No. 7. Department of agriculture. 293 



the Federal Government should co-operate with the State Govern- 

 ment to secure the needed change and improvement of our schools. 

 Too often our present schools tend to put altogether too great a 

 premium upon mere literary education and therefore to train awaj 

 from the farm and shop. We should reverie this process." 



A very important thing in the education of the child is to have 

 him learn to express hi* thoughts in his own words instead of quot- 

 ing the words of the text-book. You now hear many farmers say, 

 ''I know how to do things, but I cannot express my thoughts intelli- 

 gently to tell others." And too often if you look for a good honor- 

 able man to fill some important office he is wanting for he lacks 

 confidence in himself, and will not accept, and you must look to 

 the towns and cities for a man to send, and of course they will work 

 for the interests of their kind before they will for the agricultural 

 class, and w^e have no right to complain so long as we will trust our 

 interests to outsiders. 



Now we want the child of today to learn to think, then to acquire 

 the art of expressing his thoughts clearly and sensibly. Then when 

 he reaches man's estate and is called to an important office or to 

 the legislative halls he will know what he wants, and will be able 

 to present his claims, and if he has had the principles of honor made 

 part of himself he will not be so apt to be bought but will stand 

 for the right; and will feel that: 



"Better than grandeur, better than grold, 



Than rank and duties a thousand fold, 



Is a healthy body and mind at ease, 



And simple pleasures that always please. 



A heart that can feel for another's woe, 



With sympathies large enough to enfold 



All men as brothers, Is better than gold. ' 



"Better than gold Is a conscience clear. 



Through toiling for bread in an humble sphere; 



Doubly blessed with content and health, 



Untired by the lusts and cares of wealth; 



Lowly* living and healthy thought 



Adorn and ennoble a poor man's cot; : 



For mind and morals in nature's plan. 



Are the genuine tests of a gentleman. 



"Better than gold is a thinking mind, i 



That in the realm of books can find 



A treasure surpassing Australian ore, 



And live with the great and good of yore. 



The sage's lore and the Poet's lay, 



The glories of empires passed away; 



The world's great dream will thus unfold. 



And yield a pleasure better than gold. 



"Better than gold Is a peaceful home, 

 Where all the fireside characters come — 

 The shrine of love and the heaven of life, 

 Hallowed by mother, or sister, or wife. 

 However humble the home may be 

 Or tried with sorrow by heaven's decree. 

 The blessings that never were bought or sold 

 And center there, are better than gold." 



In summing up then, if we want to better the conditions of farm 

 life for the farmer of the future, we want to interest the mothers 

 of our land in the matter of right child training, and have them feel 

 what a sacred trust is committed to them, and that the duty to the 

 child is paramount to all other duties. I do not mean coddling 



