The Lafayette advertiser. [volume] (Vermilionville [i.e. Lafayette], La.) 1865-19??, 1907-10-01

more interesting ana more lnQepenu-
ent? My friends, can think of no
question that / might talk about to
you that could be of more profit or
interest to you than this one.
| believe truly that the foundation
stone for the greater prosperity and
happiness of the farmer and his wife,
and his sons and daughters, is good
rural schools. And by good rural
school do not mean a place where the
boy or girl learns to take dislike to
farm life, and becomes eager and inn
patient to break away from the whole
some and independent occupation of
agriculturist, and be lured on to the
dubious, unsatisfying and disappOint-
ing life of town or city which trans
forms men and women, for the most
part, into mere machines and useless
ornaments of society. Good rural
schools l understand to be cleanly
and comfortable buildings properly
furnished with desks, seats dnd tables,
maps, globes and charts, and all ne
cessary appurtenances for the proper
training Of young people in useful
ways, with large play grounds and
sufficient additional land to be util-
lied in demonstrating the best and
most profitable way of planting, cul-
tivating and harvesting the leading
products that might be introduced
with advantage into Lafayette parish.
OF course, such schools would not
be complete without able and Jealous
teachers in charge of them, to give
the children intelligent and thorough
instruction not only in agriculture.
domestic science and manual training,
but likewise instruction in chemistry,
physics, mathematics, art and music,
and other fundamental branches of
study to serve as the ground work for
any scientific or professional voca-
ton the boy or girl of the rural school
might have the talent or inclination
to pursue as life-work.
With the adoption of the idea of the
best type of graded schools for de-
velOping brain power and skill of
hand as the keynote of our efforts to
extend and improve the conditions of
farm life in Lafay ette parish, there
would closely follow in natural Sc
quence good roads between the farm
and the market, and between the home,
the school and the church: telephone
communication between the homes of
neighbors and the benefits of telephone
connection with nearby towns and far
OFF cities. And good roads would
bring free rural mail and parcel de-
livery. Parish fairs, which do SO much
to disseminate valuable information
among farmers and stock-raisers, are
| likewise the Ougrowth of an enlight-
ened public mind cultivated by good
schools. The farmer and his family
will be more prosperous and will live
in contented spirit under the new con-
ditiOns, unwilling to abandon the
stronger and more satisfying attrac-
tions of farm life fostered and sus-
tanned by the good rural school exert
| ing its subtle influence over the minds
and hearts of the people in like man.
ner as the dew and sunshine stimu-
lates plants to grow and bear fruit,
and causes the bud to blossom and
give forth its beauty and fragrance.
And the farmers boy having happi-
ly learned to view life on the farm from
an attractive and exalted standpoint
| will remain on the farm as matter OF
choice. and he will be better off for
having done so and the country at
large will share in his gain, because
we cannot escape the fact that the
world will prosper and progress only
in proportion as the farmer and tiller
of the soil is enlightened, contented
and prosperous.
Now, because of the all-important
part of he plays in the affairs of the
world, the farmer ought to be the best
educated and best informed man of his
day. He should be able to take an
unbiased and comprehensive view OF
all great public questions, and should
throw his influence toward driving Out
al power the class of men who have
DO other interest in holding public