
sonal contact and by the printed page
while it has proved sufficient for some
of our greatest men, has its difficulties
and its limitations. over which only the
most determined and persistent can tr!-
umph without help
The maximum of educational result
can he obtained with a minimum Of eff
fort, time and expense by earnest in
dividual effort with textbook and note
book in class room and lecture hall in
accordance with more or less fixed
curriculum and under the direction OF n
qualified, experienced and devoted fac
ulty.
Upon the learning by rote OF what even
the best textbooks In any subject say
! would lay little stress. Upon learning
how Ia think, upon training the mental
processes TO work quickly. directly
correctly, upon the cultivating of ndi-
Nidual initiative and personal power.
would lay tho greatest stress.
AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION,
Turning from education in general &c
agricultural education in particular, We
find its beginning in the nature study
Of the lowest grades I'm our puhli,
schools. This Is now very generally cs-
tablished In the graded schools OF the
country and has its very useful part in
the general scheme OF education by inn
pressing upon the child In hts most
plastic days the Importance and IN, m-
terest of the world just about him, tn,
beauties and the wonders Of the outdoor
life, the dignity ana the nobility of the
/ farmers calling.
There should be an organized effort OF