366 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Grant and Washington, immortal worthies, whose superlative mili- 

 tary leadership is inseparably associated with two of the greatest and 

 most beneficial causes in human history. 



Thus we might multiply almost infinitely examples of country boys 

 who won the highest measure of distinction along the various- lines 

 of human effort. Most of our successful business men in our great 

 cities to-day came from rural or village homes. Several years ago 

 I read in a New York City paper, a statement that of all the editors of 

 the great newspapers of that metropolis, only one was born and 

 reared in the city. And what is true of New York, is largely true of 

 other cities, not only along editorial, but also along other business 

 lines. In the country a boy gains almost without any conscious 

 effort a vast amount of useful knowledge about nature and other 

 things concerning which his city competitor remains ignorant, or 

 acquires only at the expense of much time and hard study. Country 

 life and labor are conducive to health and the development of a robust 

 constitution, better adapted to stand the strain it may be called on to 

 endure in subsequent life. 



Development of pluck is another result of life on a farm. A boy 

 is often placed in a position of trust or responsibility, when unex- 

 pected emergencies arise requiring him to depend on his own re- 

 sources, and surmounting the difficulties, it creates within him a 

 spirit of self-reliance and courage to fight the battle of life manfully 

 and heroically. 



The weal or woe of a nation depends largely on the home life of its 

 people. In order that our homes may be the stronghold of our State 

 and nation, proper influences and healthful conditions must exist 

 within them. Strict obedience should be required. In homes where 

 children are allowed to be insubordinate, and to lord it over parents, 

 they generally grow up to be selfish and domineering, without re- 

 spect for authority of any kind, while frequently some from this 

 class have to be taught restraint by the strong arm of the law; while 

 from those homes in which obedience and respect for the rights of 

 others are taught, will likely come a fairer-minded and better class 

 of citizens. It is generally conceded that only those will ever be fit 

 to command who have first learned to obey. Both sexes should be 

 taught to work. Every one should be able to do some kind of useful 

 labor and to do it well. 



Some parents require this on the part of the boys, but neglect the 

 girls. The poet says: 



"To spin, to weave, to knit, to sew, 



Were once a girl's enjoyment; 

 But now to dress and catch a beau. 

 Are all a girl's employment." 



