Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1915-11-02
What Will the Boy Do?

Not long ago 1t was the privilege or
the editor of The Enquirer to have a
talk with a most estimable farmer
couple, who had after a long, earnest
and useful struggle on the farm, raised
fine family of boys and girls, and
given them all a good education.
All the boys but one had practically
chosen their life work and this one
was not yet out of college, and the
question was what would probably be
his chosen avocation.
The attitude of the parents in this
case was that they desired their boys,
of all Of which they were justly proud,
to do what they liked; but it was a
fact that the youngest boy had not
yet given out any intimation except
that he would continue to operate the
old farm. The parents seemed to have
hope that such would be his final
decision; but still they were evidently
determined not to try to exercise any
undue influence.
OF course as to what this boy, with
practical knowledge Of farming be-
fore he went to college, and good ed
ucation in agricultural chemistry when
he comes home, is going to do, is prob
lematical. A young man Of clean life,
fine character, and splendid physique,
there is no reason to doubt that this
boy will have many temptations in
| various lines Of activity other than the
farm; but If he should choose the
farm, choose it willingly, the proba-
bility is that he will accomplish more
for himself and for his fellow men
than in any other line.
If any one should undertake to be-
little the intelligence of the farmers
of York county as class, we would
hasten to their defense most strenu-
ously There are among the farmers
of York county many men, some
young, some middle-aged and some
old, who will measure up most credit
ably with any class Of people any
where, and amongst them too are a
few who are possessed Of all that may
be had from the best colleges in the
land.
However, the fact remains that
many of our bright farmer boys, after
having been raised to the hard work
of the plow, the hoe, the turns and
the like, are disposed to seek other
means Of livelihood, and too few Of
them, especially after having received
a liberal education, are willing to con-
tinue on the farm.
According to the way we see it, there
! is no use Of our trying to change any
Of this and we are not going to try to
change it. We recognize that this is
a free country as 1t should be, and ev-
cry man should be allowed to follow
the bent of his inclination without
hindrance in whatever useful line; but
at the same time we would be glad to
see more of our boys go from the COL
| lege to the farm.
According to our belief, more than
once previously expressed, there has
been more progress in agriculture in
this country during the past twenty
years than during any previous hum
| dred years, and up to this time there
has only been fairly satisfactory
start. There has been accomplished
only enough to show what can be ac-
complished, and with the start that
has been made all that is now neces-
sary to higher and better things on the
farm-things as high from any stand
point as may be attained in any other
avocation-is the assistance that the
literary and scientific knowledge of the
colleges can give the practical train
ing that the farmer boys have receiv-
ed before going off to school.
The time is coming. we hope, when
the farmer boys, after getting through
college, are going back to the farm to
make use of all the really valuable
knowledge that their fathers had, to
discard such errors as their fathers may
have made, and to use their enriched
and broadened minds and energies in
| the better management Of labor, and
in the more scientific conduct Of farm
| ing operations generally.