The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1918-07-11
Then and Now

A few days ago | had an opportuni-
ty to take an automobile trip through
a section in South Scion, where in
boyhood days my parents lived and
attended school and followed the same
lines of work and play and pleasure
that lively country boys always did
and always will To visit these
scenes Of my early years was of great
interest to me and ! am led TO com
pare the difference that Is so plainly
manifest between the years 1853-4-5-
81 and today.
The farm buildings where our fam
lily lived during these years are now
vacated. Where we raised large
farm crops and kept a goodly amount
of farm stock, not a rod of land Is
under cultivation. Only the hay re
mains to be harvested We had a
family that varied from six 10 nine
and at one time sent six scholars to
the district school Now not one Is
there. The next farm, owned and oc-
cupied by L. C. Jewett and family, Is
in fine condition and everything in
dicates careful and progressive farm
conditions. The next farm on the
left Is in possession of family of
two. No children to attend school
where at the time above mentioned
there were four. Across the way on
the right, where at that time was
family of five or six, now buildings
vacated and going to ruin. Still furth-
err up at the South Scion Corner, the
farm buildings are going to pieces,
the land returning to its primitive con-
dition and no call for a school teach
er. Then a family of four and two
scholars. Now vacated and gone to
pieces. l went up to the first farm
on the right as we take the road go
ing to Scion village. Here, my uncle
Thurston and family lived, numbering
in these years eleven members. send
ing to school six scholars. To my
surprise ! found this farm vacated.
Buildings in fine condition and the
fields will produce large crop of hay.
No tillage crops and | wonder with
the scarcity of labor how the hay will
be harvested.
Another place of great interest to
me was the old schoolhouse where for
six years | tried hard to obtain the
simple rudiments of an education 1t
stands there now relic of the past
| went inside. There are some of
the same seats ! occupied sixty odd
years ago and often Obeyed the mas
| ter, who with stern look would give
the command Samuel. walk out here
| into the floor" Then from forty to
| fifty scholars. Now not over one
| fourth as many attend a new school
house in another location
Then my brothers and a younger
sister had to wade through January
snowdrifts and face the cold North
east winds a mile to school. Now a
team takes what few scholars there
are and conveys them to the school
house and returns with them. This Is
| the difference between then and now.
After my visit to this section and
remembering the farm conditions then
and noticing what they are today, the
impressions prevail with me that we
have drifted back from the standard
of those years. as whole, with our
boards of agriculture; our agricultur-
al scientists: our universities send
ing out information broadcast; our
farm organizations; the agricultural
press and last but not by any means
least the Grange with its wide sweep
of influence. we seem to be falling
away in our rural communities from
the standard our fathers maintained
sixty years ago both in population and
farm productions This is a matter
of vital importance and deserves care
full thought on the part of all We
should know the reasons why and cor
rect them if possible
SAMUEL F. EMERSON