HOW TO AMUSE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE FARMS. 475 



President Willits : That is the reason why the farmers' boys are the suc- 

 cessful ones in general business life. On Wall street, and everywhere in the 

 active walks of life, you find that the head man grew up on the farm. So in 

 Congress. It is the man who had a general business, either as a lawyer or 

 otherwise, who has the most comprehensive mind and the readiest grasp 

 on the multiple variety of subjects that come up for consideration. For that 

 reason the country lawyer who is called upon to deal with a great variety of 

 cases is apt to become more generally useful in Congress than the more 

 specialized lawyer from the cities. I believe in a man standing by his cloth, 

 and don't believe in this constant complaining of farmers. The successful 

 man must be an enthusiast in his occupation, be it medicine or manufactur- 

 ing or farming. Talk that way and believe in your business and the boys 

 will not want to leave the farm. 



Senator Sherwood, of Watervliet: I disagree with the idea that farmers 

 ought not to complain. I think that when we find things wrong it is our 

 business to complain, and to insist on the rectification of things that can be 

 rectified. Moreover, I don't quite believe in so representing our business as to 

 attempt to crowd everybody into it. The manufacturers and merchants and 

 lawyers don't do this. 



Prof. Cook: I visited a friend's farm where for half a mile along the road- 

 side he used the lawn mower. Now, we cannot all do that, but we can clean 

 out the rag weed, and clean up the fence corners, and make things 

 attractive. 



Senator Mars: I take pride in my roadside. I pick up every stone and 

 mow it often enough not to need to rake up the grass. 



Mr. Wm. Chamberlain : I tried my mowing machine along the roadside 

 and the sickles looked like it afterwards. I like to have other people mow 

 down their weeds and briers. We are very fond of looking to the law or 

 some outside power to help us, but it is the farmer who attends to his own busi- 

 ness and takes care of his own farm who succeeds. This is of more import- 

 ance than the Interstate Commerce bill, or all the laws that can be passed. 



Mr. Miller : I want to tell how my father kept his boy on the farm. 

 When 16 I detested it most heartily and just about then my father said, it is 

 about time for you to go to the Agricultural College. There I found that farm- 

 ing could be made attractive and desirable, and that it depends on one's self 

 to make it so. Ever since I have thought that the farm was just the place 

 for me. 



HOW TO AMUSE THE YOUNG PEOPLE OF THE FARMS. 



BY MRS. MARTHA W. SCOTT. 

 [Read at the Fremont Institute. February 4, 1887.] 



Mr. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen : 



The subject assigned me is a problem with several unknown quantities, and 

 seems to be hard of solution. This subject includes also the graver ones, 

 how shall we keep them on the farm? and, what instruction shall they 

 receive ? and it is impossible to discuss the subject profitably except in this 

 connection. 



