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diff --git a/39483-8.txt b/39483-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9bcc33d --- /dev/null +++ b/39483-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9991 @@ +The Project Gutenberg eBook, Farm Boys and Girls, by William Arch McKeever + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + + + + +Title: Farm Boys and Girls + + +Author: William Arch McKeever + + + +Release Date: April 19, 2012 [eBook #39483] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + + +***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FARM BOYS AND GIRLS*** + + +E-text prepared by Barbara Watson, Pat McCoy, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Canada Team (http://www.pgdpcanada.net) + + + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 39483-h.htm or 39483-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39483/39483-h/39483-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/39483/39483-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + Text in italics is contained within underscores, + i.e.: _italics_. + + Additional notes can be found at the end of the text. + + + + + +The Rural Science Series + +Edited by L. H. Bailey + +FARM BOYS AND GIRLS + + * * * * * + +The Rural Science Series + + + THE SOIL. + THE SPRAYING OF PLANTS. + MILK AND ITS PRODUCTS. + THE FERTILITY OF THE LAND. + THE PRINCIPLES OF FRUIT-GROWING. + BUSH-FRUITS. + FERTILIZERS. + THE PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 15th Ed. + IRRIGATION AND DRAINAGE. + THE FARMSTEAD. + RURAL WEALTH AND WELFARE. + THE PRINCIPLES OF VEGETABLE-GARDENING. + FARM POULTRY. + THE FEEDING OF ANIMALS. + THE FARMER'S BUSINESS HANDBOOK. + THE DISEASES OF ANIMALS. + THE HORSE. + HOW TO CHOOSE A FARM. + FORAGE CROPS. + BACTERIA IN RELATION TO COUNTRY LIFE. + THE NURSERY-BOOK. + PLANT-BREEDING. 4th Ed. + THE FORCING-BOOK. + THE PRUNING-BOOK. + FRUIT-GROWING IN ARID REGIONS. + RURAL HYGIENE. + DRY-FARMING. + LAW FOR THE AMERICAN FARMER. + FARM BOYS AND GIRLS. + THE TRAINING AND BREAKING OF HORSES. + + _Others in preparation._ + + * * * * * + + +[Illustration: PLATE I. + +FIG. 1.--At least once each day the busy farm father may think of a way +to combine his work with the children's play.] + + +FARM BOYS AND GIRLS + +by + +WILLIAM A. McKEEVER + +Professor of Philosophy +Kansas State Agricultural College + + + + + + + +New York +The Macmillan Company +1913 + +All rights reserved + +Copyright, 1912, +by the Macmillan Company. + +Set up and electrotyped. Published February, 1912. Reprinted +August, 1912; January, June, 1913. + +Norwood Press +J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. +Norwood, Mass., U.S.A. + + + + + DEDICATED + TO THE SERVICE OF THE + TEN MILLION BOYS AND GIRLS + WHO ARE ENROLLED IN + THE RURAL SCHOOLS + OF AMERICA + + + + +PREFACE + + +In the preparation of this book I have had in mind two classes of +readers; namely, the rural parents and the many persons who are +interested in carrying forward the rural work discussed in the several +chapters. It has been my aim to give as much specific aid and direction +as possible. The first two chapters constitute a mere outline of some of +the fundamental principles of child development. It would be fortunate +if the reader who is unfamiliar with such principles could have a course +of reading in the volumes that treat them extensively. Nearly every +suggestion given in the main body of the book is based on what has +already either been undertaken with a degree of success or planned for +in some rural community. + +I am very greatly indebted to the following persons and firms for their +kindness and generosity in lending pictures and cuts for illustrating +the book: E. T. Fairchild, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, +Topeka, Kansas; J. W. Crabtree, Principal State Normal School, River +Falls, Wisconsin; George W. Brown, Superintendent of Edgar County, +Paris, Illinois; O. J. Kern, Superintendent of Winnebago County, +Rockford, Illinois; Miss Jessie Fields, Superintendent of Page County, +Clarinda, Iowa; A. D. Holloway, General Secretary, County Y.M.C.A., +Marysville, Kansas; Dr. Myron T. Scudder, of Rutgers College; Doubleday, +Page & Company, Garden City, New York; _Rural Manhood_, New York City; +_The Farmer's Voice_, Chicago, Illinois; _The American Agriculturist_, +New York City; _The Oklahoma Farmer_, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; _The +Inland Farmer_, Lexington, Kentucky; _The Farmer's Advocate_, Winnipeg, +Canada. + +My thanks are also due _Successful Farming_, of Des Moines, Iowa, for +permission to use excerpts from President Kirk's article on the model +school, and portions of a series of brief articles written for the same +magazine by myself. + +The references given at the close of the chapters have been selected +with considerable care. It will be found in nearly every case that they +give helpful and more extended discussions of the several topics treated +in the preceding chapter. + + WILLIAM A. McKEEVER. + + MANHATTAN, KANSAS. + + + + +TABLE OF CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + + I. BUILDING A GOOD LIFE 1 + What is a Good Life? 2 + 1. Good Health 3 + 2. Usefulness 3 + 3. Moral Strength 4 + 4. Social Efficiency 5 + 5. Religious Interest 5 + 6. Happiness 6 + Is the Human Stock comparatively Sound? 7 + + II. THE TIME TO BUILD 12 + What of the Human Instincts 12 + The Dawning Instincts 12 + Social Sensitiveness Helpful 19 + + III. THE RURAL HOME AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT 26 + What Agencies build up Character? 26 + 1. Play 27 + 2. Work 30 + 3. Recreation 33 + Moving to Town for the Children 36 + A Back-to-the-country Club 38 + + IV. THE COUNTRY MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN 41 + Poor Conditions of Women 42 + For the Sake of the Children 44 + 1. Surplus Nerve Energy 44 + 2. A Rest Period 45 + 3. The Home Conveniences 46 + 4. The Mother's Outings 47 + 5. The Home Help 48 + 6. The Children shield the Mother 49 + 7. Planning for the Children 50 + 8. A Common Conspiracy 51 + + V. CONSTRUCTING THE COUNTRY DWELLING 54 + Plans and Specifications not Available 55 + What appeals to the Children 57 + The House Plan 59 + How One Farmer does It 60 + Outbuildings and Equipment 61 + Human Rights prior to Animal Rights 61 + The Children's Room 64 + The Evening Hour 67 + + VI. JUVENILE LITERATURE IN THE FARM HOME 69 + How Good Thinking grows up and Flourishes 70 + Types of Literature 72 + A Selected List 75 + Literature on Child-rearing 79 + 1. Periodicals on Child-rearing 80 + 2. Books on Child-rearing 80 + + VII. THE RURAL CHURCH AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE 82 + Decadence of Rural Life 83 + Work for the Ministry 84 + The Country Minister 86 + A Mistake in Training 89 + Rural Child-rearing 90 + The Churches too Narrow 92 + Constructive Work of the Church 93 + An Innovation in the Rural Church 95 + Spiritualize Child Life 97 + A Summary 98 + + VIII. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE RURAL SCHOOL 101 + Radical Changes in the View-point and Method 102 + All have a Right to Culture 103 + Work for a Longer Term 105 + Compulsory Attendance Laws Needed 106 + Better Schoolhouses and Equipment 107 + 1. Location 108 + 2. The Water Supply 109 + 3. Size and Adaptation of Grounds 109 + 4. Improvement of School Grounds 110 + A Model Rural School 112 + The Cornell Schoolhouse 115 + Help make a School Play Ground 117 + General Instruction in Agriculture 120 + Domestic Economy and Home Sanitation 122 + Consolidation of Rural Schools 123 + More High Schools Needed 124 + Better Rural Teachers Needed 125 + + IX. THE COUNTY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION 129 + Boys leave the Farm too Young 130 + Purposes of the County Young Men's Christian + Association 131 + How to organize a County Organization 132 + 1. Select a Good Leader 133 + 2. Local Leaders Necessary 134 + 3. A Committee on Finance 134 + 4. Little Property Ownership 135 + How to conduct the Work 136 + 1. Local and County Athletic Clubs 136 + 2. Debating and Literary Clubs 137 + 3. Receptions and Suppers 138 + 4. Educational Tours and Problems 138 + 5. Camping and Hiking 139 + 6. Exhibitions 139 + Spirituality not lost Sight Of 141 + Work in a sparsely Settled Country 143 + + X. THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE AS LEADERS OF THE YOUNG 146 + Preparation for the Service 147 + Work persistently for Social Unity 149 + Corn-raising and Bread-baking Clubs 150 + Other Forms of Contests 151 + The Improvement of the School Situation 152 + Home and School Play Problems 154 + A Neighborhood Library 156 + Holidays and Recreation for the Young 158 + Many over-work their Children 160 + Federation for Country-life Progress 161 + The Vocations of Boys and Girls 162 + Other Local Possibilities 164 + The Boy Scout Movement 165 + Rural Boy Scouts in Kansas 166 + + XI. HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY BOY 171 + See that the Work is for the Boy's Sake 172 + Not Enforced Labor, but Mastery 174 + Provide Vacations for the Boy 176 + A Tentative Schedule of Hours 178 + Think out a Reasonable Plan 179 + + XII. HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL 183 + A Balanced Life for the Girl 185 + Work begins with Obedience 186 + Working the Girls in the Field 188 + Some Specific Suggestions 189 + Do you Own your Daughter? 190 + Difficult to make a Schedule 191 + Teach the Girl Self-supremacy 192 + Summary 194 + + XIII. SOCIAL TRAINING FOR FARM BOYS AND GIRLS 197 + A Happy Mean is Needed 197 + A Social Renaissance in the Country 199 + Conditions to guard Against 200 + 1. The Social Companionship of Girls 201 + 2. Bad Companionships for Boys 202 + 3. Secret Sex Habits 204 + 4. The So-called Bad Habits 205 + A Center of Community Life 207 + Invite the Young to the House 208 + How to conduct a Social Entertainment 209 + What about the Country Dance? 211 + Additional Forms of Entertainment 212 + 1. The Social Hour at the Religious Services 212 + 2. A Country Literary Society 213 + 3. The Social Side of the Economic Clubs 215 + Some Concluding Suggestions 215 + + XIV. THE FARM BOY'S INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS 220 + What is in your Boy? 220 + Much Experimentation Necessary 221 + 1. Willingness to Work 222 + 2. Ability to Save 223 + Start on a Small Scale 224 + Give your Son a Square Deal 225 + Keep the Boy's Perfect Good Will 226 + Some will be retained on the Farm 227 + The Awakening often comes from Without 229 + An Awakening in the South 229 + Partnership between Father and Son 231 + Summary and Concluding Suggestions 232 + + XV. BUSINESS TRAINING FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL 235 + Is the Country Girl Neglected? 236 + Why the Girl leaves the Farm 237 + Certain Rules to be Observed 239 + 1. Teach the Girl to Work 239 + 2. Teach her Business Sense 240 + 3. Train her to transact Personal Business 241 + 4. Make her the Family Accountant 242 + 5. Miserliness to be Avoided 243 + 6. Teach her to Give 244 + 7. Teach the Meaning of a Contract 245 + 8. Prepare her to deal with Grafters 246 + Should there be an Actual Investment? 247 + + XVI. WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY BOY HAVE 250 + Changes in Rural School Conditions 250 + The Boy a Bundle of Possibilities 252 + Classes of Native Ability 253 + The Great Talented Class 254 + Round out the Boy's Nature 256 + Other Important Matters 257 + Develop an Interest in Humanity 259 + + XVII. WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY GIRL HAVE 262 + Special Problems relating to the Girl 262 + Protecting the Girl at School 263 + Lessons in Music and Art 265 + The Reward will come in Time 267 + The Mother's Office as Teacher 268 + Home-life Education 270 + Education for Supremacy 271 + An Outlook for Social Life 272 + + XVIII. THE FARM BOY'S CHOICE OF A VOCATION 275 + Should the Farmer's Son Farm? 275 + Impatience of Parents 276 + What of Predestination? 277 + Three Methods of Vocational Training 279 + 1. The Apprentice Method 280 + 2. The Cultural Method 280 + 3. The Developmental Method 281 + The Farmer Fortunate 282 + What College for the Country Boy? 283 + The Foundation in Work 284 + Clean up the Place 285 + Money Value of an Agricultural Education 286 + A Successful Vocation Certain 287 + + XIX. THE FARM GIRL'S PREPARATION FOR A VOCATION 290 + What is the Outlook? 290 + Desirable Occupations for Women 292 + 1. May teach the Young 293 + 2. May take up Stenography 294 + 3. May do Social Work 295 + 4. May secure Clerkships 296 + A College Course for the Girl 298 + Associations with Refined Young Men 299 + Make the Daughter Attractive 300 + Summary and Conclusion 301 + + XX. CONCLUSION AND FUTURE OUTLOOK 306 + Strive for Preconceived Results 306 + Consult Expert Advice 308 + Meet Each Awakening Interest 310 + Work for Social Democracy 311 + The Outlook very Promising 312 + The Modern Service Training 314 + The State doing its Part 316 + The New Era of Religion 319 + Final Conclusion 319 + + INDEX 323 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + PLATE + + I. Fig. 1. At least once each day the busy farm + father may think of a way to combine his + work with the children's play _Frontispiece_ + + FACING PAGE + + II. Fig. 2. Canadian boys breaking young oxen 6 + + III. Fig. 3. An attractive Kansas home 28 + + IV. Fig. 4. A day nursery in the country 42 + + V. Fig. 5. A rural home in the South 56 + + VI. Fig. 6. A well-equipped farmhouse 64 + + VII. Fig. 7. Children playing under the shade trees 72 + + VIII. Figs. 8-9. Rural church, Plainfield, Illinois 86 + + IX. Fig. 10. Village church at Ogden, Kansas 92 + + X. Fig. 11. Corn Sunday in an Illinois church 96 + + XI. Fig. 12. A country schoolhouse in California 108 + Fig. 13. Type of model rural school used in + Kansas 108 + + XII. Fig. 14. Model rural school at Kirksville, Missouri. + Normal 112 + + XIII. Fig. 15. Rear view of the Kirksville school 114 + + XIV. Fig. 16. Using Babcock tester 120 + + XV. Figs. 17-21. Consolidated school and those it + displaced 124 + + XVI. Fig. 22. The Cornell rural schoolhouse 126 + + XVII. Fig. 23. A.Y.M.C.A. play club 132 + + XVIII. Fig. 24. Y.M.C.A. Convention in Ohio 138 + + XIX. Fig. 25. Jerry Moore, champion corn raiser 150 + + XX. Fig. 26. A lonely schoolhouse 164 + + XXI. Fig 27. Tennis in the country 180 + Fig. 28. Country play festival 180 + + XXII. Fig. 29. Industrial exhibit in rural school 192 + + XXIII. Fig. 30. Agricultural and domestic science club 208 + + XXIV. Fig. 31. School and church in Canada 212 + + XXV. Fig. 32. Kansas prize winners 230 + + XXVI. Fig. 33. Girls' doll display 238 + + XXVII. Fig. 34. Boys whittling 252 + + XXVIII. Fig. 35. Study of corn 256 + + XXIX. Fig. 36. School gardeners 270 + + XXX. Fig. 37. Country schoolgirls 290 + + XXXI. Fig. 38. A girls' class in sewing 300 + + XXXII. Fig. 39. Girl sowing seed 312 + Fig. 40. Boy thinning vegetables 312 + + + + +FARM BOYS AND GIRLS + + + + +CHAPTER I + +_BUILDING A GOOD LIFE_ + + +If you were about to begin the construction of a dwelling house, what +questions would most likely be uppermost in your mind? If this house +were intended for your own use, you would doubtless consider among other +important matters those of comfort, convenience of arrangement, +attractiveness of appearance, strength, and durableness. The great +variety of dwellings to be seen on every hand is outwardly expressive of +the great variety of ideals in the minds of the people who construct +them. No matter what means there may be available for the purpose, it +may be said that he who builds a house thereby illustrates in concrete +form his inner character. + +With practically the same quality of materials, one man will construct a +house apparently with the thought that its chief purpose is to be looked +at. Much work and expense will be put upon outer show and embellishment, +while in its inner arrangements it may be exceedingly cramped and +thoughtlessly put together. Another will erect his building with a +thought of placing it on the market. Cheap workmanship, weak and faulty +joinings, and the like, will be concealed by some thin covering meant to +last until a profitable sale has been made and some innocent purchaser +caught with a mere shell of a house in his possession. Occasionally, +however, there is found a man whose plans conform to such ideals as +those first named. + + +WHAT IS A GOOD LIFE? + +As with the construction of a house, so it is in some measure with the +building of a character. Some lives apparently are constructed to look +at; that is, with the thought that outer adornment and a mere appearance +of worth and beauty constitute the essential qualities. Other lives are, +in a sense, made to sell. Not infrequently parents are found developing +their boys and girls as if the chief purpose were to place them +somewhere or other in the best possible money market. A life is worth +only as much as it will bring in dollars and cents, is apparently the +predominating thought of such persons. And then, occasionally, a life is +built to _live in_; that is, with the idea that intrinsic worth +constitutes the essential nature of the ideal character. + +But what _is_ a good life? And why is not this precisely the question +for all parents to ask themselves at the time they begin the development +of the lives of their own boys and girls? Assuming a fairly sound +physical and mental inheritance on the part of the child and the given +environment as the raw materials of construction, what ideals should +parents have uppermost in mind before undertaking the tremendously +important and interesting duties of constructing worthy manhood and +womanhood out of the inherent natures of their children? + +1. _Good health._--It is a difficult task to develop a sound, efficient +life without the fundamental quality of good health. So it may be well +to remind parents of this fact and to urge them especially to avoid in +the lives of the children, first, the beginnings of those lighter +ailments which frequently grow into menacing habits--for example, the +diseases that become chronic as a result of unnecessary exposure to the +weather--and second, those various contagious diseases which so often +permanently deplete the health of children, such as scarlet fever and +whooping cough. It is now held by medical authority that every +reasonable effort should be made to prevent children from taking such +infectious ailments--that the so-called diseases of children can and +should be practically all avoided. + +2. _Usefulness._--The newer ideals of character-building call for the +early training of all children as if they were to enter permanently upon +some bread-winning pursuit. Such training is a most direct means of +culture and refinement, provided it be correlated with the proper amount +of book learning and play and recreation. Such uniform and +character-building discipline tends to preserve the solidarity of the +race, and to acquaint all the young with the thoughts and feeling of the +great productive classes. It may be this is now regarded as both a +direct means of culture and of leading the young mind into an intimate +acquaintance with the lives of the masses. Such training is regarded +also as one of the best means of preserving our social democracy. +Therefore, although on account of inherited wealth the child may +apparently be destined for a life of comparative ease, even then there +is every justification for teaching him early how to work as if he must +do so to earn his own living. Much more will be said about this point +later. + +3. _Moral strength._--In the construction of a good life, moral strength +must be estimated as one of the important foundation stones. But this +quality is not so much a gift of nature or an inheritance as it is an +acquisition. It cannot be bought or acquired through merely hearing +about it, but it must come as a result of a large number of experiences +of trial and error. The child acquires moral self-reliance from the +practice of overcoming temptation in proportion to his strength, the +test being made heavier as fast as his ability to withstand temptation +increases. As will be shown later, it proves weakening to the character +of the growing child to keep him entirely free from temptation and the +possible contamination of his character in order that he may grow up +"good." + +4. _Social efficiency._--The good life is not merely self-sustaining in +an economic way, but it is also trained in the performance of altruistic +deeds. In building up the lives of the young it will be necessary and +most helpful to think of the matter of social efficiency. Therefore, it +will be seen to that the child have practice in assuming the leadership +among his fellows, in taking the initiative on many little occasions, +and in some instances to the extent of standing out against the combined +sentiment of his young associates. Of course, during all this time he +will be backed strongly by the advice and the insistent direction of his +parents, the idea being to induce him to think out his own social +problems and to carry forward any suitable plans of a social nature that +he may devise. + +5. _Religious interest._--Few parents will deny that religious +instruction is just as essential to the development of a good society as +is intellectual instruction. Indeed, there is much evidence to bear out +the conviction that religion is a deep and permanent instinct in all +normal human beings. This being the case, it is fair to say that such an +instinct should have some form of awakening and indulgence in the life +of the child. However, there is no thought or intention of prescribing +any particular form of religious faith. He might at least be sent to +Sunday school and to church regularly where he may be led to do a small +amount of religious thinking on his own account. + +6. _Happiness._--The good life is a happy life. But nearly all the +students of human problems seem to think that happiness eludes the grasp +of the one who seeks it in a direct way. "I want my children to be happy +and enjoy life," is often the remark of well-meaning parents. They then +proceed as if joy and happiness could be had for money. It is true that +during his early years of indifference to any serious concern or +personal responsibility, the child may be made extremely happy by giving +him practically everything his childish appetites may call for and +allowing him to grow up in idleness. But there comes a time when the +normal individual begins to question his own personal and intrinsic +worth. The instincts and desires of mature life come on and if there be +not available the means for the realization of the better instinctive +ambitions, then bitterness and woe are likely to become one's permanent +portion. + +However, it may be put down as a certainty that happiness and +contentment will naturally come in full measure into the life that has +been well built during the years of childhood and youth. If the good +health has been conserved, a life of usefulness and service prepared +for, moral strength built into the character, social efficiency looked +after continuously, and something of religious experience not +neglected--it will most certainly follow as the day follows the night +that the wholesome enjoyments and the durable satisfactions of living +will come to such an individual. + +[Illustration: PLATE II. + +FIG. 2.--These Canadian lads are enjoying their first lessons in +live-stock management. We call their conduct play, but surely no one +was ever more in earnest than they.] + + +IS THE HUMAN STOCK COMPARATIVELY SOUND? + +There are now among the students of the home problems many who are +seriously interested in the matter of breeding a better human stock. +Many noteworthy conclusions have already been reached, and ample proofs +have been produced to show that the human animal follows the same +general lines of evolution as do the lower animal orders. It is shown in +general, for example, that little or nothing that man has learned or +acquired during his life is transmitted to his offspring. That is, even +though a man devote many years to the intensive study of music or +mathematics or the languages, such study will not affect the ability of +his child in the study of the specialized subject. The same unaffected +result obtains in respect to any other form of expertness of the merely +acquired sort. For example, the fact that a man through long practice +becomes expert in the use of the typewriter does not affect the +character of the child in respect to such ability. It is a no less +difficult task for the child to learn to master the use of the +typewriter keyboard. + +On the other hand, it is shown very conclusively that physical and +mental characters inborn in the life of a parent tend at all times to be +transmitted to the child, although many traits are known to be wanting +in the first generation of children and to appear in the second or +successive generations. According to the law of Mendel, the traits of +the parents are transmitted to the child about as follows: one-half of +the elements of one's physical and mental natures are inherited from his +parents, one-fourth from his grandparents, one-eighth from his +great-grandparents, and so on. In any given case, however, there might +be great variation from this rule of the averages, just as actual men +and women vary more or less widely from the average human height of so +many feet and inches. + +There is no thought here of discussing the intricate problems of +eugenics. The purpose of this brief dogmatic sketch is that of +attempting to induce parents to believe that the great mass of our +American-born children are comparatively sound in their physical and +mental inheritances. The pathologists profess to be able to prove that +nature is most kind to the new-born child in respect to inheritance of +disease. In fact, it is shown that very few diseases are directly +transmitted through the blood, and that many once so regarded are now +found to be infectious in their natures. There is considerable +indication, however, that the children of the diseased--tuberculous +parents, for example,--inherit a weakened power of resistance for such +disease. But this matter is somewhat foreign to our present discussion. + +Best of all, for our present consideration, is the great mass of +evidence sustaining the theory that about ninety-nine per cent of our +new-born infants are potentially good in an economic and moral sense. +That is to say, this great majority of the young humanity have latent +within their natures at the beginning of life the possibilities of +development into sound, self-reliant manhood and womanhood. + +So, the writer of these lines would gladly lead rural parents to the +point of being very courageous and optimistic about their infant +children. He would have them see in the latter all the possibilities of +good and efficiency that they may care to attempt to bring out by +thoughtful and conscientious training. For that matter, it can be shown +that many of the leaders of men are constantly springing up out of the +ranks of the common masses and from those of humble parentage. Some of +these great leaders, it is true, are what may be called accidental +geniuses in respect to their native strength and their persistent life +purposes. But many others, and perhaps the majority of them, are merely +men and women who have been reasonably sound at birth and who have been +trained from childhood to maturity in a manner that best served to build +up strong, efficient character. + + +REFERENCES + + The references given at the close of each chapter are meant + to direct the reader to specific treatment of the topics + named. It is thought that nearly every chapter or book + referred to will be found helpful and instructive to such + persons as may naturally become interested in this volume. In + some instances a line of comment is given to make clearer the + contents of the reference. + + Must Children have Children's Diseases? Newton. _Ladies' Home + Journal_, April, 1910. + + _Dietetic and Hygienic Gazette._ Gazette Publishing Company, + New York. $1 per year, monthly. + + The Miracle of Life. J. H. Kellogg, M.D. Good Health + Publishing Company, Battle Creek, Mich. Read especially pp. + 363-388, "How to be Strong." + + Our Duty to Posterity. Editorial. _The Independent_, + February. 1909. + + Relation of Science to Man. Professor A. W. Small. _American + Journal of Sociology_, February, 1908. + + Character Building. Marian M. George. A. Flanagan Company. + Treats the ethical problems of the home. + + Through Boyhood to Manhood. Ennis Richmond. Chapter 1, + "Usefulness." Longmans. + + Making the Most of Our Children. Mary Wood-Allen, M.D. + Chapter IX, "Keeping the Boy on the Farm." McClurg. + + Youth. G. Stanley Hall. Chapter XII, "Moral and Religious + Training." Appleton. + + The Contents of a Boy. E. L. Moore. Chapter VI, "Social + Interests." Jennings & Graham, Cincinnati. + + Mind in the Making. E. J. Swift. Chapter II, "The Criminal + Natures of Boys." Scribners. + + The Young Malefactor. Dr. Thomas Travis. Chapter II, "The + Child born Centuries Too Late." Crowell. + + The Family Health. M. Solis-Cohen, M.D. Chapter I, "The + Preservation of Health." Penn Publishing Company, + Philadelphia. + + The Durable Satisfactions of Life. Dr. Charles W. Eliot. + Crowell. Points out ably the higher way. + + The Study of Children. Francis Warner, M.D. Chapter IV, + "Observing the Child. What to Look at and For." The + Macmillan Company. + + What makes a Liberal Education. Editorial. _The Independent_, + July 1, 1909. + + Relation of the Physical Nature of the Child to His Mental + and Moral Development. George W. Reed. _Annual Report + National Educational Association_, 1909, p. 305. + + + + +CHAPTER II + +_THE TIME TO BUILD_ + + +We shall continue to assume that the reader, if a parent, is thinking of +his child as being in the position of one whose character requires +constant attention in order that it may be built up through the right +sort of training and the right sort of practices. Just as certainly as +there is a best time in the season to plow corn and also a time not to +plow, as there is a time to plow deep and another time to plow shallow, +so there is unquestionably a best time to give the child any particular +form of training or to withhold it. In general, it may be said that the +most effective training in respect to the human young is that which +centers most closely around the childish interests and instincts. + + +WHAT OF THE HUMAN INSTINCTS + +By observing critically for a few days the conduct of an infant child, +one may notice two or three pronounced instincts at work producing +helpful results in the little life. + +1. There is the instinct to nurse, which is so fundamental in securing +the food with which to sustain and build up the body. + +2. There is the accessory instinct of crying, also often necessary as +nature's signal for another intake of the food supply. Associated with +these two instincts are a number of reflexes which take care of the +important organic processes, such as digestion, assimilation, and +excretion. Now, we have practically all there is to the "character" of +the human infant. He has, as yet, no instinct for fighting, for sexual +love, or for business. And any effort to arouse and make use of the +last-named dormant qualities would be futile as well as ridiculous. In +respect to a vast majority of the things to be learned, the child is a +mere bundle of potentialities, all of which must bide their time for an +awakening. In short, wise parents soon learn that the center of life in +the infant child is in the stomach, and that if he be fed rightly, kept +much in the open air, clothed comfortably, and bathed frequently, the +body-building processes will usually go on in a satisfactory manner. + +3. Although the little life seems so tiny and the daily round of +infantile activities so simple and monotonous, the character-developing +processes are already making their subtle beginnings. For example, the +first lessons in habit are being inculcated through the comparative +rhythm in the infant's life. It will be found both conducive to good +health and helpful to character-development to attend to all the +infant's needs with strict regularity. Let us follow the new-born child +around his little cycle and see what happens. First, he is given a +hearty meal, which is followed at once by perhaps two hours of profound +sleep. Then, there is a gradual waking, the body writhes and wiggles +slightly, and then more, and then still more, until a loud cry is set +up. Under healthy conditions the crying should go on for a very few +minutes, as it helps to send the good blood through every part of the +body, purifying and building up the parts and carrying out the effete +matter. The function of excretion is not only thus much aided, but the +nervous equilibrium is completely restored. The little life has now +swung completely round to the beginning point of two hours previously +and it is ready to start on another journey with the intake of another +hearty meal. + +It will be found that the life circle described above continues with +slight variations for the first few weeks, the child sleeping probably +twenty to twenty-two hours out of twenty-four, if it be in a natural +state of health. But slowly the conduct of the infant will become more +complex, and that in response to the growths and changes taking place +within his body. It will be found that he can take a heartier meal, can +stay awake longer, kick harder, wriggle more, and cry louder as the days +multiply. In a month or so his eyes will be seen following some +brilliant or attractive moving body, while the impulsive movements of +the hands will begin to suggest some slight definition of their conduct. +Not long thereafter, the baby smile will break out in a reflex fashion +and the hands will likewise grasp objects placed in the little palms. +Coördinate with these new activities, nature is at work storing up new +nerve structures and cells, especially in the region of the spinal cord +and the cranial centers. + +4. The child is all the while learning. As yet, there is little for the +caretaker to do other than to feed the infant with exceeding care and +regularity, and to enjoy the awakening of the new infant activities. In +four to six months, the young learner will lead a much more complex +life,--sitting alone, holding things in his hands, and looking about the +room. But it must be understood that he still hears and sees very few +things in a definite way. Then, in the next two or three months he will +first creep,--he should in time be induced to do so if possible for the +sake of his health,--at length he will stand upright, and finally walk. +None of these processes must be hastened, although they may be aided +when the inner prompting and strength warrant such conduct. + +5. During the second year there will probably break out with sudden and +surprising strength the new instinct of anger. It has been latent there +all the time, but the low degree of intelligence and of nerve structure +has not given it proper support and indulgence. But on an occasion there +is perhaps taken from the child some cherished plaything, when he +suddenly flies into a rage, yelling, screaming, kicking, and growing red +in the face. This outburst of rage is a most interesting and enjoyable +aspect to the parent who rightly understands children, although some +ignorantly make it a matter of deep concern, regarding it as significant +of a vicious character in the coming boy and man. + +The purpose of this present discussion is to illustrate how the human +instincts come into their functions at various times during the life of +the growing child. And the further purpose is to urge that such thing be +_watched for and met with just the sort of training necessary for +permanent and helpful results_. + +Now, let the little child fly into a rage two or three times and have +his anger appeased through indulgence in the thing he cries for, and he +has acquired his first lesson in the management of the parent or nurse. +He has learned that if he wants a thing, all he needs to do is to squall +or yell and the desired results will be forthcoming. But this childish +rage really furnishes the occasion for the beginning of some +disciplinary lessons. "Should I give the child everything he cries for, +or withhold the desired object until he quits?" asks an anxious parent. +Neither rule is necessarily the right one, and yet both, on occasions, +may be correct. Suppose, instead of the infant you have a five-year-old +boy who cries for a loaded revolver he happens to see in your hand. +Would you give it to him to stop his crying, or withhold it? Suppose +again he should cry for the return of his own plaything which some one +unjustly snatched from him. Would you return his plaything to stop his +crying, or let him cry it out? Now, here is implied the correct answer +in dealing with the outburst of anger in the infant. It is all a matter +of justice and fairness. If some agency, human or otherwise, snatches +his food from his mouth, and the child squalls for its return, indulge +the infant at once. If he has been well fed, comfortably clad and +bathed, and under every proper consideration should lie still and behave +himself, then do not run and take him up because he happens to be trying +your patience with his squalling. Hold him to it and let him bawl it +out. There is really nothing better coming to him if you are thinking of +the development of his character--and your own. + +6. So, somewhat later on you will find this same instinct of anger +showing itself in the various forms of fighting and quarreling. The +parent who understands the true natures of healthy children will not +worry for a moment because the children show natural dispositions for +contention and combativeness. On the other hand, it will be understood +that these very tendencies furnish the occasion of many a lesson in +social ethics. How can the child ever learn to be just and fair to his +mates or square and considerate in his dealings with adults unless it be +through the give-and-take experiences that come from attempting to get +more than his share,--and failing much of the time,--and from attempting +to over-ride the rights and privileges of others, and having such +attempts properly thwarted? Indeed, it may be regarded as a great +misfortune to the child if he has to grow up as the only one in a home +and is denied the daily companionship of those of his own age from whom +he may learn justice and fairness as a result of his attempts to get +more than is just and fair for himself. + +7. The watchful parents will observe that perhaps some time during the +second half year, and with some pronounced repetitions later, there will +be clear manifestations of the instinct of fear on the part of the +child. Again, there is nothing for deep concern other than to meet this +instinct in a general way as has been observed for the others named and +to give the proper training. Fear must have been a human necessity +during many years of savagery and barbarism. It still has its positive +and negative values in the development of character. It serves as a +deterrent from dangerous and criminal acts. It is also found to deter +the growing infant from doing many a thing which he ought to be learning +to do. Fear shows its most interesting aspects in the form of what has +been called social sensitiveness; that is, bashfulness, shyness, +reticence, and the like. + +Parents should by all means watch closely the various childish and +youthful tendencies to fear, allowing those fears which promise to be +helpful to remain in the life or to die out slowly through counteracting +conduct; and eliminating those other forms which would seem to serve no +useful purpose. Examples of the latter sort would be the fear of +ferocious animals and of murderers. Such mortal enemies are so uncommon +in this civilized land that fear of them will probably be of no service +to life. On the other hand, it may stunt and deter the development of +courage. Especially do such fears tend to induce the habit of +unnecessary concern and deep worry, thus destroying the peace and +happiness and cutting off the length of years of many members of our +society. + +8. There is no questioning the value of social sensitiveness in respect +to the development of character in the young. Some degree of bashfulness +and embarrassment in dealing with people, especially those regarded by +him as of superior worth, may be considered an actual asset in the life +of the growing boy. This bashfulness will give him a rich inner +experience of doubts and fears, and of hopes and triumphs. Slowly, under +proper guidance and direction, the sensitiveness wears away through +repeated experience of a contrary sort, and such qualities as create a +self-reliance take its place. + +On the other hand, it is doubtless a misfortune, especially for the boy, +to become blasé--indifferent and unembarrassed in the presence of people +of all ranks and conditions--while he is yet a mere lad. Under our +present organization of society, the boy who would win the life race +must have much experience of trial and error, of failure and success, +and of tribulation and triumph; and all that for the sake of a +self-reliant character. Now, the boy who has lost all sense of +embarrassment in the presence of others is likely to be denied the +stirring inner experiences just named, and to settle down in an +indifferent, self-satisfied attitude toward the big problems of human +conduct. It may be counted, therefore, as an indication of much promise +and advantage that the country youth and the country maiden continue to +be comparatively "green" and bashful during the period of their +adolescence. + +9. The instinct of sexual love will manifest itself at the proper time +and age. Before so doing, certain organic changes and inner nerve +developments must take place. Parents may learn some lessons from +observation of this instinct that will apply to practically all the +others. For example, there should be no attempt to hurry the +manifestation and the functioning of the instinct, nor should the +training necessary for its development and refinement be denied or +withheld. Of all the many inner awakenings that come to the developing +human being, there is probably none that quite matches the surging +energy of sexual love in healthy young manhood and womanhood. And to an +extraordinary degree, opportunities for instruction and development of +the character become present at this time. + +First of all, parents need to be reminded of the naturalness and +wholesomeness of the sex instincts in adolescent boys and girls. They +must be urged to provide carefully for its natural growth through the +proper commingling of the sexes in a social way, and yet there must be +preserved in the young lives just enough strangeness and mystery about +the sex matters as to indulge the poetic and the romantic aspects of the +unfolding natures. It need not, therefore, be a matter of worry and +unusual concern to parents if their fifteen-year-old son and a +neighbor's thirteen-year-old daughter show pronounced tendencies to be +"crazy in love" with each other. However, this situation furnishes most +fitting opportunities for teaching the boy courtly manners, gallantry, +consideration for women of all ages; and that through and by means of +his own personal experience. In fact, this stirring period of sex-love +opens up in the mind of the boy reflections that tend to run out into +every possible avenue of his future life. + +Likewise, the girl. That same little girl who shortly ago hated boys and +declared she would never have anything to do with them is now +manifesting much interest in the youth of her acquaintance. This thing +cannot be laughed to scorn, or scolded away, or whipped out of the life +of either boy or girl. Its roots are in the sex organs as well as in the +heart. This first love period furnishes the rarest opportunities for +teaching the girl proper lessons in respect to her comeliness, her +purity of thought, and the sweetness of her own personal character. If +during this time she be withheld entirely from wholesome association +with boys and young men, there is a probability that she may become a +drone or a mope, and especially that she may lose valuable training in +the acquisition of those winsome ways so helpful to young women in the +matter of their obtaining suitable life companions. + +Perhaps less need be said in respect to giving the growing son those +forms of social training which make it possible for him to win to his +side an attractive helpmate. But beyond the question of a doubt there +can and should be much done by way of training the daughter in this +respect. In addition to her good health, her moral self-reliance, and +those other desirable qualities illustrated in a preceding paragraph, +the young woman who is thoroughly prepared for meeting successfully the +issues of life has had careful training in all the practices that refine +and beautify her character. + +This duty of rural parents to the growing daughter is no less imperative +than in the case of city parents. It may be considered as an excellent +way of planning for the future happiness and well-being, not merely for +one, but doubtless for an entire family, if the growing girl be indulged +and directed reasonably in social matters during this period of +greatest strength of her natural sex instinct. This thing cannot be +safely put off a few years with the thought that the family will move to +town and then the girl may have her proper opportunities of training. +After such procrastination and neglect, it becomes too late ever to +correct the many faults of omission. + +10. There develops somewhat late in the lives of young men and young +women what might be called the "homing" instinct, which amounts to +nothing other than a deep and pronounced prompting from within to set +definitely about the matter of getting into a home of one's own and +providing for and building it up. This is different from the mere sex +instinct named above, although perhaps an outgrowth of it. It must be +noted in passing that this homing instinct, when at its strongest, +furnishes the proper occasion for instruction in respect to the home and +the home-building affairs. Happy indeed is the young man or the young +woman who, after a period of such instruction, may have the opportunity +of settling down in a suitable dwelling place and there beginning the +establishment of the ideal family life. + +11. Unquestionably there dawns in the life of normal young men--and +perhaps to a milder degree in respect to young women--a pronounced +instinct of a business and economic sort. This inner prompting is +doubtless associated with the two last named. It may be observed by any +person who knows how to study the lives of children and young people +that some particular youth who a few months ago was a spendthrift, +indifferent of his future needs and welfare, is now heard to declare +emphatically again and again that he must get into business, must save +and invest his means and provide for his future needs. So, there is not +a little evidence in effect that we have here another inner development +of the nerve mechanism. And the time is most fit and opportune for the +parents to exhaust every reasonable effort to discover what the youth is +best suited for as a life practice and to guide him on toward the +realization of that purpose. Much more will be said in another chapter +in respect to the choice of a vocation. + + +REFERENCES + + Rural parents who develop an intensive interest in the + child-training problems will find it most profitable to read + somewhat extensively in the texts that are not too direct but + that give a careful treatment of the fundamental principles + of child psychology. King's and O'Shea's books listed below + are of this special character. For a fuller list, see Chapter + VI. + + The Child: A Study in the Evolution of Man. A. F. + Chamberlain. Chapter IV, "The Period of Childhood." Scribner. + A sound and somewhat scholarly treatment. + + Boy Wanted. Nixon Waterman. Chapter I, "The Awakening"; + Chapter II, "Am I a Genius?" Forbes & Co., Chicago. + + Education of the Central Nervous System. Reuben P. Halleck. + Chapter VII, "Special Sensory Training." American Book + Company. + + The Moral Life. Arthur E. Davies. Chapter V, "Motive: The + Beginnings of Morality." Review Publishing Company, + Baltimore. + + Psychology. J. R. Angell. Chapter XVI, "The Important Human + Instincts." Holt. + + Essentials of Psychology. W. B. Pillsbury. Chapter X, + "Instinct." Macmillan. Rural parents will find this entire + text a non-technical and fundamental help. + + Development and Education. M. V. O'Shea. Chapter XII, "The + Critical Period." Houghton, Mifflin Company. + + Psychology of Child Development. Irving King. Chapter on + "Instinct." University of Chicago Press. + + Your Boy: His Nature and Nurture. George A. Dickinson, M.D. + Chapter II, "Elements of Character." Hodder & Stoughton, New + York. + + An Introduction to Child Study. W. B. Drummond. Chapter XII, + "The Instincts of Children"; Chapter XIII, "Instincts and + Habit." Longmans. The book is worthy an entire reading. + + A Study of Child Nature. Elizabeth Harrison. Chapter I, "The + Instinct of Activity." Chicago Kindergarten College. + + Observing Childhood. A. S. Draper. _Annals American Academy_, + March, 1909. + + Are we spoiling our Boys who have the Best Chances in Life? + Henry van Dyke. SCRIBNER'S MAGAZINE. October, 1909. + + How to civilize the Young Savage. Dr. G. Stanley Hall. _Mind + and Body_, June, 1911. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +_THE RURAL HOME AND CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT_ + + +That the farm home is an ideal place in which to build up the lives of +growing boys and girls has become almost a trite saying. But that rural +parents are yet failing to realize the child-nurturing possibilities of +such a place may be exemplified in thousands of instances. When we point +to the farm home as being the best possible place for rearing children, +we mean that it contains all the crude materials for such work, and that +there must be in charge of that work some one who is conscious of the +many aspects of the problem. So we hope to show the fathers and mothers +of the farm community, not what they might do if they were differently +situated, but as specifically as possible what there is in the present +rural home situation that can be made directly available in the +construction of the lives of their children. + + +WHAT AGENCIES BUILD UP CHARACTER? + +First of all, we must ask, What are the ordinary forces which need to be +brought into service in the development of children? At the head of the +list, we should name play, as furnishing a great variety of instructive +activities; then, work and industry; after that, the recreation that +comes properly after the performance of work. So, we have with all their +implied meanings the three great child-developing agencies: play, work, +recreation. Now the question naturally presents itself, Can the ordinary +farm life be made to furnish in right amount and proportion these three +essential elements of character development? + +1. _Play._--The necessity of indulging and training properly the play +instinct of the child is becoming so fully appreciated of late that many +of the state legislatures, and even the national Congress, have seen fit +to make it a matter of deep concern. In order that all children may have +full exercise of the divine, inherent right to play and to learn through +play, many so-called child labor laws have been passed. These enactments +have prescribed conditions under which children will be permitted to +work at gainful occupations, and in the majority of cases they have +strictly forbidden such child labor below the ages of fourteen to +sixteen. + +But the foregoing efforts in behalf of the young have been of a somewhat +negative sort, merely guaranteeing the child the right to play. On the +positive side, much is also being done. The scientific students of child +life have been pointing to the great benefits of play and to the +present need for larger means and fuller opportunities for play on the +part of the masses of children. As an outcome of all this research and +public agitation, there is now in progress a general movement which +looks to the placing at the disposal of children everywhere the +equipment and apparatus necessary for building up the character by means +of play experience. The large cities are expending millions of dollars +on municipal playgrounds, and the towns and rural communities are +catching the spirit also. + +It has been shown beyond a question that adult life can be prepared for +and enriched in many ways by means of scientifically provided play +during childhood. Two or three results are especially sought through the +playground training: (1) better physical health and increased power to +resist disease; (2) enlarged opportunities for the outlet of the +spontaneous activities through the use of the hands and other parts of +the body; (3) the provision of a powerful deterrent of evil thought and +deed and of juvenile crime; (4) the manifold opportunities for learning +how to get along with one's fellows and to treat them in fairness and +justice. + +[Illustration: PLATE III. + +FIG. 3.--This beautiful Kansas home, with its large orchard and many +shade trees adjoining, was constructed "away out on the barren plains +where no tree will grow." In this place an excellent family of nine +children grew up.] + +It has already been urged that sound health constitutes one of the +foundation stones of good character. Play is especially conducive to +sound health. Some may think that work without much if any play will +bring about the same results in the child life, but such proves not +to be the case. The monotony and drudgery of enforced labor have been +crushing the lives of children everywhere, especially until the wise +legislation of very recent years prevented such thing. Strange to say, +the same amount of exertion in spontaneous play may build up and +strengthen the physical and mental life of the child. What is the secret +of the striking difference in the result? Spontaneity! is the answer. +The child goes at his play with a joy and an eagerness which are +entirely absent from work--a sufficient guarantee that his nature is +being fed upon the very stuff which his soul craves. It is true that +children will play in a bare room containing nothing more than a pile of +trash, but such a situation is woefully lacking on the side of +instruction. Very little will be learned from a year of such +ill-provided play. + +So, there is every necessary reason for urging that the farm home +provide not only the time and the occasion for the play life of the +children, but that the means and proper materials also be looked after. +At a certain rural home in the state of Michigan, where two boys and one +girl were growing up, were found the following nearly ideal arrangements +for the play life: a small clump of trees, which afforded opportunities +for climbing and ample shade during the warm weather; a swing hung +between two of the trees; a pole serving as a horizontal bar between +two others; and a ladder leading to a rude playhouse constructed between +the forks of a branching maple tree. Thereabout were seen also a boy's +wagon, two home-made sleds and other materials of this same general +class, not to mention a fairly well-kept lawn, where the children could +romp. + +Now the cost of all the foregoing materials would be trifling in a money +sense and not very expensive in point of preparation and work, while +they would pay for themselves a hundred-fold in their results for +character-development. If necessary, it could even be shown how just +such provision for the play of the boys and girls on the farm will in +time add to the actual cash value of the place and to the money-earning +power of the boys and girls whose lives are being served. It seems +altogether fitting to remind rural parents of their duty in respect to +their children even though the mortgage may not yet have been lifted, +and even though some of the live stock may have to suffer a little, and +some of the farm crops deteriorate slightly. Let there be provided, +first of all, some adequate materials for the indulgence of the play +instinct of the child. + +2. _Work._--This term implies a wide meaning, and deserves a lengthy +discussion. In a chapter to follow under the title "How Much Work for +the Country Boy," we shall give due attention to it. The purpose here is +to advise the parent to make a study of the situation and to make +provision for the amount and kind of work and industry necessary for +the proper culture of the growing child. + +First of all, there must be appreciated the sharp distinction between +work and play. The latter is spontaneous, allowing the child to follow +his caprice of mind. He may take up one play activity and drop it at any +moment that another appeals to him more strongly. But with work, the +situation is different. The purpose is outside of and not within the +performance, as in the case of play. The work looks toward some end +necessary of achievement and carries with it the elements of sacrifice, +of giving out of one's life something that is his very own in order that +some other thing may be acquired. In the case of work the normal child +probably at first finds almost any assigned task irksome. He feels that +he is being more or less unfairly or unnecessarily driven to it and that +when he grows to be a man, he will have a lot of money and hire somebody +else to do the work. + +All natural, healthy-minded boys are at first somewhat stubborn and +rebellious in regard to work. No matter how good their parents may be, +if merely turned loose in the world without direction and the spur of +authority, they will almost invariably avoid manual labor. So it might +as well be put down at once as a rule that every boy who is to become a +real worker and an industrious character must be set definitely at his +tasks while a mere child and held strictly to their performance. After +much persistent urging, the young worker begins to forget the thought +of being driven to his duty and to acquire instead a habit of industry. +By slow degrees he develops within a sense of obligation in relation to +work, also a feeling of responsibility for tasks done or left undone. +Finally, after years of this sort of experience, the young industrialist +reaches a point in his life when he can throw himself enthusiastically +into some sort of well chosen occupation. And then and there emerges +from his inner consciousness the exceeding great joy known to so many of +the industrious men and women whose worthy life-long devotion to work is +constantly reconstructing this good world in which we live. + +It will be understood, of course, that the term work as here used +includes the school training. The ordinary child regards the appointed +duties of lesson getting in the nature of work and feels the same +pressure of insistence and compulsion in relation to them. +Unquestionably, the ordinary school course goes part way toward +furnishing discipline in industry. The course of the newer schools about +to be instituted throughout the country will reach still farther in this +direction. It is very encouraging indeed to observe that the public +school curriculum is destined to include, not only the study of books +and the recitation of lessons learned from books, but also the many +forms of manual labor and industry applicable to the character of the +growing child. But until the public school authorities have provided +such an ideal course of training, parents must see to it that the +class-room duties be thoroughly supplemented with carefully assigned +home tasks of the industrial training sort. In a later chapter specific +attention will be given the question of the schooling of the country boy +and the country girl. + +3. _Recreation._--What a vast amount of misunderstanding and misuse +there is of this term! Observe, if you will, the real meaning of the +term or of the kindred word, to re-create. It implies in this use that +the body has been depleted, worn out, or fatigued by work and that there +is to be a rebuilding of the same. But it is amusing--or would be if it +were not so pathetic--to see how city parents often bestir themselves in +an effort to provide recreation for their idle boys. Many of these boys +who are seen loafing about the home town during practically the entire +summer vacation period are given an outing in order that they may thus +be furnished "recreation"--from indolence. + +But farm parents are inclined to err on the other side. That is, they +tend to over-work their boys and not to give them enough outings to +furnish proper recreation and renewed zeal for the work required of +them. Hence, the need of carefully considering the matter of the outings +for the farm boy and girl. It can most probably be shown, for example, +that the boy who works on the farm five and a half days of the week and +who is given the other half day for rest and recreation--that he does +more work in the five and one-half days and does it better than he would +do in six full days without the half-holiday. The question here is that +of a balanced schedule. How long should the boy be held to his task +before being allowed a holiday or recreation period? + +Just how can these half-holidays, outings, and the like, be worked into +the farm boy's program so as to make them contributive to the +up-building of his character? What of this sort can be done to cause him +to return to his assigned tasks with greater zeal and enthusiasm? How +can it be provided that the boy may look forward to these outings with a +thrill of joy during the long days he has to spend behind the plow or in +the harvest field? Finally, how can these recreation periods, large and +small, be so associated with his work-a-day tasks that he may come to +regard farm life as a wholesome type of vocation--one that he may follow +with pleasure and profit for himself, and one in which he may succeed so +well as to make his achievements constitute a living commendation of +such a calling to others? In a later discussion there will be shown many +methods whereby the recreation experience of the farm boys and girls may +be properly looked after. + +Few persons seem to appreciate the value of solitude as a means of +recreating and building up the inner life. Probably one of the greatest +agencies in the development of many a powerful personality is the fact +that its possessor was compelled by force of circumstances while young +to spend much time in the company of his or her own thoughts. It is +impossible to think intelligently while one is doing any body-straining +work; for example, wood sawing or hay pitching. But there are many forms +of occupation for boys and girls on the farm which permit of comparative +rest of the body. So the foundations of many a worthy career have been +laid in the silent reflections of the boy spending the day alone in the +woods or on the prairies with his cattle and dog and pony, or sitting on +the seat of the riding plow. + +Likewise, the farmer's daughter, during the performance of many simple, +non-fatiguing tasks, reflects perforce upon the larger meanings of life +and makes out in mind many plans for the time when she hopes to +undertake the mastery of various trying and interesting problems. Lack +of this enforced solitude and its attendant reflections--lack of the +discovery of the joy of being at regular intervals alone with the great +soul of Nature and with one's inner consciousness--doubtless contributes +in some measure to the undoing of city boys and girls. The constant +turmoil of the street, the excitement of the ever changing scenes and +situations, give an over-indulgence to the senses, ripen the judgments +too early, and rob the character of those soberer habits which later +enable one to find good in the common situations and the common people +of the world. + +It is, therefore, recommended that farm parents provide for a part of +the sterner duties of the boys and girls such tasks as will allow for +comparative rest of the body while the mind may tarry undisturbed with +the reflections of the inner life. + + +MOVING TO TOWN FOR THE CHILDREN + +The practice of the well-to-do farmer who moves to town to "educate his +children" is an old story and is fraught with many a hidden tragedy, to +say nothing of the impoverishment of the land and of the social order +left behind. Why cannot the intelligent farmer remain on the home place +and join a movement having for its purpose that of making the +neighborhood a more desirable place of human habitation? + +One of the dullest places in the world is the country town which has +been filled up with retired farmers. These are usually men who came into +the place for the purpose of getting all the possible advantages at the +lowest possible cost. In the typical case the new city dweller of this +class secures a very good residence, and that often, if possible, just +outside the city limits, in order to avoid local taxes. He takes little +or no interest in the town's municipal affairs and votes against nearly +all proposed improvements. He keeps his own cow, horse, chickens, and +garden, and brings extra supplies in from the farm. Gradually he takes +on a few of the city ways. That is, he uses less home produce and does +some buying at the stores. But for want of stimulating employment he +gradually grows stouter and mentally more stupid, sleeping away many of +the hours of the day in his chair--an indication that he is dying at the +top and that he is soon to be cut down. Really, the retired farmer is a +nuisance to the town and the town is a bore to him. + +But what of the children whom he brought in to "educate"? They learn +rapidly, soon taking on the city manners. The natural restraints from +evil conduct, which the farm home furnished, are now wanting. The blare +and bluster of the town both excite and delight them, while the parents +have positively no rules or standards by which to govern and direct +their young in the new situation. All the boys and girls need to do in +order to gain parental consent for going out at night is to declare that +"everybody is going" or that they are "expected" to be there, and the +thing is settled. Thus the young ruralists newly come to town go dancing +and prancing off into a veritable world of sweet dreams and +delights--spoiled forever for any service that they might have rendered +in building up the country community--and finally destined to become +mere cogs in the ever grinding wheel of some city. + + +A BACK-TO-THE-COUNTRY CLUB + +Nearly every town and city of the United States has had a so-called +Commercial Club. This has been in reality a boosters' club bent first of +all on bringing big business to the place and thus opening the way for a +bigger population. Anything for the sake of more people has been the +watchword. Now, I would reverse this order of things. Nearly every one +of these towns and cities needs a club or committee that might have for +its purposes: (1) to show the would-be retired farmer how to shift the +burdens from his wife as housekeeper, how to provide better social and +intellectual advantages for his children and yet _stay on the farm_; (2) +to find means and methods whereby to plant in the rural community those +persons of the city population who are not making a fair living in their +present positions, seeking first of course to choose those who are +capable of transplanting and then preparing them with care for the +change. + +I am satisfied that this thing can be successfully thought out,--that +is, how the worthy poor city family may be removed to the country and +there through hard work gradually acquire enough land whereon to earn a +fair living at least. This end will never be accomplished by merely +driving out the poor families, but rather by means of scientific and +sympathetic practice of re-establishing them. Well-conducted research +shows that these poor people are nearly all constituted of good, sound, +human stock. So, if transported under the conditions named, there may be +expected to come forth in the second generation a splendid crop of rural +boys and girls. + + +REFERENCES + + Report of the Commission on Country Life. Introduction by + Theodore Roosevelt. Sturgis-Walton Company, New York. A brief + but epoch-making book. The student of rural problems will + find it a splendid outline guide. + + Cutting Loose from the City. E. G. Hutchins. _Country Life_, + Jan. 1, 1911. + + Back to the Farm. J. Smith. _Collier's_, Feb. 25, 1911. + + Value of a Country Education to Every Boy. _Craftsman_, + January, 1911. + + Why Back to the Farm? Editorial. _Craftsman_, February, 1911. + + The Country-Life Movement. L. H. Bailey. The Macmillan Co. + Contains a contrast of the back-to-the-land movement and the + country-life movement. + + Drift to the City in Relation to the Rural Problem. J. M. + Gillette. _American Journal of Sociology_, March, 1911. + + The New Country Boy. _Independent_, June 22, 1911. + + Overworked Children on the Farm and in the School. Dr. Woods + Hutchinson. _Annals American Academy_, March, 1909. + + Why One Hundred Boys ran away from Home. L. E. Jones. + _Ladies' Home Journal_, April, 1910. + + The Country Girl who is coming to the City. Batchelor. + _Delineator_, May, 1909. + + Play and Playground Literature. For most helpful and + inexpensive literature on this subject address: The + Playground Association of America, 1 Madison Ave., New York + City. + + Conservation in the Rural Districts. James W. Robertson, + D.Sc. The Association Press, New York. + + Education for Country life. Willet M. Hays. Free Bulletin, + U.S. Department of Agriculture. Treats ably consolidation + and rural agricultural high schools. + + Child Problems. George B. Mangold. Ph.D. Book II, Chapters + I-II, "Play and the Playground"; Book III, Chapters I-V, + "Child Labor Problems." The last reference contains accurate + information as to child-labor legislation up to date of + publication. + + Influence of Heredity and Environment upon Race Improvements. + Kelsey. _Annals American Academy_, July, 1909. + + Burning up the Boys. Editorial. _North American_, September, + 1910. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +_THE COUNTRY MOTHER AND THE CHILDREN_ + + +Greater attention needs to be given to the conservation of the farmer's +wife. Although there are many other justifications for giving more +thought to the care and the comfort of the country mother, the single +fact of her very close relation to the children growing up in the home, +and of her peculiar responsibilities as center of life there, warrant us +in devoting a chapter to her interests. Recently, while passing upon a +country highway, the author met a funeral procession. A little inquiry +revealed a pathetic situation, one that has been repeated thousands of +times throughout the length and breadth of this fair country. The +deceased was the wife of a young farmer, both of them under thirty-five +years of age, hard working and ambitious for success, but thoughtless of +their own health and comfort. Their farm was somewhat new and +unimproved, there were hundreds of things to do other than the routine +affairs of home keeping and crop raising. Worst of all, there was a +mortgage to be lifted. After all reasonable improvements were made and +the mortgage paid off, then, according to their plans, they were going +to take matters easy. But the delicate cord of life suddenly broke in +the case of the wife, and left the young husband as overseer of the farm +and home and sole caretaker of three little children. + +How can parents hope to produce a better crop of boys and girls in the +farm communities so long as the typical farm wife is crushed into the +earth with the over-weight of the burdens placed upon her? A few +minutes' enumeration in this same rural neighborhood brought out the +startling fact that in fully half of the homes a scene similar to the +one just described had been enacted during the last score of years. That +is to say, during the twenty years, fully one-half of the farm mothers +living in that particular neighborhood had died before their time from +one cause or another. In most instances the death occurred during what +we usually speak of as the prime years of life, and at a time when the +rose bloom should naturally be fresh upon the cheek. Fortunately, this +serious condition, still present in some communities, is being gradually +improved by the improved methods. + + +POOR CONDITIONS OF WOMEN + +The report of the Country Life Commission makes the following +suggestions:-- + +"The relief to farm women must come through a general elevation of +country living. The women must have more help. In particular these +matters may be mentioned: Development of a coöperative spirit in the +home, simplification of the diet in many cases, the building of +convenient and sanitary houses, providing running water in the house and +also more mechanical help, good and convenient gardens, a less exclusive +ideal of money getting on the part of the farmer, providing better means +of communication, as telephones, roads, and reading circles, and +developing of women's organizations. These and other agencies should +relieve the woman of many of her manual burdens on the one hand and +interest her in outside activities on the other. The farm woman should +have sufficient free time and strength so that she may serve the +community by participating in its vital affairs." + +[Illustration: PLATE IV. + +FIG. 4.--A day nursery at the Country Social Center. It may be otherwise +called "an institution designed to lengthen the lives of tired country +mothers."] + +In discussing this same matter, Henry Wallace, a member of the +Commission, says in his paper, _Wallaces' Farmer_:-- + +"They have been saying that the mother is the hardest worked member of +the family, which is often and we believe generally true. They have been +saying that in the anxiety of the farmer to get more land, he not only +works himself too hard, but his wife too hard, and the boys and girls so +hard that the boys get disgusted and leave the farm, and the girls marry +town fellows and go to town. + +"Now the farmer's wife is really the most important and essential person +on the farm. As such she needs the most care and consideration. You are +careful, very careful, not to over-work your horses. How much more +careful you should be not to over-work the mother of your children. You +rein back the free member of the team. You take special care of the +brood mare, and the cow that gives three hundred pounds of butter. Have +you always kept the freest of all workers, your wife, from doing too +much? How about this?" + + +FOR THE SAKE OF THE CHILDREN + +But this chapter, as well as the entire book, is being prepared in the +interest of boys and girls. So we shall attempt to show a number of +specific conditions that may be sought as tending to conserve the +strength and the life of the rural mother, with a view to her continuing +to be in every best sense of the word a caretaker and conserver of the +lives of her own children. + +1. _Surplus nerve energy._--However it may be achieved, the thing to +work for in this connection is a surplusage of nerve energy. If the +child training is to go on in a satisfactory manner, the mother +especially, and if possible both parents, must have stated times and +occasions for looking after such training and for inculcating a series +of important fundamental lessons. The first and best test of this +child-rearing situation may be made at evening. If, after the work of +the ordinary day, the mother is still fresh enough to take a real +interest in the children's affairs, to read to them briefly and perhaps +tell them a story or two, or to read for further preparations of her +work with them,--then it may be said that her life energies are being +conserved in a fairly satisfactory manner. The children will most +certainly reap the benefits. But if the close of the ordinary day's work +finds the farm mother suffering from physical and nervous exhaustion, +cross and impatient with the other members of the family, depressed in +spirit and gloomy as to the future, these are signs which should give +alarm to the head of the household and arouse him to the point of +looking into such distressful conditions, and setting them right. + +2. _A rest period._--How would it do to plan for the mother a daily +period of rest and relaxation? Would not such a program furnish +something of a guarantee of length of life in her own case and of peace +and contentment in the home, and of improved well-being in respect to +the children? How shall we state this question? Must the very lives of +the rural mother and her children be run through the mill of over-work +as a grist for the improvement and up-building of the farm animals and +the farm crops? Or should all of these material things be valued only in +proportion as they contribute to the happiness and contentment and the +long life of the members of the family? Too many farmers seem to say, as +expressed by their conduct: "I _must_ lift that mortgage this year! I +_must_ market so many bushels of corn and so many head of live stock! +So here goes my wife, and here go my children into the hopper! Perhaps +they will have to give up their lives. At any cost I _must_ make this +thing pay!" + +Then, how would it be to set apart an hour or more each day, regularly, +for the rest and relaxation of the mother, and call it "Mother's hour"? +During that time let it be the policy of the entire family to require no +work, no assistance, no favors of her, unless it be in case of illness. +During such a time of recuperation, the delicate organism of the +ordinary woman would tend to regain its poise. The nerve energy would be +more or less restored, while she would tend to view the better things of +life more nearly from their right angle. Best of all, she would regather +during the hour not a little strength to be used later in the caretaking +of her children. Try it for a week. + +3. _The home conveniences._--This is not the place for a detailed +discussion of what might or ought to be put into the house for the sake +of the convenience of the home-maker. But if such materials be +thoughtfully arranged, they may be made most effective, even though they +be small and inexpensive. A little inquiry among the ordinary homes will +show what is meant here, by either the presence or the lack of the +things indicated. It is not so much a question of expense as it is one +of thoughtful provision. The guiding principle of the home convenience +is that of saving and conserving the strength of the housekeeper. + +There is especially one day in the week which might be appropriately +called the "mother-killing day." That is the occasion of her doing the +washing and ironing for the family. Not infrequently two or three days +thereafter are required for the restoration of her normal strength and +health. Now, it is clearly the specific duty of the farmer to take hold +of just such matters as this and attempt seriously to put them right. +Doing the washing for four or five, and that with the use of the wash +tub, is a man's work so far as required muscular energy is concerned, +and very few women are able to do it regularly and live out their +allotted lives. Therefore, let the conscientious farmer see to it first +of all that some kind of machinery be installed for lightening such +wife-killing tasks as that just named. Let him provide such household +helps and conveniences _first_, and for the sake of the house mother and +her children. And then, if there be other means available, let him +provide the man-saving machinery about the barn and the fields. In the +chapter on "Constructing a Country Dwelling," fuller attention will be +given to these matters. + +4. _The mother's outings._--The farmer who is seriously interested in +providing for the care and comfort of his family, and for the +instruction and intelligent direction of his children, will see to it +that his life companion be allowed her share of outings. This matter +must be just as much on his mind as that of marketing the produce. The +usual habit of the farmer's wife is to give up willingly her rights and +opportunities of this sort. But she cannot well continue to be +spiritually strong and mentally well disposed toward the world unless +she be permitted to get out among her friends and acquaintances at +frequent intervals. + +So, arrange carefully a series of outings for the country mother. The +beginning of such a program is to provide that there be available for +her use and at her command a horse and carriage. This equipment need not +be of the finest quality, and it may be used for other purposes, but +when her needs appear, it should be given up to her purposes. At least +one afternoon a week she should go away from the place and be free as +much as possible temporarily from the cares of the household while she +finds congenial company among some of the neighboring women, or at the +library or elsewhere. + +5. _The home help._--The unending problem of the home life throughout +much of the civilized world is that of obtaining adequate assistance in +the performance of the household work. Much of the time such assistance +from outside sources is practically unavailable. And yet something must +be done to meet the situation. If there be young girls growing up in the +home, the solution of the problem may, and should, be met by means of +requiring the daughters to assist with the home duties. But in case +there be no daughters it is seriously recommended that either the father +or the boys do certain parts of the heavier housework. + +It is not necessarily beneath the dignity of the best and most brilliant +man of this country for him to get down on his knees in his own home and +help perform the menial work there which threatens to break the health +of his life companion. If there be growing sons in the family, there is +every justification for training them to assist in the housework in a +case where such assistance is needed to shield the health and strength +of the mother. It prepares for better manhood and for more sympathetic +protection of his own wife to be, if the boy be required to do such +things and thus to become intimately acquainted with what it means to +perform the many burdensome tasks that tend to wear away the lives of so +many good women. + +6. _The children shield the mother._--There will perhaps be no better +occasion than this to remind parents of the necessity of carefully +training the growing children to perform such deeds as will shield the +mother in the home, and show a sympathetic interest in her welfare. +These matters will not naturally be acquired by children. The country +to-day is full of grown men whose mothers and wives have worked +themselves to death; and yet these men did not detect the seriousness of +the situation until it was too late. There are many men of this same +general class who are willing and even anxious to protect the women of +the home from the crush of over-work, but who know not how to do it. +Such faults as we have just named might easily have been avoided had +these men, during very early boyhood, been brought into an intimate +acquaintance with the burdensome tasks of the household. Especially +should they have been drilled time after time in the performance of +deeds of love and sympathy in respect to their mother. It may seem a +little thing for a younger child to rush to the table, call for and +partake of the best the table provides and, inattentive to the wants of +any other members of the family, hurry off to his play full fed and +happy. And yet this very thing may be indicative of a serious lack of +attention to the rights and requirements of others, such as may be +carried over into his future home life and there amount to serious +abuse. Again, it must be insisted that deeds of sympathy and altruism +are acquired through the actual and continued practice of the +performance of such deeds. + +7. _Planning for the children._--Among the other splendid results of the +conservation of the nerve energy and the vital interests of the house +mother may be mentioned that of her ability to plan thoughtfully for the +instruction of the boys and girls. It is not an easy task to select +appropriate stories and readings for the young. It is neither an easy +nor a trifling matter for the parent to be able to read suitable +stories to them and to interpret helpfully such stories. It is not a +trifling matter for the parents to converse together an hour at evening +and there plan as to the future home instruction of their young. When +should this be introduced into the boy's life and when that into the +girl's life? What is a fair allowance for the boy for what he does and +for his spending money for the Fourth of July, Christmas, and the like? +What is a fair allowance for the girl with which to purchase her clothes +and for her pin money? When should each of them be told this and that +about the secrets of life, and where may helpful literature thereon be +obtained? Just when and how much should the boy and girl be allowed to +go among the young people of the community? When we consider the +far-reaching results which their solution may mean for the developing +young lives, these and many other such questions become exceedingly +important. + +8. _A common conspiracy._--In many a farm home to-day there is a secret +compact which goes far to shape the destiny of a great number of lives. +Go if you will to the farm home where the life of the mother is being +gradually crushed out by the over-work and the lack of sympathetic +protection on the part of the husband, and you will almost invariably +find a secret understanding between the mother and the growing children +in reference to the future careers of the latter. It is implied by +these words put into the mouth of the mother: "Your father is too +ambitious about the work and in his desire for accumulating wealth about +the farm. He is over-working me, is thoughtless of me, and indifferent +to your present needs and your future welfare. Work on as you must, +driven by him, but do as little as you can and grow up to manhood and +womanhood. Study your books, get through with your schooling, and in +time find something easier for your own life work. Perhaps we can +persuade him to give it up after a while and move to town, where you can +go out more, dress better, and get more enjoyment out of life." Thus, +the children grow up to mistrust and dislike their father, and to +despise the vocation in which he is engaged. Such a state of affairs +will precipitate their flight from the home nest. This will take place +at the earliest possible moment and will often be in the nature of a +leap into the dark, anything to get away from the drudgery of the farm. + +Mark you this situation well, you farm fathers, and attack it in all +possible haste with the best available relief. A happy, contented, +well-protected farm mother almost certainly means the same sort of farm +children, while the converse situations will also run in the same +unvarying parallel. Do not satiate your desire for more hogs and more +land with the sacrifice of the peace and happiness and the very +life-blood of your wife and children! + + +REFERENCES + + The Nervous Life. G. E. Partridge, Ph.D. Sturgis-Walton + Company, New York. This book is especially recommended as an + aid to the relief of the tired farm mother. + + Parenthood and Race Culture. Charles W. Saleeby, M.D. Chapter + IX, "The Supremacy of Motherhood." Moffat, Yard & Co., New + York. This is a book of great value for students of race + improvement. + + From Kitchen to Garret. Virginia Van de Water. Chapter I, "A + Heart-to-Heart Talk with the House Wife." Sturgis-Walton + Company. Wholesome advice concerning the conservation of the + mother's strength. + + Proceedings of Child Conference for Research and Welfare, + 1910. L. Pearl Boggs, Ph.D. Page 5, "Home Education." G. E. + Stechart & Co., New York. + + The Efficient Life. Dr. L. H. Gulick. Chapter XVIII, "Growth + in Rest." This entire volume is highly recommended as being + suitable for over-worked mothers. + + What the Farmer can do to Lighten his Wife's Work. T. Blake. + _Ladies' Home Journal_, Feb. 15, 1911. + + The Higher Tide of Physical Conscience. Dr. L. H. Gulick. + _World's Work_, June, 1908. + + Education for Motherhood. Charles W. Saleeby. _Good + Housekeeping_, April, 1910. + + The Profession of Motherhood. Dr. Lyman Abbott. _Outlook_, + April 10, 1909. + + Power Through Repose. Annie Payson Call. Chapter XII, + "Training for Rest." Little, Brown & Co. + + _Wallaces' Farmer_, Des Moines, Ia., is especially to be + commended for its editorial championship of The Farm Mother. + + The Freedom of Life. Annie Payson Call. Chapter IV, "Hurry, + Worry, and Irritability." Little, Brown & Co. + + Ideas of a Plain Country Mother. _Ladies' Home Journal_, May + 1, 1911. + + _American Motherhood_. Coopertown, New York Monthly, $1. This + magazine publishes many short articles bearing on the subject + of this chapter. + + How to conduct Mothers' Clubs. (Pamphlet No. 302, 8 cents.) + _American Motherhood_. Coopertown, New York. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +_CONSTRUCTING THE COUNTRY DWELLING_ + + +Much has been written in books, and more has been spoken from platform +and pulpit, relative to the patriotism of the American people. In +addition to all this the public schools of city and country have been +consciously instructing the children with a view to laying a permanent +foundation in their lives for love of the native land and for defense of +the national ideals. But it seems to me that the best word on the +subject of patriotic instruction has never as yet been given wide +publicity. So long as a boy has to grow up in a home where there are +meanness and turmoil and strife and hatred and degradation, one may +point a thousand times with pride to our great nation, display again and +again before his eyes the proud banner of freedom, sing with him +numberless times the patriotic songs eulogistic of the fatherland and +its national heroes,--under such circumstances a boy can never be +expected to develop into anything other than a superficial patriot. But +give him a good home, simple and unadorned though it may be, where love +reigns, where his childish needs are thoughtfully ministered unto, +whereinto he may go at nightfall after a hard day's work and find rest +and peace and comfort; a home whereinto he may take his childish cares +and perplexities and place them before the affectionate consideration of +his parents and perhaps his elder brothers and sisters; a place where he +is carefully taught the rudiments of filial respect and a wholesome +regard for work and industry,--bring up the boy in the midst of these +plain, sympathetic situations, and you have a real patriot. Although he +may be reminded only occasionally of the meaning of the national flag, +and although he may read with no unusual interest about the blood that +was spilled on the national field of battle, a life so reared would mean +that the love of home has become rooted in the heart of the young +patriot, and that he would rise up if need be and give his life in +defense of that home. In such a case, only a small stretch of the +imagination would make it possible for the youth to regard the nation as +his home in the larger sense, while his willingness to defend that home +in time of real need would be none the less present and strong. + + +PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS NOT AVAILABLE + +There are hundreds of types and thousands of varieties of rural dwelling +houses. It would perhaps be impracticable to attempt to furnish definite +plans and specifications in connection with this chapter. The wide +variation in the nature of the selected sites, in the means available +for building the home, in the size of the family to be accommodated, and +the like, would hinder us in the attempt. But there are certain +principles that may perhaps apply in nearly every instance and that +especially in thought of serving the first and best needs of the +juvenile members of the household. + +It is altogether possible to make a two-room cottage out on the open +prairie a place suggestive of repose, of beauty, and of other high +ideals. So, no matter how small and inexpensive the rural dwelling may +be, let the builders work first of all for that simple beauty and +attractiveness which may most certainly invest the heart of the +indweller with a feeling of comfort and satisfaction. Let it be a place, +though humble, that may soon become to the members of the family the +most beloved spot on earth. For, after all, the best things of life +cannot possibly be bought with money. There are often misery and +dissension and bitterness in the finest palatial dwelling, while the +essential elements of beauty and worth may have lodgment in the hearts +of the humblest cottage dwellers. However, it is not the intention here +to argue any one into the thought of building a humble cot for the mere +sake of humility. The point we desire to make is merely this: that, +although possessed of very meager means with which to build, one can +actually construct a home in which the inhabitants thereof may dwell +in peace and contentment, and a place over which the Spirit of the +Most High may brood in great strength and beauty. + +[Illustration: PLATE V. + +FIG. 5.--An attractive old country residence in the South, built in +1854. At least one good family has been matured therein. And to them + + "How many sacred memories + Bring back those childhood scenes."] + + +WHAT APPEALS TO THE CHILDREN + +In the selection of a location and a site for the dwelling the welfare +of the children must be thought of, second only to that of the house +mother. Now, what material arrangements will appeal to the growing +children and add much interest and romance to their lives as in future +time they view them in retrospect? First of all, perhaps, a broken +landscape might well be mentioned, a hill or two near by the place, with +a sharp cliff or embankment to the crest of which the children may climb +and there cast down missiles. Such things tend to add a charm to the +young lives. And then, if possible, have a brook or larger stream of +fresh running water. A large river is less desirable on account of the +danger to child life. But a stream which may furnish, not merely water +for the live-stock, but a swimming and bathing place for the children in +summer and a skating pond for them in winter, to say nothing about the +pleasures of fishing and boating--these will appeal most strongly to the +boys and girls. And then, the woodland, or at least the shady grove with +trees to climb, and possibly nuts and wild flowers to gather--a place +where chipmunks and song birds and the like may have their natural +habitat, and wherefrom there may proceed the weird and doleful sound of +the night owl and the whip-poor-will; herein one may find many of the +crude materials well suited to give proper nourishment to the souls of +the young. + +But the things just named will not nearly always be accessible. +Throughout many of the commonwealths there are vast stretches of level +plateaus with scarcely a hill or woodland in sight, and yet covered with +a rich, tillable soil. These places may for good reasons be selected for +the site of a dwelling. But they demand more work and heavier expense of +money and time before the best material surroundings of an ideal home +for boys and girls may be realized. Before the house is scarcely laid +out in such a place, the shade and ornamental trees should be planted, +selecting for part of the planting a quick-growing species that may be +removed later after more permanent and more valuable trees have reached +a suitable height. Of course, a stream of water cannot always be +diverted so as to make it pass the place, but a fair substitute may be +had by the construction of a pond. And this thing should be accomplished +at the earliest possible moment. If there be a small dry ravine, dam it +up with concrete and catch it full of surplus water during a rainy +season. It is a positive injustice to boys and not a little unfair to +girls to require them to grow up without any access to open water of +some kind. And it is almost a matter of criminal neglect to require +children to live permanently in a home about which there are no trees +growing. So it is recommended, even if the house construction must in +part be delayed or cut off, that the surroundings just named be sought +in all earnestness. + + +THE HOUSE PLAN + +In planning and arranging the house, the matters to be thought of in +addition to those named above are convenience and comfort. While it is +somewhat important that the house look well to those who may be passing +upon the highway, it is vastly more important that it be good within and +serve such needs of the home-maker and the children as will conserve the +strength of the former and render the lives of all happy and contented. +In addition to the matters just named, that of placing the dwelling to +face in the right direction will be thought of. That is, arrange the +house so as to take advantage of the morning sunlight, the evening +shade, the winter blasts and the summer breezes. While for the sake of +entertainment it may be well to place the rural dwelling near the public +highway, rather than sacrifice the child-developing factors of shade +trees and streams and the like, it is often better to build back from +the road and make a private lane leading thereto. + +In arranging for the heat and light in the house, think first of all of +the health and sanitation of the family. Ordinarily, the windows of the +farmhouse are too small; while worse still, many of them, even in the +bed chambers, are permanently nailed down. So, if the health and the +general well-being of the boys and girls, as well as the parents, are +worth anything at all, attend religiously to these small and inexpensive +conveniences, not neglecting to provide most carefully for keeping out +flies and other insects. The wise farmer will find the secret of getting +along with his own household and of rearing a strong, healthy family to +lie in the strict attention he gives to just such small matters as +these. The things that overstrain the physique, that try the temper and +patience of the housewife, must especially be looked after and something +of a better nature substituted for them. + + +HOW ONE FARMER DOES IT + +Mr. W. F. Mottier, living in Ford County, Illinois, gives in _Farmer's +Voice_ his plan of providing for the children, as follows:-- + +"I have always tried to farm intelligently. One of my favorite ideas in +regard to farm life is that of making the home as attractive as possible +for the children. So I put on the place all the modern improvements that +I can afford, in order that the children may not feel that town life is +the best. And our children do not have any desire to go to town. It +would bring a sad thought to me to hear my children talk against the +farm life or home life on the farm." + + +OUTBUILDINGS AND EQUIPMENT + +With few exceptions, the money available for building the home should be +expended first in putting the house into the ideal condition just named. +After that, if any means remain, the outbuildings may be constructed. +Otherwise, crude, temporary arrangements may easily suffice. There is +one thing, however, that must be provided with scrupulous care and that +is the water for the household use. It must be, first of all, wholesome +and comparatively free from impurities. Then, if at all possible, it +should be cool and taste well. Actual records have shown that one will +not drink enough water to satisfy the demands of his health in case the +taste be in any degree unpleasant to him. So the ideal water for +household use is comparatively soft, is cool, highly pleasing to the +taste, and is free from disease-carrying germs. This comparatively +simple matter of providing the water will prove most important in +relation to the well-being of the household and the up-building of the +family life. See to it at any cost that the well be situated out of the +way of seepage from any barn or outbuilding, even though it may from +such necessity be placed somewhat out of the reach of convenience. + + +HUMAN RIGHTS PRIOR TO ANIMAL RIGHTS + +If the farmer cannot afford to erect a good barn he may take reasonable +care of his horses with the use of a cheap, improvised one. Actual test +will show that horses may be made comfortable in the summer time with +the use of a straw-thatched shed for a barn, provided the drainage be +reasonably good and the earth floor be kept in good order. The thatched +covering may be made to keep out the rain. During the winter, with the +use of a few slender poles, the entire shed may be inclosed with a hay +or straw wall and the place thus be made very satisfactory for the time +being. Similar sheds and protection may be provided for the other +live-stock, all to await the time when the means are at hand for better +conveniences. It is especially suggestive of a mean lack of +consideration of human rights in the case of the farmer who has a big, +expensive farm barn towering up beside a little dingy shanty of a +dwelling house. And yet this thing is all too common, particularly in +new prairie regions. Such is the place out of which beastliness and +criminality and anarchy tend to be germinated from the lives of boys and +girls, to say nothing about the hidden tragedies that surround the lives +of the many women who are forced to put up with such an arrangement for +half a lifetime. + +Just one illustration of a situation of the sort described will suffice +to point out the moral. On an occasion two strangers drew up to a +farmhouse. One of them was a land agent, and the other a home seeker. +Their mission was that of purchasing a farm. The owner of the farm +showed them about the place with considerable enthusiasm, but his heart +swelled with pride when he reached the magnificent barn, one side of +which was devoted to the propagation of a high-grade strain of Duroc +Jersey swine. Every convenience and comfort for the hogs was provided. +He boasted about his success with them, showed an affectionate regard +for the different individuals, calling them by name. The horses, too, +might have aroused the envy of the entire neighborhood. They were sleek +and well-fed, full in flesh and fair in form. There was provided every +convenience for feeding and caring for the horses and the hogs, so that +the hired men found the work about the barn exceedingly easy and +pleasant. + +Then the attention of the visitors was turned to the farmhouse. Yes, it +was small and run down and poor, the intention being to build a larger +one "some time." But that same intention was known to have been +expressed repeatedly for a period of twenty years past. And where were +the boys? Well, that was the trouble, and furnished the excuse for his +willingness to sell the place. He simply could not induce the boys to +stay there and take an interest in things. Two of them, barely more than +boys, had left the home nest in its meanness and degradation and hired +out in town. The mother of the boys was living there because she had to, +but upon her face were lines of suffering and disappointment and +degradation. Yet in the midst of it all, strange to say, the father +seemed to blame the boys and their mother for having conspired against +the interests of the farm home and plotted to get away. In the course of +his conversation he made it somewhat evident that he would have sold out +and left sooner had the other members of the family not been so urgent +about the matter, and that he was now holding on partly to indulge his +spite and feeling of stubbornness in reference to them. + +The cheap novels one may pick up depict many a fictitious tragedy. But +in the place just described lies the typical scene of thousands of real +tragedies during the course of which numberless lives of boys and girls +have been wrecked forever,--lives latent with possibilities of goodness +and beauty, of mental and moral strength. And then, the bitterness and +anguish of soul of the mothers of these lost members of a high +humanity--what of that? The silent walls of an untimely grave in many +cases closed them in, while much of the memory of their secret suffering +lies buried with them. + + +THE CHILDREN'S ROOM + +Even though the means available will not allow for more than the +humblest sort of cottage, there should be definite thought of providing +therein some room or niche or corner to be considered as the private +property of the children. In a three-room dwelling on the Kansas prairie +in which lives a happy family of five, and about which thrifty young +shade trees and orchards are growing, there may be seen a children's +room that would surprise and inspire any ordinary observer. In a little +attic room facing the east and reached by a mere step-ladder +arrangement, may be found the "den," which is the private place of the +three children. A small window opens out to the east and a small +improvised dormer window about twelve by twenty inches admits light and +air from the south. There is no plastering or other expensive covering +upon the sloping roof walls, but the artistic mother has provided dainty +white muslin for concealing the rough places, and with the help of the +children she has decorated the little room in a manner that would +attract the very elect. None of this has required a money cost, but it +has all been done beautifully at the expense of thought and good sense +and artistic taste, prompted by rare consideration for the needs of the +boys and girls. + +[Illustration: PLATE VI. + +FIG. 6.--A commodious farmhouse in Canada, equipped throughout with a +complete water system. Many farmers waste enough trying to build a house +without a modern plan to pay for this extra convenience.] + +The two little girls and their brother, ranging in age from five to ten +years, spend many a happy hour in their attic chamber. The heat from the +room below comes through a small aperture and warms the little place in +winter time, while the breeze passes through the little windows in +summer, tempering the room satisfactorily excepting upon extremely hot +days. Upon the walls are arranged beautiful post cards, larger pictures +gathered from magazines and other sources, and small though beautiful +home decorations of every conceivable sort. The little seven-year-old +boy has a small assortment of curios collected from the hills and +streams, while the girls have a small display of their childish +needlework, their dolls, and some of their best school drawings. How +suggestive and how helpful it would be if this little den could be +displayed before the eyes of all the humble cottagers throughout the +rural districts! + +Yes, the hogs may live out-of-doors and the horses get along very well +indeed with a temporary barn thatched with straw, but the places of the +boys and girls must be looked after and that in the interest of making +them happy, of filling their lives with every good, clean sentiment, and +of preparing them for that large sphere of usefulness which may mark +their future. If the house be larger than the one we have described, +then provide accordingly for the children. Give them a good room of +their own. Put their ornaments and playthings in it. If there be space, +provide a library containing a few suitable volumes. And after this +thoughtful provision has been made, see to it carefully that their +schedule for work, schooling, and the other duties allows for ample time +and opportunity for their enjoyment of the apartment set aside for them. +In years to come, that sweet poetic sentiment running back to the home +of one's childhood will be given greater strength and beauty because of +the fact that this thing just urged has been done. And more than that, +the man (or woman) who has the blessed privilege of recalling these +bygone scenes of childhood receives from such contemplation a new sense +of inner strength and new enduement of power to go on with life's +struggle and master the larger problems that come to him. + + +THE EVENING HOUR + +No matter what the cares of the day may have been, how many things may +have gone wrong, how much hay left out in the field unprotected from the +rain, how many acres of corn unplowed and losing in the battle with the +weeds, how many items of household duties unperformed--there is every +justification for laying aside these work-a-day affairs at the approach +of bedtime and for the spending of a precious hour with the problems of +the children. Farm parents as well as other parents can thus preserve +their youth and add immeasurably to the joys of their own lives. This +thing of being with the children at evening may seem slightly awkward +and prosaic at first, but it will slowly grow into a habit and will +become transformed into an experience of great charm and beauty. Best of +all the high refinement, potential in the lives of the children, will +thus be gradually brought to an expression, and the foundation stones of +substantial manhood and womanhood will be laid in their lives. Yes, it +is true, even farm parents may learn to lay aside their cares and +perplexities and enjoy the splendid privilege of getting intimately +acquainted with the hopes and desires and aspirations of their boys and +girls! + + +REFERENCES + + The Outlook to Nature. Revised edition. L. H. Bailey. Page + 79, "The Country Home." Macmillan. + + Low Cost Country Homes. A. Embury, Jr. _Collier's_, June 10, + 1911. + + A Primer of Sanitation. John O. Ritchie. Chapter XXXIII, + "Public Sanitation." World Book Company, Yonkers, N.Y. + Recommended for general use. + + From Kitchen to Garret. Virginia Van de Water. Chapter X, + "The Boy's Room." Sturgis-Walton Company. + + Home Waterworks. Carleton J. Lynde. Sturgis-Walton. + + "Comforts and Conveniences in Farmers' Homes." W. R. Beattie. + Yearbook, Department of Agriculture, 1909. Washington, D.C., + pp. 345-356. See also in same volume, "Hygienic Water Supply + for Farms," pp. 399-408. + + Water Supply for Farm Residences, The Plan of the Farm-House, + Saving Steps. Cornell Reading-Courses. + + Rural Hygiene. H. N. Ogden. The Macmillan Company. + + Rural Hygiene. I. N. Brewer. J. P. Lippincott Company, + Philadelphia. + + Earn your Child's Friendship. J. Balfield. _Lippinott's + Magazine_, January, 1911. + + Fireside Child Study. Patterson DuBois. Dodd, Mead & Co. + + Home Decorations. Dorothy T. Priestman. Chapter XIV, "Rooms + for Young People." Penn Publishing Company, Philadelphia. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +_JUVENILE LITERATURE IN THE FARM HOME_ + + +It may be truly said that the strength and impressiveness of the +personality depend on the nature of the inner thought of the individual. +Now, thoughts are not unlike the trees and the growing grain, or, for +that matter, any other living thing; unless they have proper nourishment +they wither, perish, or dwindle away to a puny shadow of their possible +selves. How shall we measure the strength and force of the human +character other than by the bigness and the purity of the daily thoughts +of the individual? It matters little what the occupation may be--a hewer +of stone, a hauler of wood, a captain of industry, or a governor of a +state--each of these may be mean and little in his respective position +provided his thoughts be sensuous and groveling. On the other hand, each +of these can shine in his allotted place in a light all his own, +provided he have the habit of entertaining clean and inspiring ideas in +his secret consciousness. + +Now, one of the larger problems of the rural life is that of supplying +the many hours necessarily devoted to silent reflection with a suitable +form of thought culture. Proverbially, the farmer and his wife and their +children are hurried along with the work-a-day affairs and tend +gradually to acquire the non-reading habit. This is bad for the parents +in that it keeps their minds running around upon a little cycle of hard, +industrial facts. It is worse for the children in that it fails to +supply the proper nourishment for the dream period through which their +lives are necessarily passing. What can be done, therefore, to nourish +and build up the best possible thought activities, especially in case of +the rural boys and girls? + + +HOW GOOD THINKING GROWS UP AND FLOURISHES + +It may not be out of place to show here somewhat more definitely how +attractive forms of literature gradually work themselves into the lives +of the young. In the first place, the young person cannot invent his own +ideas. He does not manufacture his thoughts out of something latent +within his organism. The latent situation consists merely of a nervous +system prepared to receive manifold impressions and to retain them and +give them back through the process of ideation. That is, the young +person thinks only about things that have actually happened in his life. +All he knows has come to him through the avenue of his senses; what he +has seen and heard and felt, and so on, constitutes the "stuff" out of +which his thoughts are made. So he must have the widest possible +experience, while young, in the use of his natural senses. + +The literature best adapted to the child would be that which appeals to +the interests predominating in his life at any given time. During his +early years not hard, prosaic facts, but situations that stretch the +truth and sport with the fixed condition of things are especially +appealing to him. He should therefore be indulged in the classic myths, +fables, fairy tales, and the like. The parent will of course be on guard +against his acquiring any seriously erroneous beliefs in respect to such +things, and also against his receiving any serious shock or fright from +the tragic aspects of the tale. Later on, during the early teens, the +boys and girls will become more and more interested in the stories of +the wars of old and in the fact and romance of history. Stories +supplementing the text-book history of the home country may now be +introduced. + +As a possible means of bringing the minds of the boys and girls into a +more intimate knowledge of the rural situation, nature studies and +nature stories should be offered. It must be remembered that it is quite +possible for the boy to grow up within a stone's throw of many of the +living things of nature and yet scarcely recognize their presence, much +less know anything definite about them. Therefore, nature-study books +and leaflets written perhaps in story form and containing attractive +illustrations of the birds, bees, flowers, and trees to be found near +about the rural home will prove most interesting and instructive to the +young. Through such helpful literature the mind will gradually acquire +the habit of casting about in the home environment for the description +of possible objects and conditions new to one. + +One of the best and most helpful results accruing to the young person +who indulges the habit of reading good literature is this: he acquires a +large vocabulary of words and phrases in which to clothe his secret +thought and with which to express himself to others. All this furnishes, +not merely a splendid form of entertainment for the silent reflections, +but it also gives the thinker a sense of the power and the worth of his +own personality. + + +TYPES OF LITERATURE + +It may be stated as a foregone conclusion that no farm is well equipped +for the happiness and well-being of those who dwell thereon unless there +be an ample supply of good literature in the house. No matter how well +stocked with high-grade farm animals, how productive in point of farm +crops, how well kept the hedges and lanes may be, secret poverty and +littleness of mind lurk in that home if the literature is wanting. So, +first of all, let us lay the foundation by means of enumerating some +periodicals and books of a more general nature. + +[Illustration: PLATE VII. + +FIG. 7.--It is a mistake to try to make bookworms of children. Many of +their best books are "green fields and running brooks," also frequent +opportunity to play together in groups and neighborhoods.] + +1. _The best reading._--Of course the Bible might head the list. Whether +or not there be a large "family" Bible, there should be at least a text +of convenient size and form for everyday use. This book should contain a +good concordance. + +Then there should come into the home a first-class weekly newspaper; +possibly the local paper will supply this need. Many farm homes now +receive a daily paper regularly. + +In addition there should be available a weekly or monthly summary of the +current events of the nation and the world. The _Literary Digest_, the +_World's Work_, and the _Review of Reviews_ are examples of standard +magazines of this particular class. Either one of them will stimulate +most helpfully the quiet thought of the farmer and the members of his +family and keep one in touch with the most important movements of the +country. + +Along with the foregoing, there should be kept constantly at hand a +first-class farm magazine. There are numberless periodicals of this +sort, but perhaps among those of the first rank and those which +especially give definite helps for the boy-and-girl life of the farm may +be mentioned _Wallaces' Farmer_, Des Moines, Iowa, the _Farmer's Voice_, +Chicago, Illinois, and the _Farmer's Guide_, Huntington, Indiana. Also, +the semi-official state paper well known in many of the commonwealths is +usually very helpful. + +Look out for trash. There are many papers published, ostensibly in the +interest of farm life, which are in fact cheap and trashy sheets made +use of almost wholly as a medium of advertising quack medicines, +get-rich-quick schemes, and other frauds. A reliable means of testing +the value of any one of these so-called "farm" or "home" papers is to +examine the advertisements. If there be any considerable number of +advertisements which offer sure cures for chronic diseases, confidential +treatments for secret troubles, fortune telling, and attractive +high-priced articles at a trifling cost, then the whole thing is +probably fraudulent and not worthy to come into your home. Also avoid +the paper or magazine which advertises intoxicating liquors. It is very +low in moral tone, to say the least. + +2. _Books for children._--In selecting a list of books for farm boys and +girls, we should make little or no distinction between them and the +children of the city homes. Their earlier literary needs are practically +all alike and their youthful minds must be nourished in about the same +fashion. In offering the lists to follow we do not pretend to have +selected nearly all the profitable books available, but rather to have +named a few examples of volumes already found enticing and helpful to +the young mind. The majority of them are standard and well known. While +the price and publisher are given in many instances, often a cheaper +edition may be had. + +In order to proceed with greater certainty and economy in purchasing +books for the children, the rural parent is advised to consult some one +near at hand who is thoroughly familiar with children's literature. +Perhaps the superintendent of schools of the town near by, or some local +minister, or some well-informed leader of a mothers' club, may furnish +the desired assistance. It would also be helpful to write for the +general catalogues of a number of the large publishing and distributing +houses and from their lists select a number of suitable titles. Many of +them publish the older classics in very attractive form for ten to +twenty-five cents, the original unchanged and unabridged. + +In order to stimulate interest in forming the nucleus of a home library +the farmer should either make or purchase a small set of book shelves. +Important as it may seem to build a first-class house for the +thoroughbred hogs, this matter of the children's reading is even more +important and should be attended to first, before it becomes too late to +catch the attentive ear of the boys and girls. + + +A SELECTED LIST + + + The following lists are taken chiefly from those selected by + such well-known critics as Mary Mapes Dodge, Kate Douglas + Wiggin, Edward Everett Hale, Thomas Wentworth Higginson, and + Hamilton W. Mabie. + + + _Ages Four to Six Years_ + + VARIOUS AUTHORS. Boston Collection of Kindergarten Stories. + J. L. Hammett Company, Boston. 50 cents. + + BRYANT. Stories to Tell to Children. Houghton, Mifflin + Company. + + HOLBROOK. Hiawatha Primer. 50 cents. Houghton, Mifflin + Company. + + EGGLESTON. Story of Great America for Little Americans. 35 + cents. Houghton, Mifflin Company. + + SCUDDER. Fables and Folk Stories. + + STEVENSON. A Child's Garden of Verses. + + LANG. Blue Fairy Book. + + RUSKIN. King of the Golden River. + + FIELD. Lullaby Land. + + WIGGIN. The Story Hour. + + SEWELL. Black Beauty. + + + _Ages Six to Seven Years_ + + NORTON AND STEPHENS. The Heart of Oak Books, No. 1. 25 cents. + Heath. + + GILBERT. Mother Goose. + + CARROLL (CHARLES L. DODGSON). Alice in Wonderland. $3. + Harper. 35 cents. Crowell. + + ANDREWS. The Seven Little Sisters. 60 cents. Ginn. + + KINGSLEY. Water Babies. + + KIPLING. The Jungle Book. + + GREENE. King Arthur and his Court. + + + _Ages Seven to Eight Years_ + + GRIMM. Fairy Tales. Translated Mrs. E. Lucas. $2.50. + Lippincott. + + GOLDSMITH. Goody Two-Shoes. 25 cents. Heath + + ÆSOP. Fables. Selected by Jacobs. $1.50. Macmillan. + + HARRIS. Nights with Uncle Remus. $1.50. Houghton, Mifflin. + + BIBLE STORIES. 60 cents. A. L. Burt Company, New York. + + HAWTHORNE. Wonderbook and Tanglewood Tales. + + IRVING. Rip Van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, or + The Sketch Book. + + + _Ages Eight to Nine Years_ + + BALDWIN. Fifty Famous Stories Retold. 35 cents. American Book + Company. + + LONGFELLOW. Hiawatha, The Village Blacksmith, The Children's + Hour, etc. + + MABIE. Norse Stories Retold from Edda. $1.80. Dodd, Mead. + + MILLER. Out-of-Door Diary for Boys and Girls. Sturgis-Walton + Company. + + + _Ages Nine to Ten Years_ + + NORTON AND STEPHENS. Heart of Oak Books, No. 4. 45 cents. + Heath. + + HODGES. The Garden of Eden. (Bible Stories.) $1.50. Houghton, + Mifflin. + + MATHEWS. Familiar Trees and Their Leaves. $1.75. Appleton. + + BURROUGHS. Wake Robin. + + + _Ages Ten to Eleven Years_ + + HIGGINSON. Tales of the Enchanted Islands of the Atlantic. + + DANA. How to know the Wild Flowers. $2. Scribner. + + BLANCHAN. Bird Neighbors. 35 cents. Doubleday, Page. + + NORTON AND STEPHENS. Heart of Oak Books, No. 5. 50 cents. + Heath. + + CHURCH. Stories from Virgil. + + MORLEY. A Song of Life. + + STEVENSON. Treasure Island. + + + _Ages Eleven to Twelve Years_ + + ALCOTT. Little Women. $1.50. Little Men. $1.50. Little, Brown + & Co. + + LUCAS. A Wanderer in London. $1.75. Macmillan. + + ALDRICH. Story of a Bad Boy. $1.25. Houghton, Mifflin. + + SHAKESPEARE. The Tempest. + + SCOTT. Tales of a Grandfather. The Talisman. + + EDGEWORTH. Parent's Assistant. + + + _Ages Twelve to Thirteen Years_ + + KIPLING. Just So Stories. $1.20. Doubleday, Page. + + SETON-THOMPSON. Wild Animals I have Known. $2. Scribner. + + WYSS. Swiss Family Robinson. 60 cents. McKay; also Dutton. + + PALMER. The Odyssey. $1. Houghton, Mifflin. + + GOLDSMITH. The Vicar of Wakefield. + + DICKENS. A Christmas Carol. The Cricket on the Hearth. + + HUGHES. Tom Brown at Rugby. + + + _Ages Thirteen to Fourteen Years_ + + SWIFT. Gulliver's Travels. $1.50. Macmillan. + + LONGFELLOW. Evangeline. + + DANA. Two Years before the Mast. $1. Houghton, Mifflin. + + NORTON AND STEPHENS. Heart of Oak Books, No. 6. 55 cents. + Heath. + + LAMB. Tales from Shakespeare. + + COFFIN. Old Times in the Colonies. + + FRANKLIN. Autobiography. + + STOWE. Uncle Tom's Cabin. + + + _Ages Fourteen to Fifteen Years_ + + DEFOE. Robinson Crusoe. $1. McLoughlin. $1.50. Harper. + + BUNYAN. Pilgrim's Progress. + + NORTON AND STEPHENS. Heart of Oak Books, No. 7. 60 cents. + Heath. + + AUSTEN. Pride and Prejudice. + + THOREAU. Walden. + + + _Ages Fifteen to Sixteen Years_ + + COOPER. Leather Stocking Tales. + + BURROUGHS. Birds and Bees. 15 cents. Strawbridge and + Clothier. + + PYLE. Robin Hood. 60 cents. Scribner. + + SCOTT. Ivanhoe. 60 cents. Appleton. Lady of the Lake. 35 + cents. + + GINN. Lay of the Last Minstrel. 25 cents. Macmillan. + + + _Sixteen Years Old and Older_ + + IRVING. The Alhambra. 25 cents. Macmillan. + + MACAULAY. Lays of Ancient Rome. 75 cents. Macmillan. + + KIPLING. Captains Courageous. $1.50. Century. + + NICOLAY AND HAY. Boy's Life of Lincoln. $1.50. Century. + + EGGLESTON. Hoosier School Boy. $1. Scribner; also Heath. + +In addition to the foregoing, there is beginning to come from the press +a mass of juvenile literature that promises to furnish most practical +inspiration and guidance to the juvenile mind on the farm. Much of this +new rural life literature may be had for the asking or for the mere +price of publication. The following are recommended:-- + + _The Rural School Leaflet._ Edited by Alice G. McCloskey, and + issued under the general direction of L. H. Bailey at Ithaca, + N.Y. + + The Country Life Publications, issued by D. W. Working, + Superintendent of Agricultural Extension, Morgantown, W.Va. + + The series published by A. B. Graham, Superintendent of the + Extension Department, Ohio University, Columbus. + + The annual reports of County Superintendent O. J. Kern, + Rockford, Ill., and of County Superintendent George W. Brown, + Paris, Ill. + + The Wisconsin Arbor and Bird Day Annual, issued by State + Superintendent C. P. Cary, Madison, Wis. + +The Extension Departments of many of the state universities and nearly +all of the state agricultural colleges are now issuing a series of small +pamphlets on such matters as stock judging, grain breeding, soil +testing, and home economics. This literature should be given the widest +possible circulation in the country home, as it will prove helpful both +to the young and to the parents in their direction of the young. + + +_Literature on Child-rearing_ + +Parents who are seriously in earnest in the matter of developing the +lives of their children will find great assistance and much inspiration +through the reading of books and magazines on the child-rearing +problems. In fact, it may be put down as a practical certainty that the +work of child training cannot go on effectively and continue in its +interest except one have some aids of the kind just named. Therefore, +the interested parent should cast about for the books and magazines that +promise to serve in the solution of the particular problems at hand. It +happens that the author has collected a large number of books and +periodicals of this class and that he has made a somewhat critical +examination of them. + +In listing the titles below, a word or phrase is used to indicate the +contents or purpose of the text. + + 1. Periodicals on Child-rearing + + _The American Baby._ American Publishing Company, 1 Madison + Ave., New York City. $1 per year, 10 cents per copy. Contains + much detailed and most helpful instruction on the care of the + child. + + _American Motherhood._ Coopertown, N.Y. $1 per year, 10 cents + per copy. Helpful and sympathetic. Especially strong in + respect to health and sanitation and in methods of + instructing children in regard to the secrets of life. + + _The Child-Welfare Magazine._ Official organ of the National + Congress of Mothers, 147 North 10th Street, Philadelphia. 50 + cents per year, 10 cents per copy. + +The educational pamphlets published by the Society of Sanitary and Moral +Prophylaxis, 9 E 2d Street, New York City. Excellent monographs, each +treating some urgent child problem in relation to morals, sanitation, +and the like. + +The Home-training Bulletins, prepared and issued by William A. McKeever, +Professor of Philosophy, State Agricultural College, Manhattan, Kan. 5 +cents each. Each of these pamphlets contains about sixteen pages and +covers a particular home-training problem. The numbers thus far issued +are:-- + + 1. The Cigarette Smoking Boy. + + 2. Teaching the Boy to Save. + + 3. Training the Girl to Help in the Home. + + 4. Assisting the Boy in the Choice of a Vocation. + + 5. A Better Crop of Boys and Girls. + + 6. Training the Boy to Work. + + 7. Teaching the Girl to Save. + + 8. Instructing the Young in Regard to Sex. + +Others are in course of preparation. + + + 2. Books on Child-rearing + + HOLT. Care and Feeding of Children. $1 Appleton. Most helpful + and practical. + + CURLEY. Short Talks with Young Mothers. $1.50. Putnams. + Helpful from the medical side. + + HARRISON. A Study of Child Nature. $1. Chicago Kindergarten + College. Excellent. A standard help. + + ALLEN. Civics and Health. $1.25. Ginn & Co. Most helpful on + the side of sanitation. + + HALL. Youth. $1.50. Appleton. A great book on child study by + one of the world's leading authorities. + + KING. Psychology of Child Development. $1. University of + Chicago Press. A Fundamental work for those who wish to make + a scientific study of child life. + + RITCHIE. A Primer of Sanitation. 60 cents. World Book + Company. A clear, helpful presentation of the facts. + + CHANCE. The Care of the Child. $1. Penn Publishing Company. + Full of detailed information about infants, especially. + + MANGOLD. Child Problems. $1.25. Macmillan. Presents the + matter ably and in the light of the freshest information. + + CALL. The Freedom of Life. $1. Little, Brown & Co. A great + and inspiring book. Will give rest and poise to tired + mothers. + + GULICK. Mind and Work. $1. Doubleday, Page & Co. A companion + book to the one above, only more suitable for the father. + + SALEEBY. Parenthood and Race Culture. $2.50. Moffat, Yard & + Co., New York. A remarkably instructive volume on race + improvement. + + +REFERENCES + + How to Direct Children's Reading. Mae E. Schreiber. Annual + volume N.E.A., 1900, p. 637. + + A Suggestive List for a Children's Library, 483 titles. Helen + T. Kennedy. Democrat Printing Company. Minneapolis. + + A Mother's List of Books for Children. Catherine W. Arnold. + A. C. McClurg & Co. + + Children's Rights. Kate Douglas Wiggin. Pages 69 ff. "What + shall Children Read?" Houghton, Mifflin Company. + + Fingerposts of Children's Reading. Walter Taylor Field. + McClurg & Co. Gives extensive lists. + + Books for Boys and Girls. Brooklyn Public Library, New York. + A carefully selected list of 1700 titles, 200 of them being + especially marked for their value. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +_THE RURAL CHURCH AND THE YOUNG PEOPLE_ + + +There was never a greater demand for efficient leadership in the rural +communities than there is to-day. The country has continued for many +years past to become richer in farm products and equipment, but it has +steadily grown poorer in social and spiritual values. In fact we have +unconsciously acquired a distorted idea of values. Hogs are too high in +proportion to boys. Beef cattle are absorbing too much interest in +proportion to the time and money expended in perfecting the character of +girls. It has long been the proud boast of the Middle Western states +that they could feed the entire country. And we have continued so long +in this way as now to regard big crops and the great abundance of farm +animals and other such material possessions as ends in themselves. So it +is high time that we ask ourselves what this material wealth is all for. +Looked at from at least one high vantage point, it may be properly +regarded as so much encumbrance unless we shall be able to convert it +into a means to some worthy and spiritual purpose. + + +DECADENCE OF RURAL LIFE + +The open country in the Middle Western states has for some time been the +breeding place for sterling manhood and ideal womanhood, and the +recruiting ground wherefrom have been drawn many men and women to +undertake the management of the larger enterprises of the country. The +enforced self denial and discipline of work; the continued practice of +quiet reflection; the comparative freedom from the evil and degrading +influences peculiar to much of the child life in the cities; and many +other character-building experiences could be set down on the favorable +side of rural child-rearing in the past. But this situation is rapidly +changing. The ten-year period just closing has witnessed a decadence of +country life, the rural population actually showing a decrease. Large +numbers of the best families have moved to the cities and towns, and +their places on the farm have been taken by irresponsible laborers and +transient renters. + +Yes, the wealth of the rural community is still there, lying more or +less dormant, and all the other means of a splendid civilization are +there. But in the usual instance there is no one to assume the +leadership in bringing about the reconstruction of the rural life. Now +that he has accumulated such an abundance of material things, the +typical farmer needs to be shown how to deal more fairly and helpfully +with the various members of his family. Some farmers' wives are +gradually being dragged to death with the over-burden of work, which +might be obviated if the farmer and his wife were both shown +specifically a better way of getting things done. Many boys and girls +growing up in the country are being cheated out of their natural +heritage of good health, spontaneous play, and the joy of social +intercourse, all because of the fact that farm products are too much +regarded as an end rather than a means to the higher development of the +members of the rural family. So a good soil and excellent crops are +essentials for a substantial rural society, but they are not a certain +evidence of such thing. It is possible to go into some of the country +communities where these material things are accumulated in great +abundance and yet find the people there living a little, mean, and +narrow form of life, and that chiefly because they do not quite +understand how to use the splendid means at hand in the accomplishment +of some high and worthy purposes. + + +WORK FOR THE MINISTRY + +And so we hereby issue a call and a challenge for workers to enter the +great fallow field just named and make it blossom with new social and +spiritual life. And it is the conviction of some that the ministers of +the town and village churches can undertake this work much better than +any other class of persons, for they are already in many respects +trained leaders. Let these ministers be provided if possible with an +assistant, a layman it may be, for both their town and country work. +Then let each of them have a rural appointment to which they may go from +one to four times each month; and, inspired by a vision of all the +possibilities ahead of them and endued with divine power and guidance, +enter earnestly into the great work of rehabilitating the country +community. It is evident that the minister who will leave his town +congregation with perhaps only one Sunday sermon and go to a country +church and preach to the adults, and teach and lead the young, while his +assistant takes charge of the second Sunday service at home--it is +evident that such a minister will not only wear longer in the locality +in which he is stationed, but that he will find in the rural work just +mentioned such a flood of zeal and inspiration as will more than make up +for and repay the effort. Many of the town ministers are preaching to +audiences that are more or less irresponsive to what they have to say. +Under present conditions they are compelled to preach to the same +audiences too much. Their sermons grow stale. But under the arrangement +here recommended, such conditions would not obtain. They would come back +from the rural appointment so laden with new ideas and ideals as to +appear to the home congregation in a most advantageous light. + + +THE COUNTRY MINISTER + +There is at present not a little promise that there may be developed +throughout the country a new type of country-dwelling ministers. It is +certainly a logical position for the effective religious worker to +assume; namely, that of actually dwelling among those whom he is +attempting to serve. He acquires an intimate knowledge of their +problems, their point of view, including the status of their individual +beliefs and prejudices. + +[Illustration: PLATE VIII. + +FIG. 8.--The fifty-year-old country church at Plainfield. + +FIG. 9.--The new country church at Plainfield, Illinois, erected through +the inspiration and leadership of Reverend Matthew B. McNutt.] + +As an example of what the country minister can achieve one needs to read +an account of the splendid work of the Rev. Mathew B. McNutt of +Plainfield, Illinois. Mr. McNutt was called to this charge in 1900 when +a fresh graduate from a Presbyterian seminary. At the time of his call +there was in the locality a small dead or nominal church membership and +an occasional weak, ineffective service held in the little old church of +fifty years' standing. This devoted and far-seeing man got down among +the people with whom he settled, made a careful survey of the economic, +the social, and the religious life of the place, and began his wonderful +work of reconstructing all this. The ultimate purpose was the +improvement of the spiritual well-being. He organized singing schools, +granges, literary and debating societies, sewing societies, and clubs of +various other sorts, all as a means of awakening the life of the +community and bringing the people together in a spirit of mutual +sympathy and helpfulness. After less than a decade of hard work a +marvelous transformation of the rural life thereabout was achieved. +Among other notable changes was a new church to supplant the old one. +The new building was erected at a cash cost of ten thousand dollars; has +an audience room seating five hundred or more, several Sunday school +class rooms, a choir room, a cloak room, a pastor's study and a mothers' +room, all on the main floor. In the basement below there is a good +kitchen, a dining room with equipment, also a furnace, a store room, and +the like. The church membership has grown to one hundred sixty-three +with many non-members attending, while the Sunday school enrollment +increased to three hundred. + +Now there are always a few minds who wish to measure all earthly things +in terms of a money value. To such it may be shown that the land values +in the vicinity of this new country church have gone up to a marked +degree and that the economic conditions are all of a most satisfactory +nature. + +As further evidence of what a rural community working together may +achieve for the spiritual welfare, there may be cited the instance of +the little side station by the name of Ogden in Riley County, Kansas. +Here the people got together and voted to build a country church, and +that without determining as to the denominational affiliation. A +committee of leaders was appointed to raise funds and to draw plans for +the building. In a short time, arrangements were perfected for +constructing the building at a cost of four thousand dollars. It was +later voted to place this new church temporarily under the direction of +the Congregational church in Manhattan, fifteen miles away. + +In one or two instances the religious leaders in a country community +have succeeded admirably in establishing a "commission" form of church +administration. The method pursued has been that of having a committee +of three, each a member of a different church, to call by turn from the +towns near by the ministers of the various denominations. Further +details of the plans provide for the committee to raise funds so that +the minister may be paid a definite amount for the service conducted. + +One of the first essential steps in the establishment of a rural church +is a careful survey or study of the situation. While it may be accounted +a sin against God and humanity to add another church where there are +already more than the people can support, often it will be found that +very large, well populated country districts are wholly without access +to any religious service whatever. Verily, the field is white unto the +harvest and the laborers as yet are few. + + +A MISTAKE IN TRAINING + +Too long we have been training young people in the school and in the +home to struggle for the best of everything--a sort of rivalry that +results in envy, jealousy, and strife, and a falling apart where there +should be coöperation and sympathy and a spirit of mutual helpfulness. +The craze for clothes, the glare of the electric lights, and the lure of +the cheap theater have struck the country people and are drawing away +much of the best young blood there. It seems that we have over-done this +thing of pointing to the top and urging our young people to scramble for +that, until as a result no one is looking for a place to serve, while +all are looking for a place to shine. Now, there may be "plenty of room +at the top" for selfish scrambling, but in some respects the top is +woefully over-crowded. On the other hand, there is a vast amount of good +room at the bottom, acres of it, and we might well commend it to every +one who may be imbued with the idea of doing some effective work in the +world. All over the broad, open country, in thousands of rural +districts, the situation at the bottom is literally crying out for +constructive workers who will come in there with their good courage, +their scientific training, and in the name of the Most High get down +among the people and the common things in the midst of which the people +live and lay a substantial foundation for a new and beautiful +structure--an edifice erected out of the plain materials to be found in +any ordinary rural community, and that by means of transforming such +things and making them contributive to the high and lofty +spirit-purposes for which they are really designed. + + +RURAL CHILD-REARING + +We are not half awake as yet to the meaning and possibilities of the +rural community as a place for rearing children. The city environment +ripens youths too fast and too early and works all the spontaneity and +aggressiveness out of the boys and girls before their mature judgments +are ready to function. As a result of this city hot-bed, we have as a +type the blasé sort of young man, and a young woman who is overly smart +in respect to the "proper things to do." Either of them has little power +of initiative and less power of persistence. One of the greatest virtues +of the somewhat isolated rural home is that it matures human character +more slowly and keeps the boys and girls fresh and "green" and +spontaneous while there is being gradually worked into their characters +the habit of industry and the power of doing constructive work. + +If one should desire to obtain a sterling specimen of manhood, he would +not take up with the "smart" city youth who at the age of sixteen has +had all the experiences known to men. The latter is too ripe. He knows +it all. From his own point of view, his knowledge of the world is nearly +completed. No, one would prefer to go to the most remote country +district and, if need be, lasso some green, gawky, sixteen-year-old who +is afraid of the cars and the big girls and who has never had a suit of +clothes that fits him. This scared, unbroken youth would go through a +tremendous amount of rough-and-tumble, trial-and-error experiences +during the course of his college training; and he would live intensively +and rush into many unknown places and commit many blunders, between +whiles catching countless inspiring visions of how he might be or become +a man of great strength and ruggedness of character. Such a man might be +relied upon to shoulder the heavy burdens of the world. Such a man could +be called out to join in the forefront of battle when the moral and +religious rights of the people were at issue. Such a man when fully +matured could be sent into some kind of missionary field and be expected +to labor there for a long time alone, courageous and persistent, finally +winning a very small following; then a larger number of adherents; and +then the entire population at his heels, applauding and backing him up +in his every worthy effort. + +The author has long had a vision of a man trained and developed through +the seasoning experiences just sketched and who, under the inspiration +and the guidance of the Most High, will go into these rural communities +which are latent with material life, and there begin his labors in +behalf of the higher things into which all the elements of this typical +rural situation may be transformed. Just as fast as men hear this divine +call and heed it and take up this work, so fast will our country life be +reconstructed and the best that is in our society become gloriously +transformed and everlastingly saved as a heritage of the oncoming +generations. And it is evident that the rural minister, working through +the rural church, is the person to whom this divine call may most +naturally come. + + +THE CHURCHES TOO NARROW + +Not a few of the country churches are too narrow in their limitations, +tending to chill out those who do not happen to be adherents of the +creed, and to foster dissensions and hatred among neighbors. And they +are not touching in a vital way the lives of country boys and girls. + +[Illustration: PLATE IX. + +FIG. 10.--This attractive and modern church building was erected by the +Christian people living in the vicinity of the country village of Ogden, +Kansas. Four different denominations participated at its dedication. Its +ruling body is undenominational.] + +It will be agreed that the gospel of the Master of men may be made so +broad and inviting as to attract all who have a spark of religion in +their natures, and that means practically every one in the community. +But there is no good reason why the rural church should stand alone as +such. It should and can be made a social as well as a religious center +for the whole community. So, let there be constructed a modern building +with big windows, and several apartments for Sunday school classes, +and for meetings of social groups, such as the grange, the farmers' +institute, the sewing society, and the literary and debating clubs. Then +there should be apparatus for the preparation of meals, with a room in +which a long table might be spread as occasion demands. Outside of this +building there should be a children's playground with some simple +apparatus for play. + +Not less frequently than one afternoon of the month--and twice would be +better--the people of the community should drop everything and come +together for a good social time and a general exchange of ideas. On an +occasion of this kind the town minister could be present or someone from +the outside who would bring with him at least one helpful and practical +idea about building up country life. Let this building be regarded as +the property of every man, woman, and child in the community and strive +to bring it to pass that the legitimate and worthy interest of all shall +be actually served there. + + +CONSTRUCTIVE WORK OF THE CHURCH + +This country church here thought of need be no less a religious affair, +but it must become distinctively a socializing agency. It must not +merely save souls, but it must save and conserve and develop for this +present life the bodily, the moral, and the intellectual powers of the +young. One cannot adequately develop those splendid latent powers in +young people solely by means of teaching them the Sunday school lesson +or preaching to them, no matter how true the gospel may be. The evidence +is ample to show that boys and girls who attend church and Sunday school +are nevertheless falling into many vicious habits of conduct, and are +growing up without many of the forms of discipline and training +essential for stable Christian character and social and moral +efficiency. In fact as a means of temporal salvation the old-fashioned +church and Sunday school are proving more and more a failure. + +Now, as soon as the church realizes the meaning of the foregoing +situation and acts accordingly, just so soon will this splendid old +institution be enabled to do efficient work in vitalizing the practical +affairs of the community in which it is located. To illustrate this +point: The great curse of boyhood to-day is the tobacco habit, and this +vitiating practice is slowly working its way among the country youth. +The youth who acquires the smoking habit before becoming physically +matured thereby depletes his physical health to a marked degree, reduces +his mental efficiency ten to fifty per cent, and almost completely +destroys his power of initiative. Such a youth is never found contending +for any moral issue or any high and worthy cause of the people. His +constructive instinct is made more quiescent, while his disposition to +condone evil is greatly and permanently increased. Boys who attend +church and Sunday school are also, like others, falling victims to the +sex evils of various forms. + + +AN INNOVATION IN THE RURAL CHURCH + +Perhaps there is no better illustration of how the economic affairs of +the neighborhood may be vitally linked with the church service than the +work carried on under the direction of Superintendent George W. Brown, +of Paris, Illinois. During one year Mr. Brown conducted on seven +different occasions an over-Sunday program, somewhat as follows:-- + +On Saturday either at the country school house or in the basement of the +country church there was arranged an exhibition of corn, while during +the day class exercises in the study of corn were in progress. On the +day following, Sunday, there were two sermons, the theme of each being +closely allied to the economic problems studied the day previously. The +ministers are reported to have coöperated enthusiastically in this work, +each one attempting in his sermon to show how better economic life may +be made contributive to a better religious life. + +On the Monday following, the program was continued with a farmers' +institute representative of the several interests of the adults and the +young people. At this Monday meeting a number of the faculty of the +state university were in attendance and gave helpful addresses +appropriate to the occasion. At night the County Superintendent gave an +illustrated lecture, using the stereopticon to show the audience just +what was being done in the various parts of the county and country by +way of improvement of the social and economic conditions. + +In many places in the New England and other eastern states the rural +communities are attacking the social-religious problems in practically +the same manner as is being done at Plainfield, Illinois. At Danbury, +New Hampshire, there is a Country Settlement Association, which is +accomplishing some epoch-making things. At the official building there +is provided a trained nurse to assist the entire community. The +organization conducts social-betterment work for the local neighborhood +and leads in a campaign for social reform throughout the state. + +Likewise, at Lincoln, Vermont, there is an interesting example of +coöperation between the religious and social interests. Three churches +have formed a federated society. In a building maintained in common by +them, the meetings of the Ladies' Aid Society, the Good Templars, the +Grange, the Grand Army Post, and many others of a social nature are +held. Such coöperative work is certain to have a helpful and +far-reaching effect on any community. + +[Illustration: PLATE X. + +FIG. 11.--An illustration of "Corn Sunday," as instituted by +Superintendent Jessie Field, Clarinda, Iowa, in the rural churches +thereabout.] + + +SPIRITUALIZE CHILD LIFE + +Above all things else, let the country church be reorganized with +reference to the interests of the young. Let the minister and the other +leaders take a firm stand for a square deal for the farm boys and girls +in respect to work and play and sociability. Let them place before +country parents clear, concrete models and methods as to how to accord +fair treatment to the children in every particular thing. Let them +organize the young people of the community into groups for play and +sociability and direct them in both of these matters. + +It is high time we were considering all of our legitimate interests as a +part of our religion. Indeed, there is no good reason why the young +people could not meet together at the rural church and on the same +evening have an oyster supper and a prayer meeting. They could very +consistently discuss and participate in both a temporal and a spiritual +affair on the same occasion and in such a way that each part of the +program would be vitalized by the others. And likewise the smaller +children. It should not be considered at all irreverent for one to go +directly with them to the playground after the Sunday school lesson is +ended and there lead and direct them in their health-giving enjoyments. +Try this in your rural-church society centers and see if the boys and +girls do not run with great enthusiasm to the whole affair. + +One great error committed by many of us in the past is that of regarding +work and things as arbitrarily high or low. But the author does not see +why plowing corn may not be made just as sacred and just as divine a +calling as preaching the gospel, provided the former be regarded in the +light of service of some high spiritual purpose; as indeed it may be. +So, here is a distinctive part of the function of the rural church; +namely, to spiritualize work as well as workers--to urge upon the +attention of the rural inhabitants the thought that their work must all +be regarded as a means to the transformation of the community life and +of each individual life into a thing of transcendent worth and beauty. + + +A SUMMARY + +Now, here is the proposed plan in a nutshell. The country community is +the best place in the world for bringing up a sturdy race of men and +women and the country church is or can be made one of the greatest +agencies in the achievement of this work. But such achievement can best +be brought about only when the country church goes to work to save the +whole boy and the whole girl. And that means that the church must +understand better how human life grows up--that it must meet these +growing boys and girls on their own level of everyday interest and +socialize and spiritualize these interests through close contact with +them. Then, make the rural church a social center for the young, +including exercises in work and play and recreation, as well as a place +for religious instruction. The child is a creature of activity and not +of passivity. You cannot preach him into the kingdom in a lifetime; but +you can get down with him and work with him and play with him and guide +and direct him through his self-chosen, everyday interests, to the end +that he may afterwards enter the ranks of the Lord's anointed. + +Again, it is urged, make your country church a center for the entire +life of the community. Not only have the adults bring their practical +affairs to this center for consideration, but have the boys and girls +come with their implements of work and play, with their specimens of +farm and home produce and handiwork, with their miniature menageries and +workshops--all this with joy and reverence before and after the +religious services. + + +REFERENCES + + Efficient Democracy. W. H. Allen. Chapter X. "Efficiency in + Religious Work." Dodd, Mead & Co. + + Rural Christendom. Charles Roads. Prize Essay. American + Sunday-School Union, Philadelphia. + + Report of the Commission on Country Life, pp. 137-144, + Sturgis-Walton Co. + + The Country Church and the Library. John Cotton Dana. + _Outlook_, May 6, 1911. + + The Country Church and the Rural Problem. Kenyon L. + Butterfield. University of Chicago Press. A strong + presentation of the entire situation. + + The Rural Church and Community Development. President Kenyon + L. Butterfield. The Association Press, New York. A collection + of practical papers and discussions on several important + topics. + + The Day of the Country Church. J. O. Ashenhurst. Funk & + Wagnalls Co., New York. Read especially the excellent chapter + on "Leadership." + + The Church and the Rural Community. Symposium. _American + Journal of Sociology._ March, 1911. + + Philanthropy, A Trained Profession. Lewis. Forum, March, + 1910. + + _Rural Manhood._ The Association Press, New York Monthly. + This magazine publishes many excellent articles on the Rural + Church. + + The Inefficient Minister. _Literary Digest_, April 10, 1909. + A report of the criticisms of Dr. Henry S. Pritchett, of the + Carnegie Foundation, and Dr. Henry Aked, of San Francisco. + + _World's Work_, December, 1910. An interesting account of + Reverend Matthew McNutt's work in building up a country + church. + + The Country Church. George F. Wells, in Cyclopedia of + American Agriculture, by L. H. Bailey, volume IV, page 297. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +_THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE RURAL SCHOOL_ + + +The country districts are slowly waking up to an appreciation of the +fact that within their bounds lie, not only all the elements fundamental +to the material wealth of the world, but that they also contain in a +more or less dormant form all the essential factors of intellectual and +spiritual wealth. The rural school is theoretically the best place on +earth for the education of the child, not only because of its close +proximity to the sources of material wealth, but because of the openness +and comparative freedom of its surroundings. Then, the country school is +especially effective as a place of instruction on account of its happy +relation to work and industry. Too often the boys and girls of the town +school go unwillingly to their class rooms with the feeling that the +lessons are heavily imposed tasks. + +But in the typical country school the pupils are young persons who have +already experienced much of the strain of work and who go somewhat +eagerly to the schoolroom, because it is in a sense recreative to them, +and because of their being in a position to see more clearly what +substantial training is to mean to them in the future. That is to say, a +distinctive difference between the typical country child and the typical +city child is this: the former believes that he is pursuing the course +of instruction in a more voluntary spirit and for the sake of his own +personal interests and up-building, while the latter is inclined to feel +that he is performing the school tasks for the sake of some one else and +because of the strict requirements of outside force or law. + + +RADICAL CHANGES IN THE VIEW-POINT AND METHOD + +But if the theoretic worth of the rural school is to be made at all +actual, some very radical changes in view-point and method must come to +pass. First of all, we must keep asking the question, What is education +for? And perhaps we must accept the answer that in its best form +education serves the higher needs and requirements of the life we are +trying to live to-day. In case of rural teachers and parents it has been +too common a practice to urge the child on in his lesson-getting with +the statement, or at least the suggestion, that lessons well mastered in +time furnish a guarantee of a life of comparative ease and freedom from +heavy toil. The sermonette preached to the boy in this situation is too +often substantially as follows: "Go on, my boy, master your lessons, +pass up through the grades, and be graduated. Behold So and So, a great +captain of wealth, and such and such a one, a great statesman. Now, +these persons are in a position to take life easy. They have wealth to +spend for the employment of labor and need to do little of such thing +themselves." + +In other words, the view-point of the school has been radically wrong. +We have been advancing the idea that education enables one to get _out +of_ work, whereas we should have been urging that education of the right +sort enables one to get _into_ work. That is, it means enlarged capacity +for work and service and proportionately enlarged joy and contentment in +the performance of worthy work of any nature whatsoever. Let rural +parents once inculcate the last-named point of view upon their growing +boys and girls and the attitude of the latter toward the school and its +tasks will be likewise radically changed. + + +ALL HAVE A RIGHT TO CULTURE + +And then, a second question we need to ask ourselves is, Whom is +education for? or, What classes should have the benefits of it? A close +comparison of the school ideals of twenty-five years ago with the most +progressive ones of to-day reveals a surprising situation. Without +seemingly realizing the fact, we continued for generations in this +country to tax ourselves heavily for the purpose of supporting schools +almost exclusively in behalf of the so-called professional classes. We +said, especially to the growing boy: "Now, if you wish to become a +lawyer, a physician, a minister, or a teacher, here is your opportunity. +Pursue this well-arranged course, finish it up, and that all at our +expense. But if you wish to become a farmer, a merchant, a craftsman of +any sort, then this institution is not at your service. We will teach +you to read and write and cipher, after which you may look out for +yourself." Thus we were taxing the masses for the exclusive education of +a few classes. To-day the best ideal is a radically different one, as it +attempts to serve all worthy classes and vocations through the school +administration. It assumes that artisans as well as artists and the +professional classes have the same inherent right to both the practical +aid and the direct culture which an educational course may furnish. + +As a practical result of this new ideal, now rapidly advancing +throughout the country, we are about to have an age of cultured farmers, +high-minded stock raisers, refined architects and builders, and so on. +That is, our newest and best educational courses are beginning to +provide the means and opportunities for the education of all worthy +classes. So it behooves all interested rural parents to turn their best +efforts toward the transformation and the betterment of the country +school. Certain specific achievements in relation thereto are now being +planned for and in many instances accomplished. Let every one concerned +take notice of this situation and join with all possible earnestness in +the forward movement. + +In his instructive monograph entitled "Changing Conceptions of +Education," Professor E. P. Cubberley states the new ideal as follows:-- + +"The school is essentially a time- and labor-saving device, +created--with us--by democracy to serve democracy's needs. To convey to +the next generation the knowledge and the accumulated experience of the +past is not its only function. It must equally prepare the future +citizen for the to-morrow of our complex life. The school must grasp the +significance of its social connections and relations, and must come to +realize that its real worth and its hope of adequate reward lie in its +social efficiency. There are many reasons for believing that this change +is taking place rapidly at present, and that an educational sociology, +needed as much by teachers to-day as an educational psychology, is now +in the process of being formulated for our use." + + +WORK FOR A LONGER TERM + +One of the first steps toward a more helpful schooling for the country +youth is that of lengthening the yearly school term. In many thousands +of instances, the country school is conducted for only three to five +months during the year, and even this short term is indifferently +attended. But the actual length of the year should be seven months or +more. Many of the country districts can easily provide for eight +months. The farmer should not concern himself about a small additional +tax, but should have in mind rather the larger additional gain to the +well-being of the young in the community. If the local tax be not +sufficient for supporting a longer term and a better school, then seek +to have laws authorizing the distribution of state aid to the weaker +districts. This law has been actually passed in a number of the +commonwealths. The act in the usual case provides a general school fund +out of which the deficit for the smaller rural districts may be made up. + + +COMPULSORY ATTENDANCE LAWS NEEDED + +The far-seeing country dweller will be glad to join in a movement in +behalf of compulsory attendance at the public schools. Already a number +of states have enacted fairly good laws on this subject, but some of +them allow "loopholes" providing for the too easy avoidance of their +requirements. Perhaps the best and most effective type of law of this +class is that which requires the child under fourteen years of age to +attend the entire term of the public schools, allowing for his absence +only in case of sickness or in cases where it is shown upon +investigation and beyond question that he is the main support and +breadwinner of a family. + +In connection with the legal requirements for compulsory attendance, +there must, of course, be provision for the truant. Truant officers, +who may be required to serve only part time and who may receive pay for +actual services, are set over specified districts and required to bring +in all truant school children. Although this compulsory attendance law +has been in force only a few years, reports show an almost unanimous +belief in its effectiveness. The reader will understand the +justification of such a law to be this; namely, the inherent right of +the child to be educated whether he may appreciate such right or +advantage or not, and the implied right of the community to have his +best service as a well-educated member of society. The effects upon +crime and criminality of the neglect of the education of the young have +been so thoroughly discussed of late as to require no restatement here. + + +BETTER SCHOOLHOUSES AND EQUIPMENT + +A survey of the entire country from one side to another reveals a +deplorable state of affairs in respect to the conditions of the typical +rural schoolhouse. In thousands of cases, there is nothing more than a +dingy, little, old one-room building, scarcely suitable as a place +wherein to shelter chickens or pigs, and with nothing in the +surroundings to suggest or even hint at a place where young minds are +taught how to aim at the high things of life. Now, these crude +structures were once a necessity. In pioneer days the little, old box +schoolhouse, or even the sod structure, served a mighty purpose in the +transformation of the plains and the wilderness. But times are now +radically changed. The wealth of the country is abundant. Improvements +of nearly every other sort have gone on as the times advanced. But too +often the little, old cheap schoolhouse on the bleak country slope +became a fixed habit. In setting forth plans for a newer and better +country school building, the author cannot improve upon those prepared +by E. T. Fairchild, State Superintendent of Public Instruction in +Kansas, and published in his Seventeenth Biennial Report. We therefore +quote as follows:-- + +1. _Location._--"In selecting a site for a school building, the +questions of drainage, convenience, beauty of surroundings, and +accessibility should have prime consideration. Select, if possible, some +plat of ground slightly elevated, and of which the surface may be +properly drained and kept free from mud. It should be especially seen to +that water may not stand under the building. If the elevation is not +sufficient, this trouble should be overcome by proper filling in beneath +the building. The location should be as nearly as possible central with +reference to the pupils of the district. But other things should also be +considered. It is better that some pupils should be put to a slight +disadvantage than that attractiveness of surroundings, remoteness from +environment likely to interfere with the work of the school, or other +essentials, should be sacrificed." + +[Illustration: PLATE XI. + +FIG. 12.--A cozy little country schoolhouse in the tall, picturesque +woods of California. + +FIG 13.--This model country school building, planned by State +Superintendent E. T. Fairchild, of Kansas, is being copied in many +places.] + +2. _The water supply._--The purity of the water supply for the school is +no less important from the standpoint of health than that of the air +supply. The greatest danger lies in the use of water taken from wells +that are used only a portion of the year. Such water is certain to +become stagnant. In the autumn before the term commences special care +should be taken to pump all water out of the well and to clean the same +if necessary; thereby much sickness may be avoided. The well, of course, +should be so located as to avoid any contamination owing to vaults or +drains. + +3. _Size and adaptation of grounds._--The school grounds should contain +at least three acres, and five acres would not be too much. While the +cities are cramped for playgrounds and purchase them only at a high +cost, the latter can be secured in the country in sufficient size and at +a relatively small expense. Let it be kept constantly in mind that the +school grounds should be adapted for play, that they should afford a +protection from winds, and that they should also be attractive. They +should likewise be adapted for school gardening and experiments in +agriculture. For the purpose of play, the breadth should exceed the +depth where there are separate grounds for boys and girls. Where the +playground is large, the building should be centrally located with +relation to the size of the grounds and should be situated well toward +the front. This will provide two fair-sized and well-proportioned +playgrounds. Where the grounds are small and contain but one acre, +symmetry must yield to utility and the building should be located well +to the front and to one side, so as to leave one well-arranged +playground. + +4. _Improvement of school grounds._--In writing of the value of +well-arranged school grounds, Professor Albert Dickens of the Kansas +State Agricultural College says:-- + +"This sermon on school ground improvement is one that I have tried to +preach for some time. In my judgment, it is the most important and the +most difficult of any of the problems in civic improvement. The average +country cemetery is sorrowfully neglected, as a rule, but its treatment +is careful and generous compared with the school grounds of the average +country district. Some day we shall realize that all these factors of +environment are formative influences, and shall not wonder that the +character formed in surroundings devoid of beauty has hard, coarse, and +cruel lines in its make-up. + +"It is an easy matter to picture an ideal country school--its +clean-swept walk to the road, its ample playground, its windbreak of +evergreens, its groups of hard- and soft-wood species, borders of shrubs +and beds of bulbs for early spring and perennials for summer and fall. +But to get it--to find some way to overcome the serious obstacles--is +worthy the attention of statesmen and club women. + +"Nearly every district has made an attempt. That is one of the hard +things to forget--one of the reasons so many districts fear to try +again. They had a spasm of civic righteousness--an Arbor Day +revival--and every patron dug a hole in the hard, dry ground; every +child brought a tree, some of which were carried for miles with the +roots exposed to sun and wind--and then they were planted and, in some +cases, watered for the summer; and the days grew warm and the weeds grew +high; and by the next fall the two or three trees yet alive were not +noticed when the director went over with his mower the Friday before +school opened; and so ended that attempt at a schoolyard beautiful. + +"It ought to be possible to convince the patrons of every district that +a single acre of land is not sufficient ground upon which to grow big, +bright, broad-minded boys and girls; that two, or three, or four acres +of land, well planned as to baseball diamond, basketball court and a +good free run for dare-base and pull-away--that such would give the +state and the world better results than if the land were devoted to corn +and alfalfa. This, I believe, is the first problem of great +magnitude--to get the ground--and it must be considered. Children must +play. The noon hour, when they eat for five minutes and play fifty-five +minutes, is all-important in a child's life." + +In order to carry out the suggestions given by Professor Dickens, why +not organize a general rally, perhaps on the occasion of Arbor Day, and +all hands join in preparing and planting the school grounds to suitable +shade trees, shrubs, and the like? The playgrounds could also be laid +out and equipped on this occasion. Then, after this excellent start has +been made, have the school board appoint some reliable man as caretaker +of the grounds with payment of reasonable wages for what he does. Thus +the good beginning will not be lost. + + +A MODEL RURAL SCHOOL + +The State Normal School at Kirksville, Missouri, has built and equipped +a model rural school for use in practical demonstration work. President +John R. Kirk gives a detailed description of this building in +_Successful Farming_ (April, 1911) as follows:-- + +"This schoolhouse has three principal floors. The basement and main +floor are the same size, 28 x 36 feet, outside measurement. The basement +measures 8 feet from floor to ceiling. Its floor is of concrete, +underlaid with porous tile and cinders. The basement walls are of rock +and concrete, protected by drain tile on outside. The basement has eight +compartments. + +[Illustration: PLATE XII. + +FIG. 14.--The model rural school building, as constructed for practice +and demonstration work at the Kirkville (Missouri) Normal School.] + +"1. Furnace room, containing furnace inclosed by galvanized iron, also +double cold air duct with electric fan, also gas water heater. + +"2. Coal bin, 6 x 8 feet. + +"3. Bulb or plant room, 3 x 8 feet, for fall, winter, and spring +storage. + +"4. Darkroom, 4 x 8 feet, for children's experiments in photography. + +"5. Laundry room, 5 x 21 feet, with tubs, drain, and drying apparatus. + +"6. Gymnasium or play room, 13 x 23 feet. + +"7. Tank room containing a 400-gallon pneumatic pressure tank, storage +battery for electricity, hand pump for emergencies, water gauge, sewer +pipes, floor drain, etc. + +"8. Engine room, containing gasoline engine, water pump, electrical +generator, switchboard, water tank for cooling gasoline engine, weight +for gas pressure, gas mixer, batteries, pipes, wires, etc. + +"The pumps lift water from a well into pressure tank through pipes below +the frost line. Gasoline is admitted through pipes below the frost line +from two 50-gallon tanks underground, 30 feet from building. All rooms +are wired for electricity and plumbed for gas. The basement is +thoroughly ventilated. + +"The main floor contains a school room 22 x 27 feet in the clear, +lighted wholly from the north side. A ground glass in the rear admits +sunlight for sanitation. Schoolroom has adjustable seats and desks, +telephone, and teachers' desk. Stereopticon is hung in wall at rear. +Alcove or closet on east side for books, teachers' wraps, etc. +Schoolroom has a small organ, ample book cases, shelves, and apparatus. +Pure air enters from above children's heads and passes out at floor into +ventilating stack through fireplace. + +"Main floor has two toilet rooms, each of these having lavatories, wash +bowl with hot and cold water, pressure tank for hot water and for heat, +shower bath with hot and cold water, ventilating apparatus, looking +glass, towel rack, soap box, etc. Each toilet room is reached by a +circuitous passageway furnishing room for children's wraps, overshoes, +etc. The scheme secures absolute privacy in toilet rooms. All toilet +room walls contain air chambers to deaden sound. The toilet rooms are +clean, decent, and beautiful. They are never disfigured with vile +language or other defacement. + +"All rural schoolhouses with the comb of the roof running one way have +attics, but the attic of this rural school is the first one and the only +one that has been well utilized. This attic is 15 x 35 feet, inside +measurement, all in one room; distance from floor to ceiling 7½ feet +in the middle part. It is abundantly lighted through gable lights and +roof lights. It contains modern manual-training benches for use of eight +or ten children at one time, a gas range and other apparatus for +experimental cooking. It is furnished with both gas and electric light. +It has a wash bowl with hot and cold water, looking glass, towels, etc. +It has a large typical kitchen sink and a drinking fountain, but no +drinking cup, either common or uncommon. It has cupboards, boxes, and +receptacles for various experiments in home economics. It has a +disinfecting apparatus, a portable agricultural-chemistry laboratory and +numerous other equipments. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIII. + +FIG. 15.--A rear view of the model rural school building at the +Kirkville Normal.] + +"A rural school can be built here from beginning to completion with all +the above-mentioned equipments of every kind, including furniture, for +$2250. The heating and ventilating apparatus, the pressure tanks, +gasoline engine, water pumps, dynamo, furnace, etc., can all be easily +adapted to a two-room model, a three-room school, or a six-room school +by having each fixture slightly larger. + +"This model therefore solves the schoolbuilding question for villages, +towns, and consolidated rural schools." + + +THE CORNELL SCHOOLHOUSE + +An attractive rural schoolhouse was erected some years ago at the New +York State College of Agriculture, to serve as a suggestion +architecturally and otherwise to rural districts. It is a one-teacher +building, and yet allows for the introduction of the new methods of +teaching. It is a wooden building, with cement stucco interior, heated +with hot-air furnace, and with two water toilets attached. The total +cost was about $2000. The College writes as follows of the house:-- + +"The prevailing rural schoolhouse is a building in which pupils sit to +study books. It ought to be a room in which pupils do personal work with +both hands and mind. The essential feature of this new schoolhouse, +therefore, is a workroom. This room occupies one-third of the floor +space. Perhaps it would be better if it occupied two-thirds of the floor +space. If the building is large enough, however, the two kinds of work +could change places in this schoolhouse. + +"The building is designed for twenty-five pupils in the main room. The +folding doors and windows in the partition enable one teacher to manage +both rooms. + +"It has been the purpose to make the main part of the building about the +size of the average rural schoolhouse, and then to add the workroom as a +wing or projection. Such a room could be added to existing school +buildings; or, in districts in which the building is now too large, one +part of the room could be partitioned off as a workroom. + +"It is the purpose, also, to make this building artistic, attractive, +and homelike to children, sanitary, comfortable, and durable. The +cement-plaster exterior is handsomer and warmer than wood, and on +expanded metal lath it is durable. The interior of this building is very +attractive. Nearly any rural schoolhouse can secure a water-supply and +instal toilets as part of the school building. + +"The openings between schoolroom and workroom are fitted with glazed +swing sash and folding doors, so that the rooms may be used either +singly or together, as desired. + +"The workroom has a bay-window facing south and filled with shelves for +plants. Slate blackboards of standard school heights fill the spaces +about the rooms between doors and windows. The building is heated by hot +air; vent flues of adequate sizes are also provided so that the rooms +are ventilated. + +"On the front of the building, and adding materially to its picturesque +appearance, is a roomy veranda with simple square posts, from which +entrance is made directly into the combined vestibule and coatroom and +from this again by two doors into the schoolroom." + + +HELP MAKE A SCHOOL PLAY GROUND + +Throughout the entire country there is at last rising a wave of +enthusiasm in behalf of affording the child a better means of play. +First the cities took the matter up, then the towns, and now the country +districts are beginning to do their part. The farmer and his wife should +feel an interest in such a matter, for they can render no better service +to their community than that of joining the district teacher in an +effort to equip the school grounds with play apparatus. As a suggestive +outline of what materials to procure, the dimensions and cost of the +same, there is given below the equipment worked out by certain +officials in Colorado and described briefly in Superintendent +Fairchild's report, as follows:-- + +A turning pole for boys may be made by setting two posts in the ground, +six or eight feet apart, and running a 1 or 1¼ inch gas pipe through +holes bored in the tops of the posts. The cost of such a piece of +apparatus should be as follows, assuming that the necessary work will be +done by the teachers and boys: Two posts, 4" x 4", 8 ft. long, 50 cents; +one piece gas pipe, 8 ft. long, 15 cents. + +Teeter boards may be made by planting posts ten or twelve feet apart, +and placing a pole or a rounded 6 x 6 on top of them, and then placing +boards, upon which the children may teeter. Individual teeter boards may +be made by placing a 2 x 8 board in the ground, and fastening the teeter +board to it by means of iron braces placed on each side of the upright +piece. The cost of the above apparatus would be, for several teeters: +Two upright posts, 6" x 6", 5 ft. long, 93 cents; one piece, 6" x 6", 12 +ft. long, $1.22; four teeter boards, 2" x 8", 14 ft. long, $2.50. For +individual teeter: One piece 2" x 8", 16 ft. long, 56 cents--to make +upright piece 4 ft. long and teeter board 12 ft. long; two iron braces +and four large screws, 25 cents. + +A very attractive and desirable piece of apparatus may be made as +follows: Secure a pole about ten or fifteen feet long. To the small end +attach by the use of bolts one end of a wagon axle, spindle up. Upon +the spindle place a wagon wheel, and to the wheel attach ropes, about as +long as the pole. Place the big end of the pole in the ground three or +four feet, and brace it from the four points of the compass. The ropes +will hang down from the wheel in such a way that the children may take +hold of them, swing, jump, and run around the pole. The one described +was rather inexpensive. A telephone company donated a discarded pole, a +farmer a discarded wagon wheel and axle. The only expense was that of +paying a blacksmith for attaching the wheel to the pole and the cost of +the ropes--about $2. It furnished one of the most attractive pieces of +apparatus on the playground. + +An inexpensive swing may be constructed by placing four 4 x 4's in the +ground in a slanting position, two being opposite each other and meeting +at the top in such a way as to form a fork. The pairs may be ten or +twelve feet apart, and a pole or heavy galvanized pipe, to which swings +may be attached, wired, nailed, or bolted to the crotches formed by the +pieces placed in the ground. The cost of this apparatus will be: Four +pieces, 4" x 4", 14 ft. long, $1.25, one piece galvanized pipe, 3", 12 +ft. long, $2.50. + +Boards of education could well afford to purchase one or more +basketballs, and a few baseballs and bats for the boys. These things +more than pay for themselves in the added interest which boys and girls +who have them take in the school. For much of the apparatus suggested +above the wide-awake board of education and teacher will see +opportunities to use material less expensive than that suggested. And to +such persons many pieces of apparatus not specified here will suggest +themselves to fit particular needs and opportunities. + + +GENERAL INSTRUCTION IN AGRICULTURE + +A great fault with the district schools has been an inclination to think +that anything close at hand is too mean and common to be considered as +subject matter for instruction. The thought has usually been that the +school would prepare the learner for some brilliant calling away off +where things are better and life is easier and more beautiful. As a +result, the country schools have been educating boys and girls away from +the farm. The new method is that of educating them to appreciate what is +under their feet and all around them, through an intimate knowledge of +the processes of nature and industry as carried on in their midst. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIV. + +FIG. 16.--Using the Babcock milk-tester in a New York school.] + +One of the more direct means of educating the boys and girls for a +happy, contented life on the farm is to teach them while young the +rudiments of agriculture. This method is now actually being put into +practice in thousands of the rural schools. The state of Kansas recently +enacted a law requiring all candidates for teachers' certificates to +pass a test in the elements of agriculture and also requiring that +the rudiments of this subject be taught in every district school. Other +states have similar laws. As a result of this and like provisions, there +is now a tremendous awakening in the direction named. The boys and girls +in the country schools are finding new meaning and a new interest in the +fields and farms upon which they are growing up. + +It is a comparatively simple matter, that of teaching the young how the +plant germinates and grows, how the seed is produced, and how farm crops +are cared for and harvested. Likewise, it is easy to describe the +elements of the various types of soil and to show how these elements +contribute to the life and growth of the plant. The questions of +moisture in its relation to plant life, of insects harmful and helpful +to growing crops and animals, of the bird life as related in its +economic aspects to farming--all such matters can be easily taught to +children by the young-woman school teacher. It is only necessary for the +latter to take an elementary course of instruction herself, to read a +number of collateral texts, and to get into the spirit of the +undertaking. In a similar manner, instruction in regard to farm animals +may be given, the emphasis being placed upon the consideration of the +types of live stock actually raised and marketed in the home +neighborhood. + +It must be emphasized that these matters relating to elementary +agriculture and animal husbandry can be made just as interesting and +quite as cultural as any of the subjects in the general curriculum of +the schools. Wherefore, the rural dweller who catches the spirit of such +instruction should lead out in the securing of public measures and +public improvements looking toward an early embodiment of these new +subjects within the prescribed course of study. + + +DOMESTIC ECONOMY AND HOME SANITATION + +The time is now at hand when the district school failing to give any +attention to practical household affairs is to be classed as out of date +and unprogressive. Well-written texts and pamphlets covering the +home-keeping subjects are now both available and cheap, so that the +excuse for deferring their use is approaching the zero point. + +Of course it is impracticable as yet to have apparatus for cooking and +sewing installed in the one-teacher district school, but the bare +rudiments of these subjects may nevertheless be taught with the +expectation that home practice may be thereby improved and better +understood. Perhaps the most practical method of present procedure is +that of organizing an independent class of the girls of suitable age and +meeting them informally. The texts and pamphlets furnished by the +college extension departments may be followed. In case of graded and +high school courses this work should by all means be carried on as a +regular class exercise. + +Home sanitation may easily and profitably be taught in the district +school, even though only one or two periods per week be set apart for +the purpose. Perhaps the best method of instruction is that of +presenting carefully one specific lesson at a time. For example, pure +drinking water, clean milk, food contamination by house flies may be +treated each in its turn. Adequate charts and illustrations should be +brought into service. + + +CONSOLIDATION OF RURAL SCHOOLS + +There is much agitation nowadays in regard to consolidating the rural +schools. Although present progress is slow, it seems comparatively +certain that the one-teacher rural school is destined in time to become +a thing of the past. However, there is no particular haste in the +matter, provided some such plans as the foregoing be put into effect in +case of the single school. Perhaps the sparsely settled district has the +greatest justification for looking toward consolidation. It happens that +there are thousands of small schools having an attendance of from five +to ten pupils. In such an instance, it is practically impossible to do +the best work, the children lacking the spur of rivalry and enthusiasm +and the helpful lessons in social ethics offered only by the larger +massing of the young at play. + +In many places, three or four rural districts are uniting in this +movement, the general plan being that of constructing a central +building with ample working space for all, and then transporting the +children to and from the school. The scheme is working well as a rule. +Among the great advantages is that of a possible grading of the school +so that the teacher may have time for each subject and more opportunity +for specialization. Perhaps the most serious and difficult part of the +plan is that of providing a safe and suitable means of conveyance to and +from the school. Some excellent patterns of school wagons are already on +the market, while manufacturers are constantly at work improving them. +So we may expect better results as time goes on. It has already been +shown very satisfactorily that the conveyance, when in charge of a +well-trained driver, furnishes improved moral and physical safeguards +for the child. + + +MORE HIGH SCHOOLS NEEDED + +Not only every county, but also every rural township, should have its +well-equipped high school. It is a serious matter to send boys and girls +in their middle teens away to college. Many lives are thus more or less +ruined simply from too early loss of the personal restraints and +influence of the parents. But with a first-class high school in easy +reach the young people may at least return home for the Saturday-Sunday +recess and thereby continue in the close councils of their parents. And +then, the rightly-managed high school will bring the student into +closer touch with the local rural problems that may not be possible in +case of the distant institution. + +[Illustration: PLATE XV. + +FIGS. 17-21.--This magnificent consolidated school in Winnebago County, +Illinois, was inspired by the excellent work of the well-known +Superintendent O. J. Kern. The four little one-room buildings illustrated +above gave way to it.] + +In the location of high schools intended to serve the rural interests +there should be an effort to keep away from the towns and cities. In the +latter places the allurements of the cheap theater and the snobbery that +often invades the city high school are illustrations of the evils that +serve to entice the young away from the substantial things of life. A +good county or township high school located centrally and in the open +country is ideal. At such a location it is vastly easier than in the +city to center the attention of the students upon the rural problems, +not to mention the greater availability of demonstrations on farm and +garden plots. + + +BETTER RURAL TEACHERS NEEDED + +The ideal preparation for a teacher in the rural school is a complete +course in a first-class agricultural college, with the inclusion of a +few terms' work in the educational subjects. So long as we send into the +district schools young teachers who have been taught merely in the +common text-book branches, and whose training has been exclusively +pedagogical, the practice of educating the boys and girls away from the +farm will go on. The country school is, in its best sense, an industrial +school; and only those teachers can do best work therein who have had +the personal experience in industrial training and the changed point of +view which only the agricultural college can give. So if the board of +trustees in any rural district really wishes to unite in supporting an +effective back-to-the-farm movement, let them offer to some +country-reared graduate of the agricultural college a salary of about +twice or three times the amount usually paid. After a few terms of +school taught by such a person, the good effects on the rural uplift +will most certainly reveal themselves. But so long as school trustees +continue to try to drive a sharp bargain in the employment of +teachers--securing the one with the passable county certificate who will +teach for the least wages--the boys will continue to run off to town for +"jobs" and the parents will continue to "move to town to educate their +children." + +There is some hope of a new ideal in relation to the country school +teacher; namely, that he shall be a man in every sense, worthy of a +salary large enough to support himself and his family the year round as +residents of the community. Then we shall have a profession of teaching +in the rural school work. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVI. + +FIG. 22.--The Cornell schoolhouse. A one-teacher building, with a +workroom or laboratory at one side that the teacher can control through +the folding doors and glass partitions. Every effort is made to render +the building and place attractive and homelike.] + + +REFERENCES + + Annual Report Page County (Iowa) Schools. Miss Jessie Field, + Superintendent (Clarinda). + + The reader who is especially interested in this chapter is + urged to become acquainted with the splendid work + accomplished for the district schools of Page County, Ia., + by Superintendent Jessie Field. As indicated by her published + annuals, and otherwise, she has led all the other young women + superintendents in the work of organizing the boys and girls + into clubs and classes for the study of school gardening, + bread making, grain propagation, and the like. + + Report of the Committee on Industrial Education in Schools + for Rural Communities, of the National Educational + Association. + + Among Country Schools. O. J. Kern. Ginn & Co. A clear + helpful, and inspiring text. + + The American Rural School. H. W. Foght. Macmillan. Covers the + entire subject carefully. + + The School and Society. John Dewey. McClure, Phillips & Co., + New York. + + The School and its Life. Charles D. Gilbert. Chapter XXII, + "Home and School." McClurg. + + Efficient Democracy, Wm. H. Allen. Chapter VII, "School + Efficiency." Dodd, Mead & Co. A most helpful and stimulating + volume. + + The School as a Social Institution. Henry Suzzallo. + Monograph. Houghton Mifflin Company. + + Wider Use of the School Plant, Clarence Arthur Perry. Chapter + VI, "School Playgrounds." Charities Publication Committee, + New York. + + Education in the Country for the Country. J. W. Zeller. + Annual Volume N.E.A., 1910, p. 245. + + Teachers for the Rural Schools; Kind Wanted; How to secure + Them. L. J. Alleman. Annual Volume N.E.A., 1910, p. 280. + + The State Board of Health of Maine (Augusta) issues a series + of practical pamphlets on health and sanitation in the school + and the home. + + The Most Practical Industrial Education for the Country + Child. Superintendent O. J. Kern. Annual Volume N.E.A., 1905, + p. 198. + + Among School Gardens. M. Louise Green, Ph.D. Charities + Publication Committee, New York. + + A Model Rural School House. Henry S. Curtis. Educational + Foundations, April, 1911. A. S. Barnes & Co. Dr. Curtis is a + national authority on the question of the school playground. + + Education for Efficiency. E. Davenport. D. C. Heath. A most + able plea for making the schools serve every worthy interest. + + + Changing Conceptions of Education. E. P. Cubberly. Monograph. + Houghton Mifflin Company. + + Methods of conducting Book and Demonstration Work in teaching + Elementary Agriculture. O. H. Benson. Bureau of Plant + Industry, Washington, D.C. An excellent guide. + + Report of Committee to investigate Rural School Conditions. + Superintendent E T. Fairchild and others. Address the + Secretary N.E.A., Winona, Minn. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +_THE COUNTY YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION_ + + +Among the movements of first importance looking toward the uplift of +young men is that named at the head of this chapter. Parallel with the +intensive and systematic effort to build up the commercial life of the +city and allow the country district to take care of itself, has been a +like effort to provide for the care and development of the city boy and +the uniform neglect of the needs and interests of the country boy. Now, +here at last is a movement that is proving a real means of salvation of +the rural youth, mind, body, and soul. + +President Henry J. Waters, of the Kansas State Agricultural College, +struck the keynote of this young country-life movement most effectively +in a recent address when he said: "We believe in the existence of a +social renaissance. One needs only to read the daily and weekly papers +printed in hundreds of prosperous villages and cross roads corners, the +faithful chroniclers of the community's activities, to find buoyant hope +of the future of farm life. + +"The dignity of labor; the close connection between heads and hands; the +monthly or weekly meetings of farmers' institutes in hundreds of +counties; the special lectures provided by agricultural colleges; the +movable schools; the farmers' winter short courses, in which thousands +of men and women and boys and girls participate; corn contests; bread +contests; sewing contests; play carnivals; poultry-raising contests; +stock-raising contests; conferences on the country church, country +school, good roads--all these activities denote the growth of a new and +mighty spirit in the country life of America. + +"We need further demonstrations, together with concrete thinking, a lot +of constructive programs, and a deal of hard work and self-sacrifice, in +which the county work department of the Young Men's Christian +Association can have no little share, to speed on the great epoch of +rural social renaissance." + + +BOYS LEAVE THE FARM TOO YOUNG + +It is a tragic story when the whole truth is known, that of the young +boy running off to town in search of some employment that will bring him +a little ready cash for spending money, and also in search of the +sociability so woefully lacking in the rural home environment. Too long +have the country parents attempted to argue and scold and force their +boys to remain at home where they are confronted only with the monotony +of hard work and a very dim prospect of a possible land or other +property inheritance. So at last there is being raised the very +important questions, What is the matter with the country boy? and What +can be done to help him? Knowledge of the fact that more than one-half +of the boys of the United States are living in farm homes makes the +problem of their individual salvation assume momentous proportions. + +There can be no reasonable thought of holding all the boys on the farm. +Many of them are best fitted by nature to go elsewhere and find suitable +employment, but there is every good reason for preventing the great +exodus of immature youths who run off to the cities, not knowing what +they are to face and without any well-defined purpose. Yes, the great +concerns of the towns and cities must continue to call many of the +brainiest young men from the rural districts. In fact, the country may +with every good reason be considered the proper breeding ground for the +virile minds destined to control the great affairs of nation, state, and +municipality. But every reasonable effort must be put forth to keep the +boy in his country home until his character is relatively matured and +his plans for a future career are fairly well defined. + + +PURPOSES OF THE COUNTY Y.M.C.A. + +Doubtless the first chief purpose of the county association is that of +building up the boy's character and finally perfecting his spiritual +nature. But this high aim is not sought in the old-fashioned, direct +manner. Instead, there is a studied effort to build up the boy gradually +through the enlistment of his natural interests in matters that lie +dormant in his home environment. The truly scientific method in this +field is first concerned with providing means whereby the boy may work +out his own spiritual salvation. Along with the farm labors, tedious and +irksome to him when undertaken as exclusive requirements, the country +boy is given an opportunity to take part in certain athletic and social +exercises which appeal to his instincts and arouse the spontaneity from +the depths of his own nature. + +In carrying on the country work, an attempt is made to approach the boy +from the peculiar situations of his home environment. What specific +readjustments are needed in his home life in respect to the amount of +work required of him? What of the recreation he enjoys? The local +society in which he moves? The home church and Sunday school? The +temptations that may lie near about him? and so on. These and many other +such inquiries are made with a view to dealing with the boy in an +individual way and reëstablishing his life for the better. + + +HOW TO ORGANIZE A COUNTY ASSOCIATION + +Unless it may chance that, after a brief survey of the field, some +person from the outside comes in to perfect the organization of the +county association, any interested person within the limits of the +county must make the start. Devotion to the cause, persistence, and +unfailing enthusiasm are perhaps the best personal equipment for the +local beginner of this new work. His first concern should be that of +gathering a committee of men like himself from different parts of the +county. Doubtless these will form themselves into a sort of brotherhood +committee. After such temporary organization, the next important step is +that of securing an able county leader. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVII. + +FIG. 23.--These Y.M.C.A. members find time for play as well as work. Try +a club like this as a means of keeping the boy interested in the farm.] + +1. _Choose a good leader._--Now, the success of the movement is to +depend very largely upon the character of the leader to be chosen. If +the right man be selected, no matter how hard the conditions, he will be +able finally to bring system and order and spiritual progress out of it +all. The important characteristics of the ideal leader of country boys +are comparatively few. First of all, he must, of course, be moved by a +sense of devotion to the cause of Christianity--the up-building of the +characters, especially the spiritual natures, of young men. He should be +a man who has been trained in a good college, if possible a graduate, +with experience in the Y.M.C.A. and other like organizations. He should +have had some special training in such subjects as psychology, +sociology, and economics, and should be fairly well versed in the +literature of these subjects. He should be especially fond of boys and +boy life and interested in the conduct of people of every kind and sort. +He should be somewhat trained in athletics and an enthusiastic supporter +of clean sports. He should have what is known as good business sense. It +may not be essential, but it will certainly prove advantageous, if the +chosen leader has himself been reared in the country. + +2. _Local leaders necessary._--After the leader has been selected, the +next step is that of the appointment of carefully chosen leaders for the +local neighborhoods. These may be men of almost any age from middle life +down, but perhaps the ideal age would be that of a few years older than +any of the boys of the neighborhood. All must be enlisted if possible, +not one being slighted or offended. + +3. _A committee on finance._--An able finance committee is also of high +importance. This should consist of men chosen especially for their +unusual ability as solicitors and persuaders of men in a financial way. +Let these workers go over the county soliciting funds for the +organization, providing from the first especially that the secretary +shall be well paid for his services. Close-fisted residents, as well as +all others, in every nook and corner of the territory must be seen and +asked to contribute. It should be a comparatively easy matter to show +men who cannot appreciate the social and spiritual needs of the boys +that the new movement will most certainly increase general property +values and bring up the price of land. + +4. _Little property ownership._--While new, the county organization +should guard against attempting to own and control any considerable +amount of property or equipment. Not the material goods possessed, but +the strength and force of the spiritual enthusiasm will have greatest +value in carrying on the work. It will be found quite satisfactory in +nearly every case to have the boys meet in some farm home, village club +room, or country schoolhouse. And then, there is always danger of +developing a Y.M.C.A. too exclusively as a business organization. There +are many instances in the towns and cities where this is deplorably +true. The best spirit of the work is submerged by the continuous +hounding of the people in the skirmish for funds to keep going the +over-heavy business machinery of the institution. There often develops, +in such cases, a large body of men who regard the Y.M.C.A. as an +organization of loafers and easy-going money spenders. Once such +sentiment develops, it is desperately difficult to eradicate it. So the +country Y.M.C.A. should preserve the semblance of humility, and that +partly by getting along with almost no property or equipment other than +what its own members may provide in a crude fashion and what may be +necessary to furnish the office of the general secretary. + + +HOW TO CONDUCT THE WORK + +One of the first steps in conducting the new work is that of making a +survey of the entire county. The names, ages, and location of all the +boys must be secured, together with some items respecting their present +social and religious affiliations. In fact, the more personal items +included in the first survey, the better. Some boys will at first look +with disfavor upon the new movement, believing that it is merely another +scheme to convert them to religion and get them into a church. Care must +be taken to disabuse the boy's mind of this thought from the very +beginning. Therefore, it may be well not to try to hustle him into a +Bible-study class the first time he is invited out. While the main +issue, namely, that of spiritual development of the boy, is not to be +forgotten, he must nevertheless be led to this goal through the path of +many very common instrumentalities. A Y.M.C.A. athletic meet would most +probably prove a better opening number than a Bible-study class or +merely a religious service. As the work proceeds, the occasions for a +great variety of exercises and programs will present themselves. Among +these perhaps there would be the following:-- + +1. _Local and county athletic clubs._--The athletic event is one of the +easiest to put on in a newly organized boys' club. An able leader, +perhaps the county secretary, should be present to preside over the +event, inducing the boys to form a baseball club, or a basketball team; +or at least to arrange for some event in which they can all participate, +although that may be as simple a thing as swimming or jumping. Introduce +at once the thought of practice and the development of skill, holding +out the plan of a county organization and a county field meet in the +future, which all may attend and in which the ablest shall have promise +of a conspicuous part. + +2. _Debating and literary clubs._--There is always the possibility of a +literary society, provided the thing be carefully instituted. The secret +of successful debates among persons of any class is to find a "burning" +question. So, avoid such matters as Tariff Reform and the World Peace +Movement and come right down home to some perplexing problem in the +lives of the boys of the club. Something about their work, their lack of +recreation, their chances against those of city boys, and so on, will +arouse interest and bring out rough debating material. Find latent +talent of other sorts in the club. Some boy can sing; perhaps another +can play a musical instrument; still another one may be a natural-born +storyteller; a fourth may be an expert acrobat and tree climber; a fifth +a shrewd hunter or trapper of wild animals. In this way, nearly every +boy can be led to take part in a general program. + +Thus, while contributing something toward the entertainment of all, each +boy's active participation will go far by way of awakening his personal +interest in the new life. + +3. _Receptions and suppers._--After the boys get fairly under way with +their club, they may need to arrange an oyster supper or some such +affair at which they will discuss their many mutual problems. On some +such occasions they may desire to invite their parents to come and enjoy +the program, also to participate in the discussion of their affairs. +This form of close association will be found especially enticing to the +boys, giving them a good, clean place to go for social enjoyment and +something to look forward to in their thoughts during the somewhat +prosaic hours of the day in the field. + +4. _Educational tours and problems._--The boys may find it feasible to +go in a body once or twice a year on an educational tour--to the state +fair; to study some particular thing in the city; to gather data for the +solution of some local problem; to make a study of the habitat of some +bird or animal; to gather specimens of rocks or plants; and so on. In +case of any such trip there is not a little necessity of some +college-trained person as overseer, so that the study may be made +intensive and not become dissipated in mere sport and fun. It is usually +advisable to make a careful study of only one thing at a time. + +[Illustration: PLATE XVIII. + +FIG. 24--A great Y.M.C.A. Convention in Ohio. Let the boy attend one of +these great gatherings if possible, and he will return with a year's +supply of enthusiasm.] + +5. _Camping and hiking._--The boys of the county should be brought +together at least once a year in a summer camp. Farmers will soon learn +to appreciate the value of such things in the life of the boy and will +gladly allow him a few days' vacation for the purpose. The boy who +enjoys such a privilege will more than pay it back through the extra +amount of work his enthusiasm will naturally prompt him to perform. For +the camp site there should be selected some shady woodland with a good +stream of water for fishing and swimming. A crude lodge may be +constructed and all the necessary crude camp equipment provided. Each +boy will want to carry his own blanket and extra clothing. + +One matter must be considered in all seriousness; namely, the sanitation +of the camp. Even at the outlay of a comparatively heavy expense, the +camp food supplies, including the dining table, should be screened off +from flies. The garbage therefore will all be scrupulously buried, and +it will be ascertained with certainty that the drinking water is free +from disease organisms. Then, the boys may sleep on the ground, wallow +in the dirt, splash in the water and mud as they please and return home +in the best of health. + +6. _Exhibitions._--It has been found practicable to have the boys +prepare during the season for coming together with a county exhibit, +including a wide variety of things peculiar to their interests. + +This exhibition should be made as a big annual event, if possible, such +as will attract all manner of persons and make friends for the county +association. In its ideal arrangement the money expense will be kept +down to a minimum. Also keep out the idea of premiums. The contest plan +of promotion will some day receive its desired consideration and lose +its place as a means of promoting social and spiritual well-being. As a +matter of fact it fosters much envy, ill-feeling, and bitter strife and +thus strikes at the root of the good-fellowship which you are striving +to encourage. _But, urge every boy to bring something for the sake of +the help he may contribute and let the honor of this service and the +approbation of his fellows be his high reward._ + +One boy may come with a mammoth pumpkin; another with a device of his +own invention for catching ground squirrels; still another with a new +method of tying a knot; another with a bushel of highly bred corn; +others with farm and garden produce of the same attractive nature; +others with wild grasses, curios, or geological specimens; others with +the parts of a miniature menagerie. One boy may have caught a badger +alive; another a coyote; another a jack rabbit; another a huge turtle. +Another may bring a cage of rattlesnakes or a box full of snakes of all +sorts; another a set of original plans and specifications--for an ideal +farmhouse, or farm barn and surroundings; for making the well sanitary; +for a milk house; for keeping flies out of the house or barn; a recipe +for driving ants and other insects from the house. The boys in one +family may come with a lot of samples of soil, showing how differently +each must be treated for the same general crop results. Others may bring +specimens of "cheat" and noxious weeds, and the like, with a scheme for +destroying them. Another may have a plan for a patent churn or a +labor-saving device in the kitchen. + +Thus there may be brought to the boys' fair an interesting and most +instructive variety of objects, plans, and devices, all looking toward +the improvement of home conditions. Such a gathering as this will bring +not only the parents and other adults from the home county, but great +flocks of outsiders will also come in and learn and become deeply +interested in the affairs of the County Young Men's Christian +Association. + + +SPIRITUALITY NOT LOST SIGHT OF + +It ought to be easy for the average thinker to appreciate the fact that +all the foregoing rough-and-ready work in the lives of the boys can be +made a practical means of the salvation of their souls as well as of +their bodies and intellects. Spiritual perfection is not reached at a +bound. There must be much doing of the crude yet worthy things which +grow naturally out of his inner nature before the boy can finally +achieve a degree of spiritual development that may prove a permanent and +fixed part of his adult life. Yes, there will be some Bible study, an +occasional short prayer, and now and then a real sermonette in +connection with the work of the organization, but much more frequently +the Christian life and character will come as a sort of discovery in the +boy's life and that through his own conduct. + +Through all this wholesome exercise of his better and cleaner interests, +the youth will gradually be led away and kept away from those things +which contaminate both the body and the spirit and introduce the +individual to a coarse, debauched life. In other words, Christianity +will be a thing achieved and that through the young man's efforts rather +than a thing instantly caught in some emotional revival meeting only +gradually to waste away in the months immediately following. One +well-built specimen of Christian manhood--a character of the sort which +the ideal work of the County Y.M.C.A. may finally construct--is worth a +dozen of those suddenly converted men whose secret lives are so often +embittered with the consciousness of backsliding and following ever +after the old evil ways. + +It will be observed at a glance that in the foregoing outline there is +an avoidance of the heavier work-a-day tasks and problems. It is the +thought of the author that the boys have quite enough of such labor as +it is and that the County Y.M.C.A. can do its best service if it +provides a set of new activities of a more recreative sort. The central +idea--second to the perfection of his spiritual nature--is that of +giving the boy a larger amount of social experience through +self-training in matters that will bring out his latent unselfishness +and his self-reliance. The heavier problems of an economic sort suitable +for discussion among the boys and the girls of the country districts +will have due consideration in another chapter. + +In planning the various parts of the county work and the club life of +the boys, there must be extreme care not to arrange for too many and too +frequent meetings. It is especially to be desired that the boy do not +acquire the runabout habit, even though he may in every case go to a +desirable place. Therefore, in arranging the programs it will be seen to +that the meetings are held somewhat infrequently, but that on each +occasion the meeting be continued until some intensive work has been +done. For example, it would be much preferable to have all or a major +part of one afternoon and evening of the week for the exercises rather +than to have brief evening meetings a number of times during the week. + + +WORK IN A SPARSELY SETTLED COUNTRY + +The following statement will show what was achieved during the first +year in the Y.M.C.A. of Washington County, Kansas, which has a rural +population of about ten thousand people. + +_General Statement_:-- + + 181 boys enrolled in Bible-study groups, meeting weekly. + 35 men give time to the supervision and planning of the work. + 236 boys attended ten boys' banquets. + 51 out-of-town delegates attended the county convention. + 175 men and boys attended the convention banquet. + 161 boys took part in the relay race. + 91 men and boys on baseball teams. + 24 boys played basketball. + 56 men attended 10 leaders' conferences. + 65 men conducted one day financial canvass. + 200 boys given physical examination. + 26 took part in the annual athletic meet. + 13 young men's Sundays conducted by secretary. + 6000 miles (approx.) traveled by secretary. + 283 citizens back of work. + +_Financial Statement_:-- + + Pledges unpaid from previous year $120.25 + Pledges for year 1568.25 $1688.50 + ------- + Received during year 1386.15 + Due unpaid pledges 302.35 $1688.50 + ------- + Amount paid 1352.89 + Due unpaid 298.00 + Available balance 37.61 $1688.50 + ------- + + +REFERENCES + + Neighborhood Improvement Clubs. Professor E. L. Holton. + Agricultural Extension Bulletin, Manhattan, Kan. + + Camping for Boys. H. W. Gibson. Association Press, New York. + Careful directions for camp life. + + Training for Boys; Symposium. _Harper's Bazaar_, March, + April, August, September, November, 1910. + + Keeping Home Ties from Breaking. E. A. Halsey. _World + To-day_, January, 1911. + + Training Men to work for Men. E. A. Halsey. _World To-day_, + March, 1911. + + The Organization and Administration of Athletics. Dr. Clark + W. Hetherington. Annual Volume N.E.A., 1907, p. 930. + + _Rural Manhood_, issue of June, 1910. Rural Leadership + Number. + + Social Activities for Men and Boys. Albert M. Chisley. + Y.M.C.A. Press, New York. A valuable book covering a wide + variety of activities. + + _Rural Manhood._ Henry Israel, editor. 50 cents per year. A + most valuable exponent of the County Y.M.C.A. work. + + The Physical Life of the Boy. Dr. D. G. Wilcox. (Pamphlet.) + Address, Federated Boys' Clubs, Boston. + + + + +CHAPTER X + +_THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE AS LEADERS OF THE YOUNG_ + + +No less urgent and divine is the call for spiritual aid and leadership +in the rural districts to-day than was that which came to the apostle +Paul of old in form of a vision and a voice crying, "Come over into +Macedonia and help us." In the open country field, far removed from +church or social center, is the demand for leaders and directors +especially great. Men engage for a lifetime in an enthusiastic endeavor +to amass wealth and to build up great business concerns. But the man or +woman who heeds the call to go forth into the country districts and save +the bodies and souls of the young--that person will not only experience +exceeding great joy and enthusiasm in his work, but he will thereby lay +up for himself in the memories of the redeemed a precious treasury of +golden deeds. + +Country parents as a rule are not in a position to do the best things +even for their own children, much less to go out as leaders of the young +at large. They are sometimes lacking in the necessary means, more +frequently too busy, and most frequently not sufficiently informed as +to be fully awake to the meanings and possibilities of any such +undertaking. However, in nearly every country neighborhood there is a +man or woman, or both, who possess many of the big opportunities for +enlisting in the service of the young. Those who have no small children +of their own to care for would naturally be freest to get away from the +present home duties. Then, some parents having children of their own not +infrequently catch the inspiration and heed the call. At any rate, it is +entirely fair and reasonable to assume that some one of the neighborhood +could do it were there the disposition. + +As a means of arousing any such persons to attempt to do some +constructive work among country boys and girls, the following detailed +suggestions are offered. Those who feel at all called to undertake this +service may be assured that the interest grows more intense with time +and effort put forth, and that the joy of accomplishing something in +behalf of the young people of one's own vicinity is perhaps unsurpassed +by that of any other type of human endeavor. In the discussions to +follow we assume that some farmer and his wife have heeded this divine +call. + + +PREPARATION FOR THE SERVICE + +Since very few are sufficiently versatile to undertake any and every +kind of social work, perhaps the first step is that of choosing a +definite line of action. And let the choice be in the direction of the +chooser's leading social interest. As a means of preparation for +efficient work a brief course of training is to be much commended. It +may be found practicable to slip away from home during the winter months +and take a farmers' short course in one of the agricultural colleges. +Or, one may find the peculiar instruction and inspiration needed by +attending a convention or conference of the ablest leaders +representative of the work. One of the rural-life conferences now +frequently held might be found ideal. Go prepared to take notes, to ask +questions, and especially to obtain a large number of literary +references. + +The use of helpful literature is most important at this stage. A +magazine which admirably covers this particular field is _Rural +Manhood_, published by the Association Press, New York City. Then, +secure the report of the Country Life Commission, and a number of the +latest works of a similar nature, some of which are listed below. Write +to the Department of Agriculture at Washington for their bulletin on the +organization of boys' and girls' clubs. Also from the extension +department of the agricultural college may be obtained for the asking +all available literature of this same general class. + +Now, make a careful survey of the neighborhood, or the larger field, +with a view to finding out the specific conditions in relation to the +chosen line of service. Make lists of names and ages of the boys and +girls, including all other data of a helpful nature. Proceed with the +thought that the work to be undertaken is not to be merely a means of +entertainment, but of education for the young. + + +WORK PERSISTENTLY FOR SOCIAL UNITY + +In his most instructive volume "The Rural Church and Community +Achievement," President Butterfield says: "We are in great need in this +country of an institution or institutions which have for their definite +objective the study of the conditions and problems of farm home-life; +not merely the matter of home management, or home keeping, but the +fundamental relationships of the family to the development of a better +community life in the rural regions." Now, let the newly enlisted social +worker assume that he is to undertake something by way of bringing about +a fuller integration and unity of the people of the neighborhood. + +Every new worker in the social field needs a word of warning against the +rebukes and discouragements with which he may at first meet. To say the +best, the neighborhood will doubtless be indifferent in regard to the +newly proposed organization. But let the social worker go on +persistently, unmindful of any such hindrance, even though scarcely a +person in the neighborhood seems ready to join in the movement. In the +typical case of valuable constructive work of this sort, it will be +found at first that the masses are practically all opposed to the plan. +However, as fast as it wins its way through unrelenting effort and +unswerving devotion, the doubters and opposers will come over to its +support. And after the movement has established itself reasonably well +and achieved something worth while, the same people who once stood out +will then fall enthusiastically into line and help with the undertaking. + +It will be impossible, of course, to point out definitely to the local, +self-appointed leader just what plan of social endeavor to follow. Since +there is such a great variety of conditions, it seems advisable here to +make a somewhat extended list of possible lines of work in the rural +districts. + + +CORN-RAISING AND BREAD-BAKING CLUBS + +Perhaps among the easiest organizations to effect among the young people +of any farm district are the clubs or contests in juvenile farm work and +home economics. The beginning of such a purpose will consist of getting +into communication with the extension department of the state +agricultural college. After obtaining their literature and learning +their methods of procedure, call the boys and girls together, asking +their parents to come along. It may be found practicable to call a +general meeting of the entire neighborhood, inviting old and young +possibly to a basket dinner, and there to lay before them the plans of +the organizations. While the contest in corn-raising or bread-baking +has proved a marked success where tried, if possible arrange matters so +that every earnest endeavor on the part of the young shall receive a +suitable reward, not merely the winners of the first and second prizes. + +[Illustration: PLATE XIX. + +(Courtesy of American Magazine.) + +FIG. 25.--Jerry Moore, the champion boy corn raiser of the United +States. He raised 253 bushels on a single acre of ground.] + +It is usually an easy matter to secure funds for paying the way of the +boys to the state-wide farmers' institute or the boys' institute usually +held at the agricultural college during the holiday season. Provide that +every boy who reaches a certain standard--say, that of raising so many +bushels of corn on an acre of land--shall go at the expense of the fund. +Likewise, organize the girls into a bread-baking club or something of +the sort. Prizes may be offered for the best bread, but all the girls +whose home-making work meets a certain fixed standard of requirement +should have promise of a suitable reward. Perhaps they too may be sent +without expense to themselves to a state conference on home economics. +In case of these trips to the state meetings it will be necessary to +appoint responsible chaperons for the boys and girls. + + +OTHER FORMS OF CONTESTS + +It may be found advisable to start a good-roads contest among the boys +of the home township, offering an attractive prize to the one who shows +the best results at the end of a given period and a per diem payment of +money to every boy who faithfully takes care of his half mile or +quarter mile of public road. + +Then, there may be instituted on a small scale stock shows and poultry +shows in the hands of the boys of the neighborhood. To this the girls +too may come with any such thing as display specimens of their home +sewing and fancy work, house plants, and the like. In fact, these +exhibitions may gradually develop into a sort of neighborhood or +township fair for the special benefit of the young. To this display may +be brought, not only the items named immediately above, but the larger +variety of things mentioned in the chapter on the Rural Y.M.C.A. + + +THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SCHOOL SITUATION + +Rural leaders will nearly always find many opportunities for improving +the local school situation. But let the organizer keep unfailingly in +view the high aims of all this rural work; namely, the awakening of a +deeper interest in the affairs that normally belong to the neighborhood +life, and the fuller measure of joy and contentment to result from every +such achievement. So, there may be undertaken the redirection of the +work of the country school. For example, bring forces to bear upon it +that will result in the introduction of the study of elementary +agriculture and the simple elements of home keeping and home sanitation +therein. Work for a better class of teachers and a higher salary +payment. Endeavor to have the length of the school term extended and +the school attendance made more regular. Institute a series of +red-letter days for the school during the year. It may be practicable to +have a "parents' day," an occasion on which all will be invited to come +out and join the pupils in a noonday lunch and learn more about the +progress and the needs of the school. Provide a half-day for free and +open discussion of school matters and if possible organize among the +patrons a sort of "boosters' club." + +Another form of endeavor in behalf of the schools is that of striving +for improvement of the high school facilities of the neighborhood. +Perhaps there is not a high school within riding distance of the homes. +Cannot one be instituted, say, for the township? Or, what can be done to +improve the present neighborhood relations to the high school that may +be already within reach? Is there a prohibitive tuition fee? Does the +high school now in existence actually serve through its courses the best +interests of young people who come in from the neighborhood? Again, +perhaps it would be feasible to organize the grown boys and girls who +have dropped out of the country school into a neighborhood group and +provide a daily conveyance for taking them to and from the town high +school By this means, many may be induced to go to school who are idling +away the valuable winter months. + +During the last decade, what has been the trend of the young men and +women who have gone from the home district to high school or college? +Have any of the best of them returned to the farm? Or, have these +institutions been a means of sending them away as permanent city +dwellers? Does this thing need to continue? Cannot some movement be +instituted for bringing about a radical change? So long as the country +boys and girls attend the town high schools and there be required to +take the old-fashioned classical courses--which have always served to +introduce their minds to the city life and to the professional +callings--the country districts will continue to be depleted of their +best brains and energy. + + +HOME AND SCHOOL PLAY PROBLEMS + +Start a movement in the interest of better provided play opportunities +for the children of the neighborhood. The possibilities of enriching and +extending the young life through the avenue of better play are just +beginning to be understood. We have always accepted the theory that +young children must have some time to play, but we have given little or +no heed to the matter of providing for their play such apparatus as +might furnish scientific contributions to the development of their +characters. + +Make a brief inquiry throughout the neighborhood and you will perhaps +find that not a single farm home has apparently given this matter any +definite attention. Now, what playthings may easily be provided in such +homes? After having determined that matter, begin a campaign of +education of the rural parents. First, write to the Playground +Association of America in New York City and ask for a list of their +literature on play. From this source you will obtain pamphlets and +larger volumes giving specific suggestions for installing rural play +apparatus, and details as to dimensions, prices, and the like. Now, you +are ready for work. Appeal to a centrally located family for their +coöperation in establishing a model. Induce them to provide for their +children a full set of the apparatus, seeing to it that the expense is +kept down to the minimum. Nearly all of the materials of construction +are lying about the ordinary farm home and need only to be assembled and +put into place. Once you have established your model home playground, +then invite your neighbors in to see it, perhaps making a sort of picnic +or holiday occasion out of the affair. At any rate, you may be sure that +the parents of the neighborhood will begin at once to copy the models +and many will even improve upon them. + +Along with your efforts there may be necessary a campaign of instruction +and admonition in relation to the play of the children. Many parents may +be working their small boys and girls too hard and allowing not enough +time for play. In this respect your persistent effort will in time show +excellent results. + +Let us suppose that the farm home selected for the model playthings has +at least one small boy and one small girl therein. Then, the following +might be set up:-- + +A swing, a seesaw, a sliding board or pole, a pair of rings, a trapeze, +and a horizontal bar. Have all under shade if possible. Provide also a +small play wagon and a cart or two, with a sand box for the small child. + +Inspect the district school in reference to play facilities and you may +find nothing other than the bare ground with perhaps a baseball diamond. +Here, then, is a rare opportunity for constructive work. Organize in +your own way a boosters' club and provide play apparatus. In Chapter +VIII you will find full details as to the equipment best suited for the +purpose. Provide in every case that the expense be minimized. Nearly all +of the apparatus may be constructed free of cost by interested persons +in the home neighborhood or in the near-by village. + + +A NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY + +Another very enticing line of endeavor for the rural leader is that of +establishing the country library. Some one in the neighborhood has a big +house, one room or more of which may conveniently be set apart for the +purpose. Induce the owners of this house to clear up a room and remodel +it, if need be, and make their home a sort of intellectual center for +the district. Of course the schoolhouse or rural church may be available +for the purpose, but the farm home will be better for a great many +reasons, among them being the possibility of having the library open at +all hours of the day so that books may be exchanged on the occasion of +one's passing the place. Now, go after the well-to-do residents of the +district and gather a fund for the library. Paint in glowing terms the +visions you have of this thing when it has been set on foot. Declare +your purpose as that of helping and uplifting the community life. Show +the "close-fisted" resident that the establishment of a neighborhood +library will attract desirable settlers into the district and improve +prices of land and produce. + +After having obtained a small fund, consult the best authorities for +advice in selecting the books. By all means avoid cheap stories and +trash of every other sort. Since your work is in behalf of the young, +obtain a few attractive and instructive picture books. There can +probably be obtained a book which treats and illustrates fully the bird +life of the local state, giving a brief description and pictures in +their natural color. Young people may be very much attracted by +authentic books of the nature-study class, including those descriptive +of wild animals and of hunting and exploring tales. Consult the lists +given under the chapter on the literature in the country home for +additional titles and suggestions. + +If it be found difficult or impracticable to purchase books for the +neighborhood library, then, the next best thing will be the traveling +library. Communicate with the state library association and learn +definitely what may be obtained from that source. Then, proceed to bring +the best available volumes into the neighborhood. In the selection of +the library do not forget the local interest. Secure every attractive +volume that will help to make the boys and girls acquainted with the +best meanings of their own community life and more interested in staying +by the home affairs and building them up. Not the least among the +valuable elements of the neighborhood library will be the periodicals, +in the selection of which expert advice is recommended. + + +HOLIDAYS AND RECREATION FOR THE YOUNG + +In an ably written article published in _Rural Manhood_ of January, +1910, John R. Boardman, International County Work Secretary, says: "A +new gospel of the recreation life needs to be proclaimed in the country. +Rural America must be compelled to play. It has to a degree toiled +itself into deformity, disease, depravity, and depression. Its long +hours of drudgery, its jealousy of every moment of daylight, its scorn +of leisure and of pleasure must give way to shorter hours of labor, +occasional periods of complete relaxation and whole-hearted +participation in wholesome plays, festivals, picnics, games, and other +recreative amusements. Better health, greater satisfaction, and a +richer life wait on the wise development of this recreative ideal." + +A brief survey of the neighborhood will doubtless show the lack of +general method in dealing with the farm boys' and girls' holidays and +vacations during the long summer months. Here, then, is apparent another +field for constructive leadership. In proceeding to change the present +situation, it may be well to gather a considerable list of authoritative +statements like the one just quoted. Farm parents gradually fall into +the habit of over-working their half-grown children. Now, if we can +institute a custom of weekly half holidays for the young people of the +neighborhood, a splendid work will be done in behalf of a higher +community life. + +Begin work by selecting an attractive central location, and plan that +the young, and the older ones, too, may come to this place one afternoon +every week, or at least two afternoons every month, and have a good time +generally. Games may be played, local clubs may meet in the shade of the +trees, the sewing society and other groups of women having their +interests served. The farmers' clubs may have opportunity for helpful +exchange of ideas, while the little children may play and romp about the +premises. Invite all to come early in the afternoon and bring an evening +lunch to be enjoyed in common. Thus, you may give the young people who +regard their everyday work as drudgery, such interest and inspiration +as to tone up their lives noticeably for every hour of the long days of +toil. + + +MANY OVER-WORK THEIR CHILDREN + +In connection with your efforts in behalf of the holiday or weekly +picnic, take up carefully the matter of the proper amount of work for +the farm boys and girls of any given age. You will find such willingness +on the part of parents to do the right thing by their children and a +proportionate amount of ignorance as to what ought to be done. +Therefore, you may be able to carry on most profitably to all a campaign +of instruction in regard to such thing. You will, of course, first make +out as best you can with the aid of all available literature, an ideal +schedule of hours of work and play and recreation suitable for the boys +and girls of the different ages. + +At the holiday picnic it may be found advisable to organize the boys +into a club of their own and the girls, likewise, for the promotion of +their several and mutual interests. Inspire all with your earnestness +and enthusiasm and lead them to consider the latent possibilities of the +neighborhood, of how it might be transformed into a place of great worth +and attractiveness. At the same country picnic, look to the +practicability of organizing into a club the tired mothers of the +district. They are many. You will know them by their careworn looks. +Create a sentiment in behalf of more frequent outings and more +recreation for these women. Help them obtain literature relative to +their own affairs, to exchange ideas and plans in behalf of their own +betterment. Show them especially the possibility of quitting the work at +stated times even though that work be less than half finished, and +getting away from the tedium thereof--all in the interest of longer life +for themselves and better service for their homes and families. Almost +any sort of club which these mothers can be induced to attend will +achieve the purpose desired. + + +FEDERATION FOR COUNTRY LIFE PROGRESS + +Federations for country-life progress are now arising in many parts of +the country. One of the first was organized in New England, under the +leadership of President Butterfield. The Illinois movement may be +described, as an example. + +The Illinois State Federation for Country Life Progress is composed of +nearly half a hundred subordinate organizations. Their platform of ten +principles given below sets forth a number of most important and +practical purposes, as follows:-- + + 1. Local country community building. + + 2. The federation of all the rural forces of the state of + Illinois in one big united effort for the betterment of + country life. + + 3. The development of institutional programs of action for + all rural social agencies. This means a program of work for + the school, another for the church, another for the farmers' + institute, and so on. + + 4. The stimulation of farmer leadership in the country + community. + + 5. The increase and improvement of professional leadership + among country teachers, ministers, and all others who serve + the rural community in offices of educational direction. + + 6. The perpetuation among all the people of country + communities of a definite community ideal, and the + concentrated effort of the whole community in concrete tasks + looking toward the realization of this ideal. + + 7. The recognition of the country school as the immediate + initiator of progress in the average rural community of + Illinois. + + 8. The study and investigation of country life facts and + conditions. + + 9. The holding of annual country life conferences. + + 10. The protection of this federation and of all country life + from any form of exploitation. + + +THE VOCATIONS OF BOYS AND GIRLS + +A most commendable work for the rural social leader would be that of +showing the possibilities of guiding country boys and girls more +scientifically in the direction of their coming vocational life. Too +often, there may be found a mistaken farmer who is attempting to force +his boy to take up the farm life when as a matter of fact the boy is in +no sense fitted for such vocation and should be trained for a distinctly +different line of work. Then, on another occasion, you will meet a man +who is farming simply because he has to do it, and who is over-anxious +that his boy be guided in the direction of something else. The point +especially to be emphasized here is that the parent cannot choose +arbitrarily a vocation for his child. The native interests of the latter +must be consulted again and again, while the child is growing up, and in +the end the young person must decide the matter for himself. + +The world is full of wrecks of human character who are such largely +because of the single fault of their never having been trained +scientifically in a vocational way. So advance as best you can the idea +that parents must be most patient in awaiting the development of the +various instincts and desires in their growing children, and for the +final decision of the latter in respect to a calling. It should be made +clear that many of the best and ablest men in the world floundered about +not a little in deciding upon the final choice. + +This very important matter of choosing a vocation for the young man and +the young woman will be taken up in Chapters XVIII and XIX of this +book. + + +OTHER LOCAL POSSIBILITIES + +It will be understood that the possibilities of church and Sunday school +work in a rural neighborhood are not intentionally slighted. Little is +said in regard to them here simply because of the fact that there is a +country-wide organization with well-directed local branches and with a +flood of excellent literature constantly at work in building up the +church and Sunday school life. The reader may be reminded, however, that +this field still presents many excellent opportunities for serving the +highest interests of the home community. + +The matter of purely social gatherings for the boys and girls is +important. It will perhaps be found that they are running to cheap, +degrading dances, either in the home neighborhood or in a near-by town. +If the rural leader can break this thing up and substitute a literary +club, a better form of social intercourse, or any other gathering, for +the cheap dance and its resultant debauch, the effort will certainly be +most commendable. It is not as a rule advisable to condemn and denounce +these cheap affairs, but rather to begin at once a movement in the +interest of the better substitute. Just as soon as the latter begins to +take form, the young people will naturally discontinue their degrading +affairs. Chapter XIII of this book will offer a more extended discussion +of the social problems of country youth. + +[Illustration: PLATE XX. + +FIG. 26.--An example of the little lonely school in the woods, a problem +of the social worker. Not enough children to stimulate one another +properly in the lesson-getting and play activities.] + + +THE BOY-SCOUT MOVEMENT + +There is much to commend the boy-scout movement as a country +organization. It must be thought of as an educative institution. In +discussing its best meanings and possibilities, Professor E. L. Holton, +of the Kansas State Agricultural College, says: "Education as used here +means habits of health, of work, of thrift, of observation, and of +research. It is habit that determines the health of an individual and +the sanitary conditions of a community; the social and moral level of +the worker and the quality of his work; the returns from the farm and +the ideals of the farmer; a man's bank account and his insight into the +secrets of his environment. Habit has its physical basis in the flesh, +the blood, and the nerve cells. There must be actual first-hand +experience and leadership hitched up with text-book knowledge in +educating the boy. The old elemental instincts of adventure, pugnacity, +gang life, and following leadership must be taken into account and made +to work out into life-compelling desires." + +Before attempting the organization of the local Boy Scouts, one is +advised first to send to the national organization and that of the +state, if there be any, for literature and directions. The only caution +which it seems necessary to give here is that there be connected with +the conduct of the organization some serious problems and requirements +and that it be not given over exclusively to merely doing wild and +daring "stunts" and "hiking" about the country. + + +RURAL BOY-SCOUTS IN KANSAS + +As an example of what is being done by way of organizing the rural boy +scout movement, the Kansas plan under the direction of Professor E. L. +Holton is here given:-- + +The Agricultural College Council is organizing companies of Rural-Life +Boy Scouts in all parts of Kansas. The aim of the Council is "a company +in every community." There are 160,000 boys in Kansas eligible to +membership. It seeks to encourage boys to learn the secrets of the +prairies, the streams and the forests, and be able to read nature as +well as books; to have a growing bank account, and to do some type of +work better than it has been done by anyone else. + +During the month of July or August there is to be a five to ten days' +Rural-Life Camp of Instruction in each county, which is to be attended +by all companies of the county. This camp of instruction will be under +the direction and management of the County Council. The program will +consist of:-- + + 1. Games and athletic contests. + + 2. Contest in judging farm crops and stock. + + 3. Naming birds, wild animals, fish, flowers, trees, shrubs, + etc. + + 4. Reporting on the savings bank accounts. + + 5. Contests in any other line of work carried on in the + county. + + 6. Talks on rural life subjects. + +The duties of the individual scout are as follows:-- + +For the Third Class-- + + 1. Know by sight and call ten common birds. + + 2. Know by sight and track ten wild animals. + + 3. Know by sight five common game fish. + + 4. Know in the fields ten wild flowers. + + 5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline ten common trees + or shrubs. + + 6. Know the sixteen points of the compass. + + 7. Know the elementary rules for the prevention of typhoid + fever. + + 8. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific + methods not less than one-half acre of some farm or garden + crop. (The town boy may substitute a town lot.) + + 9. Own and care for according to the latest scientific + methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This + includes poultry.) Value not less than $10. + + 10. Maintain a bank account of not less than $15. + + 11. Shall strive to graduate from the common schools. + +For the Second Class-- + + 1. Know by sight and call twenty common birds. + + 2. Know by sight and track twenty wild animals. + + 3. Know by sight seven common game fish. + + 4. Know in the fields twenty wild flowers. + + 5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline twenty common + trees and shrubs. + + 6. Know the elementary rules for the prevention of + tuberculosis. + + 7. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific + methods not less than one acre of some farm or garden crop. + (The town boy may substitute town lots.) + + 8. Own and care for according to the latest scientific + methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This + includes poultry.) Value not less than $20. + + 9. Maintain a bank account of not less than $20. + + 10. Read the books of the Young People's Reading Circle for + the eighth and ninth grades. + +For the First Class-- + + 1. Know by sight and call fifty common birds of Kansas. + + 2. Know by sight and track all wild animals of Kansas. + + 3. Know by sight all the common game fish of Kansas. + + 4. Know in the fields twenty-five wild flowers. + + 5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline all common trees + and shrubs of Kansas. + + 6. Know by sight twenty-five common weeds. + + 7. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific + methods not less than two acres of farm crops. (The town boy + may substitute town lots.) + + 8. Own and care for according to the latest scientific + methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This + includes poultry.) Value not less than $25. + + 9. Maintain a bank account of not less than $25. + + 10. Shall read at least two of a list of books on rural life. + +The motto is: "Know the secrets of the open country." + + +REFERENCES + + See Rural Leadership Number of _Rural Manhood_, June, 1910. + + Play for the Country Boy. Clark W. Hetherington. _Rural + Manhood_, May, 1911. + + The Y.M.C.A. Socializing the Country. Farman S. Vance. _The + Independent_, April 15, 1911. + + Holiday Plays. Marguerite Merington. Duffield & Co. Suitable + for rural leaders. + + The County and Local Fair. L. H. Bailey. _The Country-Life + Movement_, 1911. This article contains many practical and + stimulating suggestions for making a successful county fair, + on a new basis. + + Farmers' Institutes for Young People. Circular No. 99 of the + U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Free.) This circular gives a + large fund of details of all sorts of clubs and movements. + + Kindergarten at Home. V. M. Hillyer. Baker-Taylor Company. + N.Y. Contains much constructive work. + + The Young Farmer's Practical Library. Edited by Ernest + Ingersoll and published by Sturgis-Walton Company, N.Y. (75 + cents each.) Contains some excellent matter. The following + volumes are included: + + From Kitchen to Garret. Virginia T. Van de Water. + Neighborhood Entertainments. Renée B. Stern. + The Farm Mechanic. L. W. Chase. + Home Waterworks. Carleton J. Lynde. + The Satisfaction of Country Life. Dr. James W. Robertson. + Roads, Paths and Bridges. L. W. Page. + Health on the Farm. Dr. L. F. Harris. + Farm Machinery. J. B. Davidson. + Electricity on the Farm. + + County Superintendent J. F. Haines, Noblesville, Indiana, has + a fund of helpful data on agricultural fairs by young people. + + The Extension of Industrial and Agricultural Education. + (Pamphlet.) Extension Department, University of Wisconsin, + Madison. + + Children's Singing Games Old and New. Mari Ruef Hofer. A. + Flanagan Company. Chicago. Miss Hofer is an authority of + national reputation on the subject of play and games. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +_HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY BOY_ + + +Over-work, poor pay, and little recreation are the agencies which +annually drive thousands of good, promising youths from the rural +districts into the cities, where their splendid native abilities for +serving the world and society are most likely to become subordinated. +All too often it is a case of a young man leaving the home place, +surrounded by opportunities which he has not been allowed to avail +himself of, and going into a place where he will take up the monotonous +round of merely "holding a job." In the former position, under +intelligent care and direction, he might have grown into a strong, +self-reliant man, full of resources, endued with good purposes; and at +last have taken rank among those who are lifting the race to higher +things. In the position obtained in the city he is almost certain to +find his surroundings badly cramped, his spontaneity largely restricted, +and his power of initiative without a motive for its indulgence. In +short, his city position will press him continually and insistently to +the end that he reduce himself to a mere machine, or a mere cog in a +great machine. + + +SEE THAT THE WORK IS FOR THE BOY'S SAKE + +One of the means whereby rural parents may assist their boy to develop +into that fullness of life which the latter's native abilities and +excellent environment guarantee him, is to provide a scientific relation +of the young life to the work which he may be required to perform. First +of all, what is the proper way in which to regard the boy's work? +Ordinarily, the farmer is inclined to think of the work rather than the +worker, and to ask himself what he can put the boy at in order to make +his services most profitable to the business. Now, no evil intention is +charged here, but this erroneous point of view is almost certain to lead +gradually to an abuse of the boy. Why not put the question in this way: +How much work and what sort of work will be most conducive to the boy's +present development and to his future welfare? The radical difference +between the two positions may be readily seen. And while the latter may +be less profitable in form of material and monetary gain, it will prove +to be far more serviceable in the production of sterling manhood. + +It is not an easy matter to determine offhand as to the amount of work a +boy of any given age should perform. Conditions vary greatly. The safest +mode of procedure is to study the individual boy carefully. Let the +parent first acquaint himself with the general principles of human +development through the service of suitable literature, as recommended +in a former chapter. Then, the boy's physical strength, his aptitudes, +and his native interests should be taken into account. Among other aims, +seek that of a happy adjustment of the boy to his work. Some of the +tasks required of him will be and should be somewhat irksome, as a means +of discipline. On the other hand, much of the work he does should be +backed up by his hearty approval and good will. + +It is probably true that no boy is instinctively fond of work and that +the average boy must be held to his tasks whether he chooses to perform +them or not. But the final pleasant relations of the boy to his work can +best be secured by means of counseling with him on the subject. Explain +to the lad the fact that industry is the greatest factor in the world's +progress and development. Point out to him instances of worthy men, +young and old, who are faithful workers. Make him to see that he can the +better become an honorable man through an intimate knowledge of labor. +Point out to him instances of men who are failures in life, and others +who are criminals, explaining--as statistics prove--that the majority of +these delinquent persons were never trained during youth in the +performance of any specific work. Show him if possible how even the +wealthy person who has nothing important to do, is a burden to himself +and a menace to society. + + +NOT ENFORCED LABOR, BUT MASTERY + +As stated above, no natural boy probably takes up hard work willingly or +voluntarily. Parents may as well accept it as their peculiar duty to +direct and discipline their boys with required tasks. But after +considerable persistent and conscientious enforcement of the boy's +labors the parent is almost certain to be rewarded with the latter's +manifest willingness and fondness in doing what was at first thought of +as pain and punishment. + +It is a serious matter, however, to observe how many grown men there are +who look upon their work with the dread and disfavor natural to little +boys. One is inclined to wonder at this and at the cause of it. So far +as can be learned by inquiry among workmen and those who dread their +enforced labor, their view of the situations is about as follows, to +render liberally the language of a stonemason-philosopher: "Work is +something no man is naturally fond of. Every worker would quit if he +could afford to and take life easy. If I had ten thousand dollars ahead, +I would never work another day. Of course somebody has to work or we +should all starve, but my advice to a boy is that he get a good +education and thus learn how to make a living some other way." + +Here the parent who has true foresight in respect to his child's +development is confronted with a serious problem. It is not merely a +matter of teaching the boy to work, but rather that of teaching him to +become master of his work in order that personal pleasure may finally +come from the performance thereof. So, one must follow the boy most +thoughtfully in the latter's initial steps toward satisfactory industry. +While it is sometimes advisable to take him forcibly back to the place +where he failed and even to enforce obedience and effort with the rod, +it is most certainly the parent's duty to praise the small lad for his +first light tasks well performed, and otherwise to show appreciation +thereof. + +"It took me a year to get this boy down to business," said the proud +father of a fifteen-year-old who had just won a second prize in a +state-wide corn-raising contest. "During the summer of his sixth year I +took him with me into the field on occasions when he could do something +light and learn from it. But my chief plan was to train him in garden +work. I gave him a small plot to tend and helped him lay it out and +plant it. At first he showed great interest, but I knew that it was of +the playful kind and that it would soon wane. Sure enough, in a short +time he was dodging and slighting his garden work. Then, I began a more +definite method. At morning I would instruct him very carefully what he +must do for the day, and at each evening I required him to compare +results and instructions with me. Punishment was necessary more than +once, but slowly he began to catch my point of view." + +"I bought the boy's first spring radishes for table use and permitted +him to spend half the money. This seemed to open his eyes. Later I paid +him for his other produce. During the second season I emphasized such +matters as carefulness in selecting seed and the arrangement and +cultivation of the garden produce. Several of the neighbors expressed +surprise and delight when they saw the attractive garden. This merited +approbation was noticeably effective. Since that time I have had little +trouble. I can give that boy any ordinary farm problem to-day and he +will work it out most enthusiastically. He has learned the joy of +mastery in his work." + +The foregoing somewhat lengthy statement is given with the thought that +it may furnish illustrative material to others. It is a mistake to keep +driving boys to their work "just because they ought to do it," as one +stern father put the matter. But it is altogether fair and advisable +that a series of rewards be offered. The youth must be made to feel that +his work is to serve some worthy personal end. This well-trained boy's +reward came gradually as follows: (1) parental approbation. (2) a money +return. (3) the praise of the neighbors, (4) the joy of self-reliance +and mastery. + + +PROVIDE VACATIONS FOR THE BOY + +It is unreasonable to expect the growing boy to have the same vital +interest in the work as that of his parents. The wise father will see +to it that his youthful son has some outside incentive for work, as well +as money payments and words of praise. Vacation periods and holidays +judiciously placed will prove a splendid tonic for the working boy's +mind. The schedule given below will indicate the relative amount of time +that should be given to such recreative indulgences. Even in the matter +of holidays there is a tendency of some fathers to regard them as so +much stock in trade to exchange for the boy's extra effort. So, some +farmers will map out more than a reasonable week's work and say, "Now, +boys, finish that up by Saturday noon and you may quit." In such case we +have mere exploitation of the boy's strength and energy in the interest +of the work and the profits. The scheme will fall flat sooner or later +and leave the boy still despising the work and mistrustful of his +employer. + +The plan pursued by a prosperous farmer in dealing with his two sons may +serve to illustrate a very good method. This thoughtful father reports +substantially as follows:-- + +"The work on our place is never ended, but whenever I find that the boys +need a vacation they get it just the same. They are fourteen and sixteen +and splendid help during the summer. I never permit them to work more +than ten hours a day, while they are allowed a full half day off each +week to use as they please, and about once each month they have an +entire day to themselves. Also during the hot weather in the middle of +the summer they have from three days to a week for some special outing. +Last summer they camped out five days with some other good boys. It is +my theory that the boys who are given such vacations will do more work +and do it better than those who are not." + +The foregoing plan may seem to sacrifice the interests of the work, but +in fact it really does not. After all, it is merely a question of the +right point of view. Is the boy for the sake of the work, or the work +for the sake of the boy? Answer the question conscientiously for +yourself, dear reader. And may the boy be forever the gainer! + + +A TENTATIVE SCHEDULE OF HOURS + +Obedience may be regarded as a pre-requisite for successful boy +training. So, the first light tasks required of the small lad will be +intended as merely a means of training him to obey and to feel the +meaning of responsibility. No one has thus far seemed to think it worth +while to attempt to prescribe for the work and play of children. How +different in the case of the school requirements! Even in the district +schools the thing is reduced to a system--_both the quantity and the +quality of the work necessary for each age and grade are carefully +scheduled_. Now, why not the same forethought in planning the necessary +amount of the other exercises? And why not have this scheme made out by +_highly trained experts_ as is the case with the school course? There +seems to be no plausible defense for this traditional expensive +oversight on the part of society. + +The schedule below is offered as merely schematic and possibly +suggestive. In any given case there may be wide departures from it. But +the thought is that of training the whole boy, and that for the sake of +his own and society's future good. + +Age 4 or younger.--May be taught the nature of a required duty from +being sent on an occasional small errand about the place. Practically +all the time should be given to play. + +Age 5.--Use substantially the same methods as for age 4, but add the +requirement of one regular light task daily and follow him up in the +performance of it. + +Age 6.--Continue as above, adding to the required tasks slightly. If the +lad now be taken to the field, he must go more in the spirit of play +than of work. Of course he will learn much about farm matters at this +age, but his activities will be largely spontaneous. Note the plan +reported above. + +Age 7.--At this age, the boy should be required to do light chores at +evening after school--such as carrying in wood and kindling and +attending to the stock. Or he may help in the house. During vacation he +may help for two to four hours daily with some easy tasks, preferably +about the house. Of course there is much work about the barn and fields +which is not too heavy for him. + +Age 8.--Some boys are put to plowing at this age, but such a thing is +little short of criminal. Moreover, they should be held regularly to _no +sort of work_ all day long at this age; that is, unless the parent +desires to reduce his boy to a little old dried-up man before the age of +twenty is reached, and perhaps drive him from home. + +Age 9.--Intermittently half-day or all-day tasks may now be imposed; +provided the lad be taken along as a mere helper and may, about +two-thirds of the time, either play at his work or regard it in the +light of a playful pastime. Do not work the joyousness and spontaneity +out of him at this young age. + +Age 10.--An average of five hours solid work per day is all that the +10-year-old farm boy should be required to do. Much play and recreation +of the rougher sort should supplement it. The desire to construct +something with tools is now strong and should be indulged. Or, see that +he has a pony to ride as he hurries about the place in the performance +of his many errands. + +Age 11.--Increase the required tasks about one hour per day with similar +treatment as for age 10. This is the age for training the boy to be a +sort of "page" in service of his mother and sister. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXI. + +FIG. 27.--A tennis court in connection with the country boys' camp. +There should be more of these. + +FIG. 28.--A country play festival. We cannot answer rightly the +question, How much work for the country boy? and at the same time +neglect to provide for his play.] + +Age 12.--Many 12-year-old boys are required to do a man's work every +day. But such a thing is done in the interest of the work and the +profits and not for the sake of the boy. A good way to measure his worth +at this age is to see that he does not earn more than half as much as +the full-grown man. Give many half-holidays. His interest in fishing, +rowing, swimming, and the like, needs much indulgence. + +Age 13.--From this age to 15, watch the boy for the beginning of +adolescence and be unusually careful not to over-work him. Most of his +bodily strength must go into making new bone and muscle. Frequent +intervals of rest and relaxation should be the rule, together with +avoidance of too long and too heavy a day's work. Even permit some crops +to be lost rather than abuse the boy. + +Age 14-16.--This is the time to begin to interest the boy in working to +serve his own ends. His social instincts will now appear strong and he +will desire many new possessions not hitherto thought of. Therefore, +adjust his work to these new interests and lead him to feel as much as +possible that he is working for his own advantage. There is still danger +of over-work. So see to it that rests and vacations with opportunities +for social experience are frequent. It is a matter for parental concern +if the farm boy be not able to return to his labors at the beginning of +each new day with freshness of spirits and overflowing energy. + + +THINK OUT A REASONABLE PLAN + +Finally, the farmer is urged to take up the matter for consideration +early and make out what seems a reasonable plan of relating the boy to +his work, and then to adhere persistently thereto. It has been charged +repeatedly that the typical well-to-do farmer works his wife and +children hard all day and until late bed time in the evening; that heavy +chores are piled upon the boys after they have already worked overtime +in the field; that they are routed out at four o'clock every morning, +when they go half asleep and moaning to their work again. + +If the foregoing accusation be at all true, its truth must certainly be +the result of carelessness and ignorance of human rights, and not +premeditative inhumanity and criminality as it seems to be! The reading +of good farm literature, together with some intensive study of books and +periodicals on the care and management of children--these will most +certainly prove corrective agencies of some of the abuses named herein. + + +REFERENCES + + Standards in Education. Arthur H. Chamberlain. Chapter III, + "Industrial Training: Its Aim and Scope." American Book + Company. + + Child Labor and the Republic. Homer Folks. National Child + Labor Committee, N.Y. + + Teaching the Boy to Work. (Pamphlet.) Wm. A. McKeever. + Published by the author, Manhattan, Kansas. + + Half Time at School and Half Time at Work. F. P. Stockbridge. + _World's Work_, April, 1911. An interesting experiment at the + University of Cincinnati. + + Care of the Child. Mrs. Burton Chance. Chapter X, "The + Awkward Age." Penn Publishing Company. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +_HOW MUCH WORK FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL_ + + +Imagine a wedding scene in a rural home. The only daughter, a young +woman of ideal age for marriage, is joining her heart and her hand, for +weal or for woe, to those of a young man of suitable character. But +strange and unexpected as it may seem, there are many tears on the part +of the immediate relatives of the girl. Her parents are manifesting the +strange emotion of solemnity at a time when gaiety might be expected. +Why is it? you ask. The whole situation has an interesting and inspiring +history. It is simply this: During all her years the parents of this +girl have watched her grow up, through infancy, childhood, maidenhood, +and finally into the full maturity of a woman; and every stage of her +growth has been carefully safe-guarded by them. They have made the home +life and the home work serve her needs and purposes in a most beautiful +and instructive manner. They seem to have attempted at all times to put +into their daughter's life just such experience as would become a +helpful part of her growing character. And what a reward! What a +splendid satisfaction to the worthy parents to be able to contribute to +society such a product of their affectionate care and training! + + +A BALANCED LIFE FOR THE GIRL + +Should we follow it out, the biography of the good young woman mentioned +above would teach many a valuable lesson to the parents of other +girls--would teach them that a growing girl has her specific needs and +her inherent rights, which must be provided for by her parents through +the proper kind of directing and caretaking. A certain amount of +restraint, of work, of play, of recreation, of social experiences, of +practice in self-dependence, of opportunity for service of others--yes, +a certain amount of all these things must be conscientiously supplied +for the life of the growing girl so that she may develop into a +well-rounded character. + +Parents are not accused of intentional wrong to their daughters. Such +cases are rare. The chief sins against the daughters of the rural homes +are the sins of neglect, of indifference, and of ignorance as to what +were necessary to be done. So what we may accomplish in this chapter is, +first to arouse parents to an appreciation of the seriousness of the +problem before them; and second, to offer some specific aids to the +better achievement of the task of bringing up a girl to the rural home. + +It is a well-established principle in plant propagation that certain +nutrient elements must be present in the soil before growth will go on +properly. It does not satisfy the needs of the plant for some of the +chemical substances to be present in large amount if the others be +absent. There must be a sort of balanced ration for the vegetable life. +Similarly in case of that tender plant of the household, the young girl; +she can be kept alive on work and study alone, but for beautiful and +symmetrical growth other elements of character-nourishment are +necessary. What are they? The reader is referred to Chapter I for a +general list. + +The hurry of work and the isolation of the ordinary country home tend to +foster an over-serious disposition in girls. There is too little to +provoke a smile and not half enough practice in smiling. Laughter is +also too infrequent. A boy may grow up habitually stern and sedate and +yet be able to fight his way through a successful manhood. But with the +girl it is different. Her habit of smiling and of being pleasant and +agreeable may prove to be one of her most valuable charms. So, the early +and continuous training of the girl in sociability must be considered +among the parental duties to her; and that by encouraging her to be +sociable at home and by providing that she have frequent companionship +with others of her age. + + +WORK BEGINS WITH OBEDIENCE + +One of the initial steps in the training of a child is that of securing +a willing obedience, a habitual performance of required tasks and +duties. It may prove an easy matter to drive the girl to the work. But +how about the problem of teaching her to take up her daily tasks +willingly and with a joyous heart? Girls are little different from boys +at this stage of their education. They do not take naturally and fondly +to work. They will slight and neglect it. Worse than that, if untrained +in faithfulness to household duties, they will lounge about the place or +run much in society and allow their mothers to work themselves slowly to +death--and scarcely seem to realize what is taking place. + +Similarly as in case of the boy, some forcing, some rebuke, and +occasional punishment will be necessary to initiate the girl into the +work habit. But shortly obedience and willingness will come, and with +them a deeper consciousness than is manifested in her young brother. +After that, the danger of over-work will soon begin to be apparent to +the watchful mother, and be guarded against. + +Habit formation is a prominent factor in the first lessons of obedience +in work. It will be highly advisable to start everything right. After a +few instances of slighting one kind of work or expending too much energy +upon another kind the young character begins to take on these faults +permanently. Many women scrub floors and wash dishes unto their death. +Others perform these endless tasks quite as well "in a jiffy" and go on +their way singing. Why is this? Is it not a matter which the mother +should think about most seriously in relation to the training of her +daughter? + + +WORKING THE GIRLS IN THE FIELD + +Is there any justification for requiring a girl to work in the field +with the men and boys? Many girls are doing so, whether required or not. +Careful consideration of the matter seems to bring out a few +suggestions. The farm girl while a child under ten years may accompany +the father or the brothers into the field and there be permitted to do +some light work occasionally, provided she regard it in a semi-playful +way. On very rare occasions, when older, she may be rightfully called on +to drive a rake for a day or take some similar part of the work in order +to help prevent the loss of a valuable crop. + +But the practice followed by some farmers, of often requiring their +daughters to do a man's work in the field, and excusing the fault with +the thought that it is for the sake of laying up wealth for her future +enjoyment--that is abominable and should be prohibited by law. Among +other objections, it is probably most hurtful to the young woman's pride +and self-respect to be forced to perform farm labor. And then, during +such time as she works in the field her much needed opportunities for +the practice of the womanly arts and refinements are slipping away. + +Of course we should not take away from the country-reared woman the +poetic sentiment about the days of her childhood when she helped rake +the hay and drive the cattle home, "just for fun." + + +SOME SPECIFIC SUGGESTIONS + +It is difficult, of course, to lay down specific rules here, because +every case is a special one. But nearly all intelligent parents can +easily determine whether or not they are fair to their girls. It would +seem reasonable that in addition to the affection and interest properly +bestowed upon her in the home, the daughter should have at least the +same measure of value--money value--put upon her work as is the rule +with the hired helper. Certainly no worthy parent would ask her to work +for a smaller sum. + +Too many of these good, promising girls are cramped and limited in their +lives until the self-pride is crushed well-nigh out of them. Often such +young women will be seen moping about in a stooped attitude of body, +stiff and awkward in their manners, lacking in self-confidence and in +that beautiful grace and ease of movement which mark the well-developed +young woman of twenty years. All of this is more or less indicative of +parental disregard and mistreatment--indicative that some one has +cheated her out of the time that should have been allowed for rest and +recreation and social improvement and given her in exchange an +over-amount of grinding toil and enforced seclusion--_all for the sake +of the work and the profits_. + +It is a singular fact that so many country mothers make no provision for +throwing extra safeguards around their young daughter during the monthly +period of physical drain and weakness. It could probably be shown that +her lowered vitality and the increased susceptibility to fatigue at this +time make almost complete rest and relaxation highly advisable. It is +also most probable that the strain of work and the exposure to inclement +weather, so often allowed during the monthly period, are the incipient +causes of life-long weakness and disease. + + +DO YOU OWN YOUR DAUGHTER? + +There are still not a few parents who are possessed of the old-fashioned +idea that their children belong to them, that they have a proprietary +right in their own sons and daughters. Just now there is thought of a +father who is intelligent, in many ways above the average man, but who +seems to regard his twenty-three-year-old daughter as a sort of chattel. +Being a widower, he needs her services, so he would employ her at the +least possible wages, or none, to take charge of the home, rear the two +or three smaller children, and cook and keep house for himself and three +or four hired men. The best excuse that may be offered for this man's +attitude toward his daughter is sheer ignorance of the true meaning of +the situation. But such treatment of a mature daughter is little short +of cruelty. This young woman should have every possible opportunity just +now to prepare herself for the future. Her conduct for the present may +even have the appearance of being somewhat selfish in order that her +future well-being and that of those dependent upon her may be +safe-guarded. + +Further details of the foregoing case need not be given. The issue to be +made out of it is this: The parent who is doing the fair and square +thing by his daughter not only trains her to work and then safeguards +her life against an over-amount of work, but he also sees to it that the +labor she performs is contributive to her enjoyment, to the +strengthening of her character, and to the perfection of her life for +the future. Parents are justified in using every possible means as +contributory to the future well-being of their growing daughters, and +all this for the sake of the generations yet unborn. Thus, perhaps +without realizing the fact at all, the former may return to the race +life that measure of assistance which they themselves received. + + +DIFFICULT TO MAKE A SCHEDULE + +It is difficult to make out a schedule of hours for the growing girl as +we did for the boy, but the former chapter may be taken as a general +guide. As with the boy, so with the girl, the first step in discipline +is that of securing a willing obedience. Then the tasks may be assigned +in accordance with the girl's age and strength. There is no good reason +for attempting to get work out of the child through a make-believe +policy of play. Children had better be made to understand from the first +that the world we live in is constructed largely through work; and that +labor is honorable and may even be made pleasurable. + +"I should rather do the work myself than be bothered with trying to get +the children to do it," is a very common expression, and one which +indicates an erroneous idea of the problem we are considering. So long +as parents put their children at the tasks merely for the sake of +getting the tasks done, the children will suffer as a consequence. But +if the thought of the child's need of the discipline coming from work be +uppermost, then, the results are likely to be wholesome. + + +TEACH THE GIRL SELF-SUPREMACY + +One of the greatest problems of the future of the race is involved in +the fact that many thousands of the best young women in the land--young +women who are well fitted to be the mothers of a better race of human +beings than we now have--are choosing an independent calling for +themselves. It is the author's belief that one of the most tragic +experiences known to any considerable portion of the American people +is this gradual starvation of the maternal instinct usually necessary in +the case of the well-sexed young woman of the class just mentioned. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXII. + +FIG. 29.--An industrial exhibit in a country school. If the boys and +girls could enjoy frequently the refining experience of having their +work observed by approving eyes, their appointed tasks would seem +lighter.] + +And yet much of this fatal choice of an independent vocation on the part +of many young women doubtless results from bad management of the growing +girl. In too many country homes especially, the work is complete master +of the housekeeper and not the converse, as the case should be. As a +result, thousands of good women who ought to be in the pink and prime of +life are going pathetically to the only rest which the conditions seem +to allow--the grave. It is an awful thing, this wreck of so many good +lives through over-work. Under such conditions, may we reasonably +censure the many young women who foresee such a fate as a possibility +for themselves and avoid it through choice of an unmarried life and +independent support? + +Girls are more readily enslaved to work than boys. It is comparatively +easy to teach a young woman to work, but it is an extremely difficult +matter to teach her when and how to quit work. Here, then, is the point +whereat we would center the attention of the parents of the country +girl. Make her mistress of her work. Develop in her by actual concrete +lessons the ability to stop and rest or take recreation at the necessary +time, even though the work be not half done. + + +SUMMARY + +1. Give the girl a trifling daily task at four or five years of age, +merely for the sake of discipline. See to it, however, that her young +life be occupied chiefly in play and enjoyment and outdoor recreation. + +2. Gradually increase the amount of work required, but always with an +eye single to the girl's physical growth and character-development. Some +definite thing to do as a regular daily requirement will prove most +helpful. + +3. Continue throughout the daughter's growing years to provide for her +pleasure. Her schooling, her personal belongings, her social advantages, +and the like, must all be made to serve the purpose of making her life +in the home a happy one. As she grows in strength and years, she will +assume the increased amount of work with willingness and even with +pleasure, provided the assigned duties be vitally related to her present +purposes and her life interests. + +4. Moreover, country parents must learn to think of themselves as first +of all engaged in bringing up their children for a better human society; +and secondly, as engaged in farming and housekeeping. If this point of +view be held to persistently, the crops may often suffer and the +housework frequently remain unfinished, but the vital interests of the +boys and girls will continue ever to be served. + +5. Finally, let us continue to appreciate the value of outings and +vacations as potent factors in relieving the drudgery of work about the +country household. Women's work in the country home naturally calls for +much isolation and seclusion. The pre-adolescent girl should be taken +out of the farm home once or twice per week during the summer vacation. +It is good for her to go with her mother to the town market and to the +women's club meetings. As soon as she enters young womanhood, a square +deal for the girl who helps in the home will call for a weekly outing of +some kind and a careful provision for her social needs. All of this +outside intercourse will serve to quicken the body and the intellect of +the girl as she goes daily about the household duties, and to give her + + "Thoughts that on easy pinions rise + And hopes that soar aloft to the skies." + + +REFERENCES + + The author has been able to find little printed matter of + worth on the important problems outlined in this chapter. The + industrial training of the country girl is a neglected + subject. It seems to have been taken for granted that she + needed none. + + Sex and Society. W. I. Thomas, pp. 149-175, "Sex and + Primitive Industry." University of Chicago Press. Shows in + outline the emancipation of women from the bondage of work. + + Growth and Education. John M. Tyler. Chapter XII, "Manual + Training Needed for Girls." Houghton Mifflin Company. + + Mind and Work. Dr. L. H. Gulick. Chapter II, "The Habit of + Success"; also Chapter XIII, "The Need of Adequate Work." + Doubleday, Page Company. + + Motive for Work. Margaret E. Schallenbeyer. Annual Report + N.E.A. 1907. + + _Wallaces' Farmer._ Des Moines, Iowa. Weekly. This periodical + prints many articles, editorial and contributed, which + discuss the subjects treated in the foregoing chapter. + + The Mother of the Living. Mrs. Catherine Barton. Published by + the Author. Kansas City, Mo. + + The Girl Wanted. Nixon Waterman. Chapter VIII, "The Purpose + of Life." Forbes & Co., Chicago. + + Life's Day. William L. Bainbridge, M.D. Chapter VIII, "The + Irresponsible Age." Frederic A. Stokes Company. N.Y. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +_SOCIAL TRAINING FOR FARM BOYS AND GIRLS_ + + +We have been exceedingly slow in realizing the social needs of our +children, in the usual instance depending on chance conditions to +determine the matter for us. The city and the rural communities present +a striking contrast in this respect. It does not seem possible that both +can be right, while there is much to support the opinion that both are +wrong. That is to say, in the city community the majority of the +children are allowed to spend too much time in the company of others. As +a result, they take on social manners and customs in a mere formal way +and by far too early for the good of their character-development. The +city ripens young life too fast. It produces the manners and refinements +of adult life before the child becomes matured mentally. In the ordinary +rural community there is not enough social experience for the young; and +hence, a certain amount of crudeness, awkwardness, and lack of +refinement tend to linger permanently in the character. + + +A HAPPY MEAN IS NEEDED + +What seems necessary, therefore, is the establishment of a social life +which will be a compromise between the excess of the city and the +deficit of the country. So far as can be learned, very little has been +achieved in the matter of establishing just such a social order in the +rural communities as will tend to develop the lives of the boys and +girls in an ideal, symmetrical way. We may not feel very certain as to +just how this ideal juvenile society should be constructed. +Nevertheless, an attempt will be made to sketch in this chapter a +working plan therefor. Some may see fit to adapt it, while others may +improve it through practice. + +What especially needs to be thought of in the development of any normal +young life is the problem of rounding out the character on all sides. +There are certain fundamental character-forming experiences and +disciplines, such as work, play, recreation, and social intercourse. +Many parents seem to be possessed of the idea that they can develop +their children through play and social training alone. Others seem to +believe that hard work and plenty of it is all that is necessary for the +development of a substantial character in the young. Still others appear +to allow their boys and girls to roam at will and to indulge them only +in the recreative experiences. But how indefensible the idea that anyone +should try to find permanent joy and satisfaction through recreative +experiences without first having had as their counterpart the experience +of work and the responsibilities that pertain thereto! + +So, again, it may be contended that there is a happy mean between the +over-work and the absence of social experience so common in the farming +communities and the lack of work and the extreme social excitement that +so often obtains in the life of the city child. + + +A SOCIAL RENAISSANCE IN THE COUNTRY + +There is becoming more and more apparent the necessity of not only a +revival of the social life in the country, but also the demand for its +reconstruction. It is especially to be desired that the reorganization +be effected under the guidance of sound principles of psychology and +sociology. That is, it must be based on the fundamental fact of the sex +instinct so prominent during the adolescent period, and the further fact +of the imperative demand at this time for a large amount of social +intercourse. How differently this point of view persistently held will +shape the matter as compared with the older ideal of merely "giving the +young folks a good time"! Yes, the social life of adolescent boys and +girls has its source in the sex instinct then so predominant. It is not +therefore to be viewed as a piece of superficial sentimentality, but +rather as a profound law of nature. + +As suggested by two or three of the preceding chapters, there may be +organized a social center in the church, or other such centers may +develop independently through the leadership of some mature persons. But +instances of this class of effective organization are as yet few and +far between. Meanwhile, the young are growing up and their present +social needs are very pressing. Individual farmers cannot wait for +neighborhood movements; and so the parents of the children requiring the +social life must themselves take the initiative in the matter. + + +CONDITIONS TO GUARD AGAINST + +Before proceeding to a detailed outline of various plans for supplying +the social needs of rural young people, it may be well to point out a +few of the pitfalls to be guarded against. In reference to the latter, +it is not the purpose to advise parents to try to place their children +in an exclusive social set. Far from that. The purpose is rather the +converse; namely, to urge parents to attempt to build up good, clean +characters in their boys and girls and yet permit the latter to mingle +freely with common humanity. An aristocracy in the towns and cities is +bad enough and a thing wholly out of harmony with the best and highest +interpretation of our national life; but an aristocracy in the country +neighborhood is an abomination. + +But while the so-called best families must think of their young as +growing members of the entire social community and not as belonging to +an exclusive set, there is nevertheless great need of constant +watchfulness in respect to certain evils that always threaten the lives +of farmers' sons and daughters. + +1. _The social companionships of girls._--Of course it must be admitted +that there is frequently present in the country neighborhood some vile +or wicked young character whose influence is very pernicious. On one +occasion this person may appear in the guise of an exemplary young man, +smooth in manners, stylishly dressed, and apparently interested in the +best affairs. But as a matter of fact, he may be secretly an agent for +some infamous institution in the city. The records show that thousands +of country girls have been enticed away to the cities by such characters +only to meet an untimely and awful fate. The parents of the country girl +should therefore know who the young man is with whom she keeps company. +Usually it is a comparatively easy matter to test his worth. If he have +no fixed local attachment in a home, and no permanent business relations +in the community, he may be regarded with suspicion at least, and may be +compelled to furnish evidence of his moral integrity. + +Another type of the young country man unworthy of the company and +companionship of the young woman is the one who is known by the men of +the community as being habituated to the use of vile and indecent +language, or to the practice of drinking intoxicants. If such be among +his known characteristics, the evidence is decidedly unfavorable, making +him unsuitable as a social companion of the country girl. It is +reasonable to predict that he will never change his ways very +radically, and especially that he will not develop into a desirable life +companion for the daughter. Some good parents make the fatal blunder of +allowing their girl to keep company with such a coarse-grained young man +simply because he is so "good hearted," and "means well," and the like. +To say the least, a depraved social taste will gradually develop in the +girl's life if she continue in such company. + +Another contamination for the country girl sometimes results from the +depraved young woman who has drifted into the neighborhood. The girl +herself will be in the best position to detect such a type, as the +latter will be marked by her coarse manners when in the presence of the +girls, and by her practice of discussing obscene matters in private +conversation with them. This is the situation in which the innocent +young girl's mind may become forever poisoned and her wholesome faith in +humanity entirely too much unsettled. + +2. _Bad companionships for boys._ Similar warnings as those given above +need to be sounded with reference to the young country boys, and others +as well. Farm boys are necessarily much in the company of men of very +common tastes and low ideals. They hear not a little evil conversation +and profanity, as it is used by such men. As a result, there will be +need of much constructive teaching at home. Admonitions, warnings, and +advice will be necessary. + +In every instance it is well for the parents to remind the boy of the +great interest they have in his welfare, of how deeply he may grieve +them by taking up any of the evil practices in question, and of the high +ideal which they hold in mind for his future. + +Farm parents will need to keep up an intimate and frank exchange of +ideas with their youthful son on the general subjects discussed in this +chapter. They may ask him to repeat all he has heard and to relate all +he has seen, good and bad, they then offering their corrections and +admonitions. The especial danger is that the boy may acquire evil forms +of speech, pernicious ideas for his secret thoughts, and a too low +estimate of the worth of humanity. The vile companion is especially +inclined to make the youth believe that there is no purity of character +among girls and women--a most lamentable state of mind for a boy or a +man of any age. + +The boy in the country is not only very much in danger of having his +mind contaminated by the evil speech and the evil misinformation +mentioned above, but there is always the possibility of his being +enticed by some older and depraved companion into the company of evil +women. Strange to say, there are a few men who seem to plan deliberately +this form of downfall for innocent boys and to regard the success of +their vile plot in the light of a mere joke. It is perhaps a fault of +society that such men are permitted to run at large. And it is +especially the fault of fathers if such men keep company with their +boys. No matter how excellent the family history, how well-born the boy +may be, and how carefully he has been admonished, there is always some +danger of his yielding to an evil sex temptation--a situation which the +parent should always be watchful about and ready to meet. + +3. _Secret sex habits._--It is probable that country boys are more prone +to secret perversions of their sex life than are city boys. The enforced +solitude of the former and the increased opportunities for such secret +evil may be accountable for the difference. In any event, there is +necessity of constant watchfulness, and that especially until the son +has reached comparative maturity of the physical body. The danger is at +its height at the beginning of the adolescent period, fourteen to +sixteen years of age. But the preparation for meeting the possible sex +perversion should be begun very early and consist in frank talks and +admonitions. The small boy's questions about the origin of life must be +answered frankly but only to the extent of imparting to him enough +information to satisfy his present curiosity. Thus to satisfy his +childish curiosity will prove a means of counteracting the evil +influences of the bad companionships referred to above. Then, the youth +needs to be shown some instances of the ruinous effects of sex +perversion in boys and men, together with the inculcation of the idea +that any such evil practice will cut off the possibility of his +realizing the high standards of moral character set for him. It is well +also to remember that prevention of the boy's misuse of his sex life is +comparatively easy and that cure is extremely difficult. + +4. _The so-called bad habits._--When we speak of the "bad habits" among +boys and men we are inclined to think of swearing, smoking, and the use +of intoxicants. Without thought of defending the practice of profanity, +we may say that it is often acquired in an innocent fashion and that it +ordinarily implies no conscious or intentional evil. That is, it is +usually not so bad in its actual analysis as it sounds to the listener. +Moreover, it is a habit which many boys take up and afterwards +discontinue when once they have set up for themselves high standards of +manliness. + +With juvenile smoking the case is different. Without the thought of +offending the adult smoker or defending adult smoking, we may say with a +high degree of certainty that the use of tobacco is extremely hurtful to +growing boys. It weakens and deranges the organic processes, leaves its +deleterious effects in the throat, eyes, and lungs, and breaks down the +natural constitutional defense so essential in time of such diseases as +pneumonia and typhoid fever. On the mental side, tobacco lessens the +boy's ability to study. Very wide investigations have shown that the +habitual smokers among school boys rank low in scholarship; that they +are prone to fail in their classes and quit the schools; that almost +none of them take high rank as students. The moral effects are even +worse. In times of temptation the young boy who smokes is more inclined +to yield and to choose the worse form of conduct instead of the better. +He lacks especially that fine sense of inner worth so necessary for the +one who would succeed in arousing his own moral courage sufficiently to +withstand the temptations that naturally beset young life. The rural +parents will not of course despair about the boy or turn against him +should they discover that he has secretly become confirmed in the use of +tobacco. There are still possibilities of his development into a +substantial character; but because of his smoking the problem becomes a +much more involved and difficult one. + +All that has just been said in reference to tobacco may be emphasized +many fold in respect to intoxicants. To allow a growing boy to begin the +use of intoxicating drink in any form seems to be wholly indefensible. +However, if there are open saloons in the adjoining town or city, even +the best country boys are always somewhat in danger of taking the first +false step. Rural parents must not be satisfied with the thought that +their boy is "too good" to take up such a thing; they must be assured +that he is not doing so. Now, the only way to obtain such assurance is +by means of keeping in intimate touch with the boy and his +movements--by knowing when and where he goes, why he goes there, and +whom he meets in the various places visited on his rounds. Thus, he may +be saved from a life of debauch and degradation, and that by means of +providing carefully that he reach his full maturity of mind and body +without any knowledge of the taste of intoxicating drinks. + + +A CENTER OF COMMUNITY LIFE + +As explained in a number of preceding chapters, there are being carried +out several plans for bringing about a social awakening in the farm +districts. Some of these are succeeding admirably, especially the county +Y.M.C.A., and in a few instances the rural church. But presumably there +are many thousands of country districts wherein these helpful agencies +will not be found for many years to come. So, in the following lines +there will be an attempt to furnish detailed methods and suggestions to +rural parents who are under the necessity of assisting their own +children in a social way. The discussion thus far has been of a somewhat +destructive order. Now, something of a constructive nature will be +offered. + +The first essential in the awakening of a clean social life for the +young is a center of effort. If there be no church or clubhouse of any +kind within easy access of all, then the farm home may be made use of +for this service. There are many advantages in the common country home +as a social center for the young, among them being the probable presence +of some sympathetic parent to offer guidance and to keep down unbecoming +conduct. + + +INVITE THE YOUNG TO THE HOUSE + +So, if country parents are really in earnest about doing something to +develop their own children in a social way, let them throw open their +own homes for the purpose. In a certain Iowa home this thing was done in +an admirable manner. Let the father tell the story in his own +language:-- + +"For years we had a room in the house which we called the 'parlor.' It +contained some expensive furniture which the members of the family +scarcely ever saw, as the place was usually kept closed up and dark. Why +we reserved such a dark, musty room for the 'special company' that came +two or three times each year, I do not know. At any rate, we decided to +make the place useful. In remodeling the house we enlarged it to 16 by +20 feet in size and added one very large window. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIII. + +FIG. 30.--An agricultural and domestic science club in Oklahoma. Without +being so named, it is also distinctively a social club, and a splendid +socializing and refining agency.] + +"Here we made a society room for the young people of the neighborhood. +Extra chairs were obtained, also a large new stove and fixtures for +gaslights. There were also some simple wall decorations and a small +library and reading table. That was two years ago. Since then our two +boys and two girls have given many parties in that room and no one +has got more enjoyment out of the affairs than their parents. We feel +as if that room was the best investment we ever made." + +Not nearly all anxious parents may be so situated as to follow the +excellent plan described above, but it is certainly worthy of a trial by +all who can avail themselves of its benefits. Best of all, the young +people in whose behalf this thoughtful endeavor is put forth will most +certainly grow to maturity confirmed in the belief that the country life +is not lacking in its social enjoyments. + + +HOW TO CONDUCT A SOCIAL ENTERTAINMENT + +In giving a social entertainment to the young people of the country, +there are a few simple yet common matters to be observed. First of all, +there is the frequent tendency toward reticence or backwardness. It will +be remembered, of course, that the object of the occasion is not merely +passing amusement for the young, but also that of furnishing some means +of character-development. In fact, the author wishes that every chapter +of this book be thought of as contributing something toward the building +up of young lives. So, in case of the home party, it will be necessary +to see that every one present takes some active part. The bashful youth +who is merely permitted to sit by and look on will go home secretly +displeased, if not much pained, at his own backwardness. He may even +fail to appear again on such an occasion, and thus the availability of +a most helpful agency be permanently lost to him. + +It is not therefore so much a question of the dignity and importance of +the games played as it is a question of the active engagement of every +one present in the amusements. Much will depend on leadership. An able +leader will have the group organized before the several members realize +what is being done. An expert student and director of young people was +seen on a certain occasion to take charge of a party of forty boys and +girls ranging in age from fifteen to twenty years. These were quickly +placed standing in two parallel lines of twenty each. Each side was +given a dish of unhulled peanuts and asked to engage in a contest of +passing the nuts down the line one at a time, from hand to hand, the one +at the farther end of the line placing the nuts in a receptacle. This +simple game "broke the ice" for the entire evening. After that it was +easy to keep the entertainment going. + +The supervisor of the social affair is advised to discourage all games +that tend to an over-amount of silliness and that allow for undue +familiarity of the sexes. There is, however, a dignified form of fun and +merriment quite as enjoyable as the baser sort. And, too, the leader of +the evening need not be reminded of the many little opportunities for +inculcating wholesome lessons in dignified manners. Many a "green" and +awkward country youth is started on the way to salvation through the +courteous treatment he receives from some older and much respected +person. Simply to treat him as if he were a dignified young gentleman +amounts to inciting him to put forth his greatest effort to make a show +of manliness. A close student of young nature will often observe that +merely to address such a youth as "Mister" So-and-So causes him to +straighten up and try to look the part. + +The hostess and guide at the rural party of young people will err not a +little if she feels under the necessity of preparing a banquet or even a +heavy luncheon for the occasion. Something as simple as a light drink +and a wafer or two will be quite enough. The object of the refreshments +is not merely to feed the young people to the point of stupefaction, but +rather to give physical tone to support the vivacity of all. + + +WHAT ABOUT THE COUNTRY DANCE + +Unless the country dance can be radically reformed, it must be very +strongly advised against. There is something about this occasion as +usually conducted which seems to invite coarse characters and +disreputable conduct. The country dance has so often been the scene of +vice, drunkenness, and other such evils as to have received a permanent +stigma of cheapness. The only seeming possibility of making a success of +it is by the method of inviting a very exclusive set to attend, and this +thing is so suggestive of aristocracy and snobbishness as to cause not +a little ill feeling in the neighborhood. Under present conditions the +country dance cannot be so managed as to make it contribute to the +social and moral uplift of country young people. There are many better +forms of entertainment which may be substituted for it. + +Along with the country dance should be rated the cheap professional +entertainments that are so often given in the country school houses. +Many of these are not only degrading but are morally evil in their +suggestions, while they tend to give the young a depraved taste in +respect to public shows and theaters. The school trustees may well +exclude all such "shows" from the building. + + +ADDITIONAL FORMS OF ENTERTAINMENT + +The farm parents most desirous of leading in the young people's +entertainments, and best fitted to do so, may find it impracticable to +invite the young into their home. In such case, there are several other +ways whereby the desired ends may be achieved. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIV. + +FIG. 31.--A rural scene in Canada, where the church and the school are +situated together. The large barn in the background is significant. Much +of the daily thought and conversation is centered here.] + +1. _The social hour at the religious services._--It is deemed quite +advisable that those who plan the religious service in the country have +thought of a social hour in connection therewith. The latter may prove +fully as helpful in a constructive sense as the former, and it can in no +wise detract from the value of the religious meeting. This combination +of events is already being successfully tried in a number of places. +For example, at the mid-week evening service, there is given first an +hour to the prayer meeting or the discussion of the religious topics and +the church work. After that, the scene is changed into one of clean, +wholesome amusement with the special thought of giving the young people +social entertainment and training. It has been found that this very +method of uniting the religious and social service under a carefully +planned program sometimes more than doubles the attendance. Of course +the first essential for the success of such a meeting is that an able +leader be in charge of it. + +2. _A country literary society._--In times gone by the country literary +society has played a mighty part indirectly in the building of the +nation. Many a statesman or leader of the people has received his first +aid and inspiration at the little old country "literary and debating +society." There is no good reason why this same general form of society +might not continue to do its effective work. However, in its best form, +there will be some additions to the old procedure of merely debating the +important public questions. The program makers may well have in mind the +ideal of bringing out every form of talent latent among the young of the +community. It is especially advisable that every young attendant be +given an invitation to do the part of which he is most capable, and that +he be urged to do it. It is quite possible to arrange a program upon +which only the ablest and most capable young persons of the neighborhood +may appear. But such would be a violation of the best purpose of the +society; namely, not merely to provide a first-class entertainment, but +an entertainment _which shall bring out the greatest possible variety of +talent and awaken interest and enthusiasm on the part of every member_. + +Then, let the motto of the ideal country literary society be, "Something +worth while for every member to do." The old-fashioned country society, +like the older public school, was too narrow. It touched life and +awakened interests in only a few places. The old school tested a boy in +the three R's and geography. If he did well in these, he was "smart." If +he failed in the traditional subjects, he was branded as a dullard and +crowded out of the school, although in respect to some other untested +activities he may have been a slumbering genius. So with the primitive +"literary and debating society"; debating and "speaking pieces" were +practically the only numbers on the program and usually only the ablest +were allowed to appear. Ordinary talent in debating and reciting and all +manner of promising talent in other lines was allowed to slumber on in +the lives of many of the young people in attendance. Now, it is +practically a certainty that every member of the young literary society +can perform a part very acceptably, provided the discerning leader know +what that part is. And best of all, the bringing out of such talent +means the awakening of many other splendid interests among the youthful +members of the community, and finally the development of moral courage +and other forms of manliness and womanliness. + +Now, to come to the point of a social result, the so-called literary +entertainment can easily be made up in two parts, the literary and the +social; and there should be set apart an hour for the latter. + +3. _The social side of the economic clubs._--In many instances, there +will be organized boys' corn-raising or crop-improvement clubs, and with +them country clubs of the girls interested in household economy. These +club meetings may be made the occasion of not a little social +improvement. The boys and girls may meet at the same hour and place, and +after the business has been disposed of there may be a coming together +in a social way. Such arrangement is highly advisable for two reasons. +First, it will certainly increase the membership of the clubs; and, +second, the social instincts of the young people may be suitably +indulged. + + +SOME CONCLUDING SUGGESTIONS + +The leader interested in the foregoing plans may again be reminded of +the necessity of instituting a social organization of such a nature as +to touch all the young lives in the neighborhood. The rules and +regulations governing the society should therefore be drawn on broad +and liberal lines, not forgetting the great possibilities of awakening +slumbering interests and aptitudes, and of building up a social +community that will draw young people to it. + +If one will take the time to drive for a hundred miles in a direct line +through the farm districts, as the author has done, he will be not a +little surprised at the striking contrast in the social conditions of +the various neighborhoods passed through. In one instance he will be +told that there is absolutely nothing present to invite the young--a +dull, dead place with perhaps many run-down farms and farm homes to keep +it company. He will learn that the young people of such a community are +running off to some neighboring town where many of them find a cheap and +degrading class of entertainment. But the next adjoining neighborhood +may present a converse situation. One will be told that the young people +are happy and contented there, that they have frequent meetings of their +social clubs and other forms of organization; most probably the +appearance of the neighborhood will be likewise much better than that of +the other one mentioned. Attractive homes, well-kept roads and hedges, +and other evidences of prosperity will meet one's view. + +In one district visited, the author found that this better situation had +an interesting history and that it was nearly all traceable to a quarter +of a century of public-spiritedness of one man. This resident had +settled upon a quarter section of good land. While he was reconstructing +his own home and its surroundings into a place of attractiveness, he was +continually engaged in awakening the entire neighborhood in behalf of +better things. He had led out in establishing a well-attended Sunday +school in the district, had been instrumental in instituting regular +preaching service there twice each month, had led the entire +neighborhood out on more than one occasion for a day's work in improving +and beautifying the school grounds, had been the organizer and director +of the country literary society, and of more than one club of farmers +and their wives. During all this time he was correspondent for one or +two county papers and used every occasion for advertising the home +community. All together, it was a most commendable and far-reaching +service which this one man performed for his own neighborhood. So, it +may be said that wherever there is one inspired leader in a country +community, there is life. + +Finally, it may be urged that the biggest thing in the rural community +is not the big crop of corn or wheat or the excellent breeds of live +stock. Important as these things are, the great concern of the community +should be the development of sterling character in the lives of the +growing boys and girls and the cleanness and integrity of the +personalities of every one within the neighborhood limits. To that end +let this social center ideal be actualized, becoming a place toward +which the thoughts of all will go frequently and fondly during the hours +of care and toil. Let it be made a place the thought of which will +forever impart a full measure of good cheer, of contentment, and of +honest courage to the mind of every member of the society thereabout. +Let it be a place so ordered and arranged that things sacred and divine +may reach down to the things often thought of as very commonplace and +mean, and exalt the latter to their true and proper place. Lastly, let +it be earnestly desired and planned for that every heart in the rural +district shall be rekindled with a living fire of enthusiasm in behalf +of the general improvement--of interest in the things that are high and +divine, and of affection and good will toward all in the community. Let +some local resident rise up as leader and bring this order of things to +pass, and the social experiences of the young people will naturally +become of such a nature as to develop them into men and women of great +worth and efficiency. + + +REFERENCES + + Wider Use of the School Plant. Clarence Arthur Perry. Chapter + IX, "Social Centers." Charities Publication Committee, N.Y. + + Chapters on Rural Progress. Kenyon L. Butterfield. Chapter + XIV, "The Social Side of the Farm Question." University of + Chicago Press. + + Development and Education. M. V. O'Shea. Chapter XIV, + "Problems of Training." Houghton, Mifflin Company. + + Social Control. Edward A. Ross. Ph.D. Chapters VII and VIII, + "The Need and Direction of Social Control." Macmillan. + + The Girl Wanted. Nixon Waterman. Forbes & Co., Chicago. A + wholesome and cheering book for girls. + + Confidences. Edith B. F. Lowry, M.D. Forbes & Co. Plain, + helpful talks regarding the sex life of girls. + + See the excellent editorial article, "Forces that Move + Upward," _Farmer's Voice_, June 15, 1911. + + Causes of Delinquency Among Girls. Falconer. _Annals American + Academy_. Vol. 36, p. 77. + + Democracy and Education. Dr. J. B. Storms. Annual Volume + N.E.A., 1907, p. 62. + + The Efficient Life. Dr. L. H. Gulick. Chapter III, "Life That + is Worth While." Doubleday, Page Company. + + The Ideals of a Country Boy. A. D. Holloway in _Rural + Manhood_, May, 1910. + + Why Not Education on the Sex Question. Editorial article. + _Review of Reviews_, January, 1910. + + Report of Vice Commission of Chicago. Chapter V, "Child + Protection and Education." Guntorf-Warren Printing Co., + Chicago. + + The Spirit of Democracy. Charles Fletcher Dole. Chapter XXIX, + "The Education for a Democracy." Crowell & Co. + + The Education of the Boy of To-morrow. A. D. Dean. _World's + Work_, April, 1911. Prize essay. + + College and the Rural Districts. W. N. Stearns. _Education_, + April, 1911. + + The Boy Problem. Educational pamphlet No. 4. Society for + Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis, N.Y. 10 cents. Treats ably + the question of social purity. + + Genesis. A Manual for Instruction of Children in Matters of + Sex. B. S. Talmey, M.D. Practitioners' Publishing Company, + N.Y. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +_THE FARM BOY'S INTEREST IN THE BUSINESS_ + + +The theory that the boys and girls who grow up in the country must in +time become settled in farm homes of their own has neither logic nor +psychology nor common sense to support it. It is never a question of +whether or not a boy will take up the work of his father, but whether or +not he will find at length the true and only calling for which his +nature is best fitted. If the parents of the country boy will keep the +latter question clearly in mind, many a problem in the latter's rearing +will be made much easier. + +In order to break the monotony of the style of expression, much of this +chapter will be addressed somewhat directly to the father of the country +boy. + + +WHAT IS IN YOUR BOY? + +If a man should come suddenly into possession of a piece of land having +a productive soil, one of his first questions in regard to the soil +would be, What will it best grow? Farmers blundered and starved along +for generations in an attempt to make a first-class farm produce the +wrong crops, or to produce the right crop through the wrong manner of +treatment; and this simply because they used methods of tradition and +guess rather than those of science. + +Now apply the foregoing situation to the boy problem, if you will. So +long as we attempt to secure from him the wrong results and deal with +him by wrong methods, we are likely to conclude that there is "nothing +in him." Therefore, in order to act intelligently and helpfully in the +matter of giving the young son a business relation to farm life, it is +first necessary to determine, as far as may be possible, the bent of his +mind, remembering that the great artist, the great writer, or the great +captain of industry is just as likely to be born in the country home as +elsewhere. In fact, we shall learn in time, much to our advantage, that +there must be a careful sifting process which will result in sending +some of the country-bred young men directly to their important places in +the city, and some of the city-bred youths to the rural industries. + + +MUCH EXPERIMENTATION NECESSARY + +The one who undertakes to develop a boy's interest in business affairs +has really before him a problem in experimental psychology. Many of the +youth's best aptitudes are necessarily still slumbering and unknown to +either himself or others. The fundamental steps preparatory for a +successful commercial venture on the part of a young man are +comparatively few but none of them can safely be omitted. They are as +follows:-- + +1. _Willingness to work._--In this connection, perhaps something will be +recalled from Chapter IX. We may at least be reminded of the difference +in the attitude of mind of the boy who regards labor as a painful +necessity and the one who enjoys a willingness to work. So long as the +youth feels as if he were driven to his tasks there is little hope of +arousing his interest in the business side of it. His mind will continue +too much on the problem of avoiding work and on ways and means by which +to get something for nothing. + +There is probably a period of dishonesty in the life of every normal +youth. Following the dawn of adolescence there is a great wave of new +interest and new meaning coming to him out of the business and social +world. The world is so full of interesting enticements. Everything looks +to be good and within easy reach. He is especially prone to accept +material things at their advertised value. He spends his dimes for prize +boxes thought to contain gold rings and other such finery. His quarters +and half dollars frequently go in payment for the "valuable" things +offered "free for the price of the transportation," the purpose of this +tempting gift being "simply for the sake of introducing the goods." + +But it is well to see the boy safe through this period of allurement. So +long as the world seems to hold out so many highly valued things which +may be had for a trifle the youth will see little need of his working +to obtain them. So, attend him in his efforts to get something for +nothing. Permit him to be stung a few times and thus teach him how and +where to look for the sting. Finally, impress him with the thought that +every material thing worth while represents the price of somebody's +honest labor. At length he will see the reasonableness of industry and +settle down with a purpose of making his way through life by means of +honest endeavor. You now have the youth so far on his way to successful +business undertaking. + +2. _Ability to save._--All healthy boys are naturally inclined to be +spendthrifts. Saving a part of one's means is a fine art acquired only +through judicious practice. It is assumed that the young son is being +reasonably paid for certain required tasks. So the next duty is to see +that he saves a part of his earnings. For the purpose of this training +in saving, a toy bank may be procured; or he may be directed in +depositing a small weekly sum in a penny savings bank. Still another way +is to teach him to keep a book account of his earnings, giving him +due-bills for the amounts withheld from his wages. + +There is one small business practice, the importance of which for the +boy is too frequently overlooked; that is, the practice of carrying a +small amount of change in his pocket. He must learn to use his money +thoughtfully and not merely on every occasion of his being allowed to +have it. He must acquire the habit of self-restraint in the use of +money. To do this is to learn to spend judiciously. To have reached this +stage of financial training is a sufficient guarantee that the youth is +proceeding well on his way toward success in business enterprise. + + +START ON A SMALL SCALE + +Then, give your growing son as wide a variety of experience in work and +in watching business affairs as the situation will permit of. During the +process of this mental growth help him to make a small investment in +something that will grow and increase under his intelligent care. Let us +assume that your specialty is a certain strain of corn or a certain +breed of cattle. If the boy shows an interest in this matter, start him +in at an early age, say ten to fourteen, on his own account. Give him in +exchange for his work a small plot of ground on which to grow corn, +perhaps with a view to his later entering the boys' contest for a prize. +Or, help him to get a small beginning in the cattle business. + +But in case the lad shows no interest in your business, do not let the +matter seriously trouble you for a moment. Simply continue to give him +his general education, including the best school course available and a +training in the performance of work as well as the judicious use of the +spending money that may come into his hands. Careful study of the boy +may indicate to you that his aptitude for business runs in the +direction of something to which you are giving little or no attention +but to which you may in time bring him. + +There is the case of a successful wheat raiser who discovered his son's +fondness for thoroughbred cattle. So the boy was carefully started on a +small scale in the business of raising short-horns. To-day that son is +known far and wide as an able specialist in this line of stock breeding. +Now, if the father in this case had done as thousands of other farmers +are still doing; namely, if he had attempted to force the boy, against +the latter's natural inclination, to take up wheat raising or any other +undesirable business, then, the son would have most probably skipped off +for the city and secured a fourth-rate place for the mere wages it would +bring. Some day this tragic, oft-repeated story of mismanagement and +misdirection of the growing boy will come out in all its distressing +details. + + +GIVE YOUR SON A SQUARE DEAL + +Deal with your young son on business principles from the beginning. Do +not hastily and unwisely give him a piece of property that will have to +be taken from him in the future because of its having grown into a +disproportionate value. This old form of mistreatment of the country boy +has been the means of thwarting the business integrity of many a +promising youth. + +If the boy's small beginning develops under his care into a business of +large proportions, the only check or hindrance that the ethics of the +case will allow is that you treat with him on fair business terms, just +as you would with any good business man. You may cause him to bear all +his own personal expenses and all the expense connected with the care +and development of his live stock or crop. Then the matter of curtailing +him must stop. And if the son soon becomes able to buy you out, it is +certainly an affair to be proud of, not a thing to hinder by unfair +means. + + +KEEP THE BOY'S PERFECT GOOD WILL + +It is a serious matter to lose the boy's confidence or in any way break +faith with him, even though there be nothing about the place in which +you can make him take a business interest. As he grows to maturity his +own inner nature must gradually guide him into the way of a calling--and +a divine calling at that it may prove to be. It may not seem out of +place to quote the words of a religious teacher who says: "Do you not +know that if one's inner nature points out clearly and inspiringly what +he should undertake for a life work, such thing may be regarded as the +Voice of the Divine One speaking faithfully through the instrumentality +of one of his own creatures?" + +So it may prove at length that you will have to sell a load of corn in +order to set up in the garret of your house a miniature art studio of +some kind for your young son. Or, perhaps you may have to establish a +small machine shop as an adjunct to the barn or wood shed, wherein the +budding genius may blossom into that beauty of manly power and +efficiency which all the world is glad to admire. Out of just such a +wise indulgence as that last named a certain Kansas boy finally became +enabled to revolutionize the old farm home and the work done there +through the installation of an excellent motor power plant. Electric +light for the house and barn, power for operating feed grinder, washing +machine, grindstone, fanning mill, and many other such machines--all +this has resulted from the rightly directed work of a youth who could +have easily been driven to the city into some treadmill of mere wage +earning. + +But, occasionally the boy will prove himself a versatile character, +succeeding in a measure in every line of small business to which you +introduce him, yet showing a marked success in none. In such case the +advisable thing to do is to continue his general education for a longer +period than is necessary for the boy who shows an early inclination +toward a given line of work. + + +SOME WILL BE RETAINED ON THE FARM + +It is admittedly desirable, all things fairly considered, that many of +the very best boys remain on the farm and help develop rural life into +what it should be. Hence the necessity of finding a way to interest such +boys in some of the many business affairs connected with the farm home. +Perhaps there is no better way to develop the lad's interest in the +affairs of the place than that of allowing him to participate in the +practical business transactions as the conditions may allow. Let the +parents take him to the store, the bank, and other such places for the +benefit of his experience. Send him in with the produce with authority +to sell and to invest a part of the proceeds in whatever the family may +need. The father should have the boy with him when selecting and buying +machinery or live stock at public sales. Send him to the bank with +checks or drafts to be deposited or collected. Give him an opportunity +to keep the family accounts, or at least to keep his own recorded in a +book. + +The ordinary farmer can think of more ways than the foregoing whereby to +give his growing son the needed experience in money matters. The best +result of such practice is that if there be anything in connection with +the affairs of the farm in which the boy will have a native interest +this aptitude will be discovered; and it can then be made the basis of +the young man's introduction into a successful participation in some +practical business. The boy's permanent calling is seriously involved in +this discussion. On page 279 of this book will be found a description of +three methods of vocational training. + + +THE AWAKENING OFTEN COMES FROM WITHOUT + +Parents who find it difficult to arouse the farm boy's interest in any +part of the home business may sometimes easily secure the desired result +by sending the youth away on a trip to the county fair or other such +place. As a means of stimulating boys in respect to some kind of +productive home industry the Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical +College instituted a school of agriculture for country youths at the +state fair. Each organized farmers' institute and each county +superintendent was asked to send one boy. A large tent was furnished by +the college. This served for a lecture and display room during the day +and a boys' sleeping room during the night. + +At the first session 122 boys attended, coming from 57 counties. The +lectures covered such subjects as farm crops, veterinary science, track +and field athletics. The displays at the fair were used for illustrative +matter. So far the results of the school have been reported most +favorable. An increasing number of boys throughout the state are making +preparation for it. + + +AN AWAKENING IN THE SOUTH + +It is most encouraging to observe the changing ideals of business +and industry now in progress throughout the nation. The many +vocational-training schools and the increasing attendance at the +mechanical and industrial colleges bear witness of this fact. The +American Negro, ever a faithful laborer, is now being taught in such +institutions as Tuskegee and Hampton, not only to perform some honest +work well but also to plan and prepare for a business of his own. + +The son of the southern planter is becoming more and more imbued with +the new spirit of efficiency through personal industry. On this matter a +member of the faculty of the Louisiana Agricultural and Mechanical +College says: "It is a mistake to think that the best of the country +youth of the south are continuing in the old-fashioned ideal of becoming +mere gentlemen of culture and leisure. In 1910 there were nearly 50,000 +boys living in a dozen of the southern states, who astonished the entire +country with their achievements in corn-raising. They ranged in age from +fifteen to eighteen years. At the national exhibit held in Columbus, +Ohio, one hundred of them showed an average yield of 134 bushels of corn +to the acre. This corn-growing practice is under the direction of the +national government, and is more than a big, exciting contest, it is a +splendid course in rural home education. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXV. + +FIG. 32.--A group of "coming" Kansans. Every boy pictured here carried +away some sort of prize at a state corn show.] + +"We have at this college hundreds of young men from the plantations and +they are intensely interested in working out the industrial problems +that pertain to their own home affairs. I have been surprised at their +eagerness to get into the soil and to do the mechanical work +connected with their studies. All over the south there seems to be an +awakening among the boys and young men, of an interest in the industrial +and commercial problems of the plantation." + +The farm papers and the educational magazines in the southern states +give much evidence of this same sort of awakening. The farmers' and +planters' organizations, the local improvement and school betterment +clubs, and many other movements, are giving both incentive and direction +to the country youths who are at all inclined to find an interest in the +home affairs. The rural parents who desire outside aid in arousing their +boys' interest in the home business may well seek such assistance by +bringing the latter into closer touch with one of these progressive +organizations. + + +PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FATHER AND SON + +After the farmer's son has fully settled upon his father's business as +an ideal one for himself, there may be brought to the latter a gradual +relief from the worry of details, and that through a partnership +management. A. G. Hulting, Jr., of Geneseo, Illinois, thus describes +such a plan of coöperation in a letter to Arthur J. Bill, the +agricultural writer:-- + +"We have 160 acres of land in the farm. My father owns the land. I do +the work, provide all the labor, horses, and machinery, and we have an +equal interest in the live stock and we share equally in the net +returns." + +Other terms of coöperation have proved successful. In many cases, the +son rents all or a part of the place on terms similar to those allowed +the outside renter; excepting that he is usually given the advantages of +free board and the use of the home conveniences. In all such business +transactions between father and son it is highly advisable that the +contract be carefully drawn in writing. The verbal contract is +proverbially a trouble maker, and that even among relatives. + + +SUMMARY AND CONCLUDING SUGGESTIONS + +1. Not nearly all promising youths can be encouraged to take a vital +interest in the father's business. + +2. In case the boy cannot be induced to take a permanent interest in +anything on the home farm, he may at least have much practice in the +transaction of the small business connected therewith. + +3. The ability to work willingly, the ideal that an honest living is to +be earned through personal effort, and the practice of saving a part of +the weekly or monthly earnings--these will give any boy an excellent +start on the road to success and affluence. + +4. Deal with the young son on business principles from the first, seeing +that he shares reasonably in the losses as well as in the gains. +Although his interest in any chosen line of work may not become vital +till he makes some money out of it, hold him persistently in line +during the "lean" years and thus allow him to learn the excellent +lessons of failure. + +5. It may prove unfair to the members of the family to permit one of the +sons to secure control of the business of the home farm. Some pathetic +instances of this kind have really occurred. For the sake of the peace +and well-being of all, such an occurrence must be prevented by careful +forethought. + +6. On the other hand, in case where the boy has started with a scrawny +pig or through renting a piece of the home place, and, after dealing +fair and square with all, has come into possession of considerable +property of his own, do not wrest it from him or in any way take +advantage of his minority. Such a youth will in time most probably +reflect high credit upon the family. + +7. Finally, the farm parent needs to be warned against the possibility +of developing his son into a mere money-maker. Such is a poor standard +of success. The man whose only aim in life is merely to prosper +financially is a poor citizen of any community. Teach the boy to succeed +in his business ventures, but at the same time imbue him with the +thought that his money wealth must be regarded as so much opportunity to +help build up the community, the state, and the nation. Teach him that +financial success is worthy of the name only when it is linked with +social efficiency. + + +REFERENCES + + Again we find the field of literature treating the subject + directly an exceedingly scant one. In forming a business + partnership with his son the farmer should be guided by + well-tried precedent. A letter of specific inquiry to one of + the leading agricultural papers will most usually bring a + helpful reply. + + A First Lesson in Thrift. Horace Ellis. _Psychological + Clinic_, March 15, 1910. + + Industrial Education for Rural Communities. Annual Volume + N.E.A., 1907, p. 412. + + The Child's Sense of the Value of Money. Dr. William E. + Ashcroft. _S.S. Times_, July 24, 1909. + + Psychology and Higher Life. William A. McKeever. Chapter XIV, + "The Psychology of Work." A. Flanagan Company, Chicago. + + Industrial Education. Various Authors. (Pamphlet, 25 cents.) + _The Survey_, N.Y. + + Industrial Education. Kimball. No. 1, Educational Monograph + Series, School of Education, Cornell University. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +_BUSINESS TRAINING FOR THE COUNTRY GIRL_ + + +During a two-hour ride on a railway train the author had as a seat +companion a sixty-year-old farmer and stock raiser, whose specialty was +that of raising mules for the market. And what of definite information +this good husbandman possessed about the long-eared beast of burden +would fill a volume of considerable size. He knew just what time of year +the mule should be foaled, when weaned, when broken to the halter and to +work; how to feed and groom a mule in order to get the best physical +growth; how to train the animal so as to develop all the latent good +qualities and repress the bad ones. + +After the natural life history of the faithful mule had been carefully +reviewed by the rural companion the conversation was turned to the +subject of girls. Had he a daughter? "Yes, twenty-two years old." What +did she know about money and the common affairs of business? "Business! +Mighty little any woman knows about business," said he. "We buy our girl +what she needs and have put her through the town high school. I expect +her to get married sometime. Her mother has taught her how to do +housework." Further than that the father seemed to know very little +about his daughter, and he showed plainly that he did not consider this +second topic of conversation half so interesting as the first one. + + +IS THE COUNTRY GIRL NEGLECTED? + +Inquiry will prove that the foregoing case of parental ignorance and +indifference about the daughter is all too common, especially the +ignorance. It seems never to have occurred to many parents who have +growing daughters that unless the young woman have a fair amount of +knowledge of the value and use of money her future happiness and +well-being and that of her family are in danger of becoming seriously +jeopardized. It is a singular and yet lamentable fact that so many +American parents,--parents too who are intensely desirous that their +growing children have the best possible moral and religious +teaching--that these same good parents fail to understand how one of the +very foundation stones of efficient moral and religious life is +constituted of a definite body of knowledge of common business affairs. +They do not seem to realize that the young man or the young woman who +knows from experience just how money is earned, and how it may be +judiciously expended and profitably invested, is far on the way to a +high plane of moral and religious living. + +However, there is probably no place of greater opportunities for +developing sober judgment in the growing girl than that afforded by the +ordinary farm home. For here the business management of the household +and of the farm affairs are practically merged. There is the further +advantage of a considerable variety of ways whereby the daughter may be +remunerated for what she does. But, how may we best interpret this +question? First of all, what in a practical sense is a satisfactory +business training for a young woman, a farmer's daughter in particular? +Do we desire that she become a shrewd money-maker and successful a some +sort of commercial life? Few would take such a position. But in order +that the young woman may be fully prepared to fill her heaven-ordained +place as the center and source of love and influence in a family, we +must provide that she be given just such instruction in the use of money +as will enable her to occupy her high position with the greatest +possible success. + + +WHY THE GIRL LEAVES THE FARM + +Under the title above the Farmer's Voice prints portions of two letters +which help to throw not a little light on this much-neglected subject. +Miss Alta Hooper writes:-- + +"The one great cry going out from the people, and one also much in need +of an answer, is 'how to keep the boy on the farm.' It is very seldom +that the girl of the farm is alluded to, although it may be that she is +included, in a general way, in the great amount of literature concerning +her brother. But, take it from the farmer girl that she is a live one, +and unless money is coming into her pockets, unless she is comparatively +independent and has some interest to keep her awake, she isn't going to +'stay put,' but will get out where she can earn some money of her very +own, to buy the little things so dear to the hearts of girls; and she +will not be questioned and lectured and scolded over every little +expenditure. + +"Oh, the girls on the farm have minds and pride and ambition just as big +as their brothers' too; and in many cases they are not given half a +chance to realize one iota of this ambition. It is then that a career +off the farm and away from the farm home appeals to them. Then the +thought comes that even though the salary to be earned may be small, +still it is all one's own, and there is no fear in planning where and in +what it shall be invested." + +Likewise, Mrs. F. L. Stevens, writing for _Progressive Farmer_, says:-- + +"How often have we seen young girls leaving comfortable farm homes to go +into typewriting, clerking, or bookkeeping, in order to have their own +money. An allowance for personal expenses in the beginning would have +solved this problem. But the father has not seen it that way. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVI. + +FIG. 33.--At a tender age girls are instinctively fond of doing such +work as is displayed here. Strange to say, some mothers deny their +little daughters the character-forming benefits of this childish +occupation.] + +"It is not necessary that the daughter be given a monthly or yearly +allowance of so much cash, but the really better way, it would seem, +would be to start her in some special branch of work, say, +poultry-raising. Or perhaps she might be given a cow or a horse or a +pig, which would in time bring in sums of money by careful management; +and the business, a small one perhaps in the beginning, would easily +develop. Many young girls like to work in a garden as the produce is +always a good source of income and an interesting and educational work." + + +CERTAIN RULES TO BE OBSERVED + +If we are to give up the idea that the young woman naturally possesses +the necessary business judgment, and to substitute the better idea that +she must be taught how to manage her own affairs; then, What are the +fundamental steps necessary to impart such instruction? It seems to the +author that they are these:-- + +1. _Teach the girl to work._--As was shown in a previous chapter, the +girl must be taught carefully and conscientiously how to work. Even +though she may be so fortunate--or unfortunate--as not to be compelled +to do any of her own housework, only a first-hand knowledge of how such +work goes on will enable her successfully to direct it. The strength of +our democracy is much dependent upon the character of our women. The +modern tendency toward the development of a leisure class among the +women and girls of the wealthier families is quite as much a menace to +social solidarity as was the older order of keeping women in ignorance +and servitude. + +The problem of household help is much intensified because of the +disfavor with which the so-called better classes of women look upon the +vocation of the domestic employee. The necessary inequality of rank of +the home mistress and her employees is more a matter of tradition and +imagination than of reality. The social inequality which follows and +which drives many young women into less advantageous places of +employment will disappear just as soon as all growing girls are +conducted through a carefully planned course of work and household +industry. No farm parents can afford to deny the daughter the excellent +disciplinary results of careful training in the performance of every +ordinary household duty. + +2. _Teach her business sense._--In cases where the growing boy or girl +is simply given spending money for the asking--or the begging--there +results a perverted idea of the meaning of money. A girl so trained +during her youthful years is inclined to take this same attitude toward +her husband in the future. That is, she will probably regard it as +necessary to beg for an allowance and deem it right and proper to spend +all she can obtain in this way. The seriousness of such relations +between man and wife is easily seen. But the growing girl can be taught +that money is merely a convenient unit of measurement of values which +are produced chiefly by means of work. + +Advanced students of our social life are putting forth much effort to +solve the divorce problem. In their efforts to determine causes and to +provide cures for divorce, some of them have gone so far as to advocate +a school for matrimony, one of the ends being that of preventing +incompatible persons from entering into the life union. Among the causes +contributing to the divorce evil have been the radically different +ideals of the use of money on the part of the contracting pair. An +attorney of long standing experience with divorce cases says:-- + +"As a rule the woman who alleges non-support in her petition for divorce +reveals the fact, before the case is ended, that she is lacking in the +proper idea of the use of money, is often especially weak in knowledge +of how the family income should be spent if the family affairs are to go +on satisfactorily." + +3. _Train her to transact personal business._--Then, begin early in her +life to teach the girl to transact business affairs that relate to her +personal interests and to the home life of women. Do not buy all the +little articles necessary for her, but allow her, with money reasonably +provided, to make her own minor purchases under your advice and +direction. The intelligent farmer knows somewhat definitely what his +yearly income and outlay are. Why should not his daughter be told how +these accounts run, in the usual year, and she then be asked to keep an +account of all her own personal affairs for a year? Such required +practice will do more than all the arithmetic lessons in the schools to +inculcate an intimate knowledge of the value of money in relation to her +own affairs--to say nothing of the good business judgment likely to be +acquired. + +Thus the country girl may receive a better business training than her +city cousin whose nearness to the attractive stores and shops proves a +constant incentive for over-indulgence and wastefulness in the use of +money. + +4. _Make her the family accountant._--As soon as she becomes old enough, +take the daughter into your confidence as regards the family expense +account. Make her acquainted with the items of income and expenditure in +detail. And also make it appear to her that the business of the home is +not being conducted satisfactorily unless some portion of the income be +set aside for the emergencies of the future. + +At this point there is offered an opportunity to give the daughter some +much-needed business training. There is much being said of late by way +of urging the farmer to keep an accurate book account of all his +transactions. Out of the experiment stations have come published letters +and bulletins urging that such things be done and showing methods. But +the evidence goes to show that the majority of farmers do not find time +for it. So it will in many cases be found practicable to turn this +important task of bookkeeping over to the growing daughter. Among the +many benefits to be derived will be the excellent business training it +will furnish her. As a diversion from the common household duties the +accounting will prove most refreshing. And, then, the farmer will soon +find this service to the farm business so important as to justify him in +paying his daughter reasonably for the work. + +5. _Miserliness to be avoided._--While the habits of a spendthrift are +perhaps above all things else to be avoided, a close second to this as +an evil practice is the habit of expending in a miserly and begrudging +manner. So, teach the girl to give her money willingly for all the +ordinary necessities and comforts of life and for such luxuries as the +conditions will reasonably warrant. + +The far-sighted parent and the one really interested in the future of +his daughter will readily observe how much enslaved adults finally +become in the use of money. There are perhaps as many well-to-do persons +who are miserly because they cannot help it as there are improvident +persons who are spendthrifts because they cannot longer prevent it. Both +classes manifest the certain results of training and habit. In his +interesting chapter on the psychology of habit Professor James explains +so aptly how the man, long practiced in enforced economy, but at length +having ample means, goes to the store with the determination of paying +liberally for an article; and how he finally comes away with something +cheap. + +A "golden mean" is therefore to be sought in training the girl in the +use of money. Not how to save at all hazards, but how to spend +judiciously, with conscious thought of the right relation between income +and outlay--this is perhaps the more acceptable ideal. + +6. _Teach her to give._--While inculcating business ideas into the mind +of your growing daughter, guard against her acquiring a mere passion for +money-making and the accumulation of wealth. For example, one of the +best means of achieving this end would be to see that she gives a part +of her earnings to some worthy cause or other. Explain to her again and +again that she must keep up in her life a sort of equipoise of receiving +and giving, if the highest sense of inner satisfaction is always to be +her portion. + +The young must learn sooner or later that there is other than a money +profit to be derived from the investment of money. Accordingly, it will +not be found difficult for the rural parents to point out to their +daughter some place merely where she may invest a small part of her +earnings in human welfare. An orphan child living in the neighborhood +may be sorely in need of a new dress or school books, a lonely and aged +widow may be cheered by the gift of a wall picture, a crippled child may +be accumulating funds for hospital treatment, or another person may have +lost heavily from flood or fire. These and many more like them may be +made the occasion of teaching the girl a beautiful lesson of sympathy +and sacrifice. And the sacrifice should come out of what she has +accumulated through her own small business enterprise. + +7. _Teach the meaning of a contract._--It is often declared that women +fail to appreciate the obligations of a contract, that they will enter +into a strict agreement to buy an article or to pay for another and then +refuse to carry out such agreement. Merchants have been so often called +on to deal with this feminine change of mind that they have seen fit to +establish a custom of taking back at cost any article not found +satisfactory upon trial. This failure of women to adhere strictly to the +terms of an agreement has given currency to the opinion that they are +naturally dishonest. Weininger in his volume "Sex and Character" even +offers a line of questionable proof to confirm the correctness of the +opinion. + +But Dr. G. Stanley Hall in many of his researches shows that falsehood +and deception are common and natural practices among ordinary children. +All forms of honest and fair moral and business practice are less +natural than acquired. They must have actual experience, and much of +it, as a basis for their becoming a permanent part of character. Hence, +the so-called dishonesty of women in relation to the obligations of a +business agreement--that is probably nothing more than a matter of sheer +ignorance. Farm girls are proverbially lacking in business practice and +in knowledge of the rights and obligations of a contract. It is +obligatory upon their parents to remove such ignorance through business +training. + +8. _Prepare her to deal with grafters._--"The majority of his victims +were women," is the statement so often read in connection with the +fraudulent schemes of the exposed money shark. Millions of dollars are +annually taken from credulous women by the get-rich-quick money trader. +This polite form of theft has become so flagrant as to necessitate much +vigilance and many prosecutions on the part of the national government. +Widows and other dependent women are especially the sufferers. + +The necessity of preparing the innocent young woman to deal with the +enticing business fraud is very apparent. Two or three matters must +especially be attended to in giving the required instruction. First, +take advantage of many occasions to explain to the girl just how a given +case is being worked, so that she may be on guard against such +allurements; second, it is well to advise the untrained young woman +against investing in any scheme of profit sharing that offers above a +good current rate of interest. + + +SHOULD THERE BE AN ACTUAL INVESTMENT? + +Then, what if anything should be done in the ordinary farm home by way +of providing an investment for the growing daughter so that she may +daily have some practice in business affairs, as well as an income for +use in meeting her personal expenses? Before attempting to answer this +question, let us be certain that we have the correct point of view of +the growing daughter's ideal relation to the practical affairs in the +rural home. It seems to the author that there is only one safe rule of +procedure here and that is, whatever the investment,--if there be any at +all,--it must be understood that the ideal is one of developing the girl +into a beautiful womanhood and not one of making the investment pay in +the mere money sense of the term. In other words, the business of the +farm and the farm home must serve directly the highest interests of the +members of the household, even though money accumulations cannot, as a +result, go on quite so fast. Or, as we have put it several times before: +The farm and the live stock and all that pertains thereto must be so +managed as to contribute directly to the development of the high aspects +of character in the boys and girls, and not as materials which the +growing boys and girls are to help build up and multiply. + +Now, if it still be insisted upon that the country girl have a definite +business relation to the affairs of the home, there are two or three +ways whereby this may be accomplished. One method is to give the girl a +fixed and reasonable sum of money for whatever she may do by way of +helping in the house. Another is that of providing a small investment in +something that may be expected to increase reasonably in value and +finally bring her a money return. Of the two methods of procedure +mentioned, it would seem that the first is the more desirable. If the +daughter be given an interest in anything like the live stock or some +farm crop, the thing will not appeal to her directly, and whatever +interest she may have in it will be a purely borrowed one. On the other +hand, if she be given a generous allowance for her services, and during +the younger years be trained in the expenditure of this allowance, good +results may be expected. Similarly as with the boy, the growing girl +must be taught to look toward the future. A system of restraints must be +placed against her tendency to squander her small income, and gradually +she may be trained to set aside a small portion of what she has with a +view to its being applied upon something of her own later in life. It is +perhaps too much to ask the girl to save enough money to pay her way +through college, but there are many advantages in training her to save +for a certain portion of that expense. Perhaps she may be able to buy +her own clothes. + +It is not reasonable to assume that every well-trained country girl will +find it advisable to take a college course. So, instead of saving up for +college expenses, she may be taught to lay by something for the day of +her marriage and with the thought of helping equip a home of her own. As +a matter of fact, it is not a question of the specific purpose for which +the money may be set apart. The main issue is that of staying by her day +after day and week after week, and guiding and advising her until she +finally acquires good sense, mature judgment, and self-reliance in +regard to the business affairs that may be expected to constitute a part +of her life as a keeper of a home of her own. + +_How the southern girls earn money._--One of the most interesting and +significant modern movements in behalf of juvenile industry is that of +the Southern Girls' Tomato Clubs, originated in 1910 by Miss Marie +Cromer, a rural school teacher of North Carolina. Thousands of young +girls are now participants in the new work, each one tending a small +plat of tomatoes and canning the produce for the market. One girl is +reported to have cleared $130 from one season's crop raised on one +fourth of an acre. The General Education Board and the National +Department of Agriculture have given liberal support to this +tomato-growing work. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +_WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY BOY HAVE?_ + + +It is a well-known fact that rural life conditions have been changing +rapidly within the past decade or more. It has taken us a long while to +get away from the thought that the farmer is to be anything other than +merely a plain, coarse man, comparatively uneducated and innocent of the +ways of the world. But we are at last seeing the light in respect to +this and many another such traditional belief of a menacing nature. We +are now looking forward expectantly to the time when the rural community +shall contain its proportionate share of people educated or cultured in +the full sense of either of these words. + + +CHANGES IN RURAL SCHOOL CONDITIONS + +Many of those now in middle life can easily remember when the farmer boy +was sent to school only during the time when his services were not +required for the performance of the work about the field and the home. +This period was narrowed down to about three months in the year. After +the corn was husked in the fall, he entered school, usually about +December first. And at the first sign of spring, about March first, he +was called away to begin preparations for the new season's crop. During +these sixty days, more or less, the growing lad was supposed to pick up +the rudiments of learning and by the time maturity was reached to have +worked himself out of the ranks of the illiterate. So he did, for he +learned to read falteringly, to write a scrawling hand, and to solve a +few arithmetical problems. + +We observe the new order of things. In practically all the states there +have been recently enacted laws requiring every normal child to attend +school during the entire term and to continue for a period of seven or +eight years. The splendid results of this provision have only begun to +be apparent, but another decade will reveal them in large proportions. +Back of this new legislation in behalf of the boys and girls is the new +ideal of the possibilities and the worth of the ordinary human being. We +are just beginning to understand this splendid truth; namely, that with +very few exceptions all of our new-born young have latent within them +all the aptitudes necessary for the development of beautiful and +symmetrical character. The modern ideal of public education recognizes +two things: first, the right of the child to the fullest possible +development; and second, the duty of society to see that the child +receive such training whether the parent may wish to accord it to him or +not. + +The author is especially desirous that the reader appreciate the +situation sketched in the foregoing paragraph. What does it mean? It +means that our children are at last to have more nearly equal +opportunities of development, that their worthy aptitudes or traits are +to be brought out through instruction and made to do service in the +construction of a sterling character. It means that we shall have +cultured artisans as well as cultured artists; that the plain man behind +the plow or in the workshop shall be capable of thinking the big, +inspiring thoughts as well as the little, puny ones. It means that there +will spring up everywhere among the ranks of those once regarded as low +and coarse, a magnificent society of men and women who, as individuals, +will feel and realize a secret sense of power and worth, and who will +shine in the light of a new inspiration. + + +THE BOY A BUNDLE OF POSSIBILITIES + +It has been proved beyond question that the ordinary child contains at +birth potentialities of development far greater in amount and variety +than any amount of schooling can ever bring into full realization. If +you will make a list of one hundred different and highly specialized +vocations, and pause for a moment to contemplate the matter, you will +doubtless agree that any common boy might be so trained as to some +degree in any one of the hundred that he might be made to do fairly +well in several of them; and that he might become an expert in at least +one of them. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVII. + +FIG. 34.--Only whittling. But in the case of these country boys it is +thought of as not mere idling, but as a pastime that leads toward the +world of industry.] + +So, there is little need of being worried over the thought that the boy +is a natural-born dullard, without native ability to learn and finally +to make his way in the world. It is true that there is occasionally a +real "blockhead" among children, but such cases are quite as rare as +imbecility and physical deformity. Indeed, such cases are nearly always +connected with one or both of the defects just named. Then, while in the +usual instance the child is to be assumed to possess an ample amount of +native talent, one of the specific problems of his parents and teachers +is that of learning in time what his best latent talent is, so that it +may give proper incentive and direction for his vocational life. + + +CLASSES OF NATIVE ABILITY + +Roughly speaking there are three classes of native ability in the human +offspring: the super-normal, the normal, and the sub-normal. The first +is constituted of the geniuses--few and far between, perhaps one in a +hundred to five hundred. The second is composed of the great mass of +humanity upon which the stability of the race is built and out of which +the geniuses--and the majority of the sub-normals--spring through +fortuitous variation. The third class is constituted of the +feeble-minded, the imbeciles, and the exceedingly rare natural-born +criminals--altogether, perhaps one in every two hundred or more of the +population. + +Now, what we are trying to get at here is a fair estimate of what the +parent may reasonably look for by way of a stock of native ability in +his child. The natural-born genius will be known by one special mark; +namely, he will be so strongly inclined toward one special line of work +or calling as to need no outside stimulus or incentive to make him take +it up. Indeed, in the usual case of a pronounced genius it is a very +difficult matter to prevent the individual from following out his one +over-mastering predisposition. + +The marks of feeble-mindedness or idiocy are too well known to need +description. Such cases are also so rare and so special in their manner +of treatment as to call for no extended discussion. + + +THE GREAT TALENTED CLASS + +The great masses of humanity are constituted of what we mean here by the +talented. That is, as described above, at birth they possess a large and +abundant stock of potentialities of learning and achievement--much more +than can ever become actualized because of the comparatively limited +time and means for education and training. Of course, we recognize that +among the talented classes there is an endless variety of combinations +of abilities. So are there many degrees of ability. + +But in addition to the foregoing marks of latent ability in the great +middle classes we must note a distinctive feature of the development and +education of such classes. It is this: _The two great conditions +necessary for the successful development of the ordinary child are +stimulus and opportunity._ Unless the slumbering talents be awakened by +the proper stimuli, they may slumber on throughout the whole lifetime +and no one detect their presence; and unless opportunities for +development be given to satisfy the awakened talent, it may return +permanently to its condition of quiescence. + +In attempting to furnish the necessary stimuli and opportunities for the +development of his boy, the farmer has--if he will only use it--a great +advantage over the city father. The great variety of work-and-play +experience afforded by the rural situation, the fairly good general +schooling now coming more and more into reach of all farm homes, the +many conditions contributory to self-reliance and independent thinking +in the case of the boy--all these raw materials of stimulus and +opportunity lie hidden about the common country home. But the parents +must themselves become wider awake to the meanings and purposes of such +materials, or otherwise their value is lost through disuse. And again, +it is urged that parents make the same careful study of their children +as they do of farm crops and live stock. See the reference lists +following the first five chapters. + + +ROUND OUT THE BOY'S NATURE + +Fortunately, the new provisions of the schools are furnishing more and +more definitely the equipment and the course of training most necessary +for the masses of the growing children. Fortunately, too, the illiterate +father is not to be permitted to dictate as to what subjects his boy is +to study in the school, there being not only compulsory attendance, but +strict requirements that every child pursue the prescribed course. The +time is fast approaching when the rural parent in any community can feel +assured that this course of study has been mapped out by expert +authority in just such a way as to serve the highest needs of his boy, +the idea being to teach and awaken every side of the young nature into +its highest possible activity. + +In the usual case it is a waste of time to attempt to predetermine the +boy's vocational life before he has gone at least well up through the +intermediate grades of the common school; and even then, there is +usually not much indication of what he is best suited for. So, one of +the great purposes of the common school course is that of sounding the +boy on every side and in every depth of his nature, so to speak, in +order to find what is there, and to determine what he is by inheritance +best suited to do as a life work. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXVIII. + +FIG. 35.--An illustration of how to keep the boy on the farm. Every boy +needs to acquire early an intimate knowledge of some great industrial +pursuit.] + +The usual inclination of the rural parent is that of looking at his +son's education too strictly in terms of dollars and cents and to be +impatient at the thought of the boy's taking a broad, fundamental course +of schooling. Such school subjects as language and composition are +especially thought of as a useless waste of time. But fortunately, as +indicated above, the choice is no longer left either to the boy or his +father. The former must pursue the subjects assigned him and allow time +to prove the wisdom of such a procedure, as it most certainly will. +Wherefore, let the rural father attempt to think of his boy, not merely +as a coming money-maker, but as a coming _man_; a man of power and worth +and influence in the community in which he is to live, a man of whom his +aged father in future time will be most proud, and by whom he will be +highly honored. + + +OTHER IMPORTANT MATTERS + +As suggested above, the evidence is very overwhelming in effect that it +is the duty of rural parents to give their children a broad, general +course of training as a foundation for efficient life in any place or +position. Moreover, it must not be thought for a moment that the legacy +of money or property will in any wise furnish a satisfactory substitute +for such a course of training. Mean-spiritedness and narrow-mindedness +are almost invariably prominent traits of the man who has been prepared +to know nothing outside of his business even though that may be a big +business. On the other hand, extensive culture, including a character +well developed in all of its essential elements, is by far the best +equipment that can possibly be furnished the boy for his start in life. + +Now, while the growing boy's education must not be especially prejudiced +in favor of any particular calling, there is no good reason why the +farmer's son should not be given the benefit of every possible intimate +and wholesome relation to the father's work and business. That is, he +must not be forced to take up the vocation of farming, but he must be +given every opportunity to know its best meanings and advantages. And if +he is finally to leave for some foreign occupation, he must go with a +profound sense of the possible worth and integrity of the calling of his +father. Then, in order that there may be maintained most friendly +relations between the farm boy and the farm life, see to it that he has +an occasional outing. Widen the scope of his home environment by means +of sending him outside occasionally. Let him go off to the state and +county fair and learn what he can there. Let him participate in the +grain and stock judging contests, as heretofore recommended. Let him +attend some of the larger sales of blooded stock and learn there to know +more intimately the possibilities of animal husbandry. Accompany him on +a trip to the big city occasionally--under proper provisions and +restrictions--and help him to acquire some valuable lesson which may be +taken back to the rural community and used to the advantage of the +latter. + +Also, what about the literature in the home? Although a chapter has +already been given to the matter, for the sake of emphasizing its great +importance it is again referred to here. Why not see to it that there be +secured a few enticing volumes of the clean and uplifting sort? A very +few dollars will furnish the nucleus of a library of which the boy will +soon become proud. Ask the school superintendent or teacher to make out +a list of ten of the best books for your boy and then secure these at +once. Bring into the home also one or two of the best standard magazines +and keep constantly on the table one or more of the best and cleanest +newspapers. Then, see to it that the boy's life be not so nearly dragged +out during the day's work that he cannot spend thirty minutes or more of +each evening at the reading table. + + +DEVELOP AN INTEREST IN HUMANITY + +All education is for the sake of human welfare. The thing learned like +the material thing possessed is most worth while in proportion as it +serves some high human purpose or need. There is abundant opportunity to +teach the country boy that education cannot well exist for its own sake +or purely for one's own selfish uses. So it is well early to awaken the +youth's interest in people. Have him compare his own lot with that of +others in very different circumstances. Take him occasionally to the +orphanage, the industrial (reform) school, the imbecile and insane +asylums, the prisons, and the sweat-shops in the city. Thus through +acquainting him with how the other half lives you may cause the boy to +reflect seriously on the best meanings and possibilities of his own +life, and to plan in his mind a splendid ideal of integrity for his own +coming manhood. + +The boy's education is not going on rightly if he is not being +introduced to the current affairs of the world. The literature suggested +above should be made to serve the purpose of bringing his attention to +these matters. He should become interested in the political welfare of +his community, his state, and his nation, and learn to feel his +responsibility in regard to such things. But he will probably not +voluntarily acquire these better relations to society at large. It +should therefore be regarded as the urgent duty of the parent to give +the necessary guidance and instruction. + +Finally, we must again be reminded of the high ideals of education and +culture necessary to, and consistent with, substantial country life. The +greatest of producing classes--the agronomists--must and can in time +rank at the head of all others in moral and intellectual worth. So, let +the rural parent look ahead and formulate in his own mind the splendid +vision of his son grown up to full maturity of all his best powers. Let +him see this future citizen as a man of magnanimity, of splendid +personal force, and of great constructive ability in the important work +of budding up the affairs of the community in which he is to live. + + +REFERENCES + + Chapters in Rural Progress. President Kenyon L. Butterfield. + Chapter VI. "Education for the Farmer." University of Chicago + Press. + + Education for the Iowa Farm Boy. H. C. Wallace. Pamphlet. + (Free.) Chamber of Commerce, Des Moines. + + Value during Education of a life Career Motive. C. W. Eliot. + Annual Volume N.E.A., 1910. + + To keep Boys on the Farm. M. E. Carr. _Country Life._ April + 1, 1911. + + Education Best Suited for Boys. R. P. Halleck. Annual Volume + N.E.A., 1906. p. 58. + + The Training of Farmers. Dr. L. H. Bailey. The Century + Company. Contains a statistical study of why boys leave the + farm. + + The Best Thing a College does for a Man. President Charles F. + Tawing. _Forum_, Volume 18. p. 570. + + The Care of Freshmen. President W. O. Thompson. Annual Volume + N.E.A., 1907. p. 723. + + Proceedings of Child Conference for Research and Welfare. + Page 142. "The Discipline of Work." Frederick P. Fish. G. E. + Stechert & Co., New York. + + The Young Man's Problem. Educational Pamphlet No. 1. Society + of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis. New York. 10 cents. Every + parent should read this excellent discussion on sex + education. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +_WHAT SCHOOLING SHOULD THE COUNTRY GIRL HAVE?_ + + +Perhaps it need not be urged that the country girl be provided with the +same general educational advantages as those outlined for the country +boy, as the plain demands of justice would mean as much. She, too, must +be thought of as possessing all the beautiful latent possibilities, and +high ideals of personal worth and character should be constantly +entertained for her in the minds of her parents. And then, they must +allow no ordinary business concern about the farm home to stand in the +way of her unfoldment in the direction of these higher ideals. + + +SPECIAL PROBLEMS RELATING TO THE GIRL + +Over and above those provisions which relate to the general development +of the country boy there are several special considerations in reference +to his sister. For example, she has a more delicate physical organism +which must be shielded, especially at times, against the heavy drudgery +that will naturally fall upon her willing shoulders. And then, the +standards require of her rather more of refined manners than they do of +her brother. Moreover, it may be shown that a refined and attractive +personality will become a larger asset in her life than in his. +Comeliness and habitual cheerfulness and numerous other like qualities +must be thought of as necessary and helpful characteristics of the +well-reared country girl. It will also be much to her advantage to have +some special training in at least one of the so-called fine arts. Let +her have her musical education or some advanced work in literature or +painting. A sum of money invested in something of this sort while the +daughter is growing may be considered a far better investment than if +the same amount were laid away to invest in a dowry. + + +PROTECTING THE GIRL AT SCHOOL + +It is not merely obligatory that the farmer send his young girl to the +district school regularly, and thus round out her nature symmetrically +through instruction in all the common branches. The delicate nature of +the normal girl requires far more protection than is often accorded it. +Unlike the city walks and pavements, the country road leading to the +schoolhouse is often menaced by muddy sloughs, tall vegetation, and deep +snow banks. Wading through such places, especially in bad weather, gives +undue exposure, the feet frequently becoming wet and the body thoroughly +chilled. Many children sit all day in the schoolroom in this condition. +As a result of the lowered vitality the incipient forms of various +diseases enter the body, there perhaps to return intermittently and with +more serious effects as the life advances. + +What may be done as preventive measures, it is asked. Simply this: +Prepare a better road from the home to the schoolhouse, by putting in +foot crossings over ravines, by mowing weeds and grass, by filling and +draining low places, and the like. On stormy days and on occasions when +the young adolescent girl is passing through her monthly period of +weakness--one especially endangering the health--it will be advisable to +provide a conveyance to school and back. + +Country parents also often need to be cautioned in regard to +over-working the school girl. Some even require her to do practically +the same amount of work as she could well endure were there no extra +burdens at school. Manifestly, this is both unjust and injurious. +Observe the conduct of the young school girl for a few days. If there is +no song and laughter in her life; if she is not ruddy in complexion and +buoyant of step; if she mopes and drones about the place; do not censure +her, but seek a constitutional cause and watch for evidences of an +over-requirement of work. + +The close inspection of the health of school children, now conducted in +many cities, brings out the somewhat startling fact that many boys and +girls come to the class room every morning fatigued and depressed beyond +the point of effective study. The old way was to call them dullards, to +punish them, to shame them out of the school, to humiliate their +parents. The new method of dealing with such children calls for +scientific measures. First, the exact conditions are ascertained by +experts; second, the parents are urged and helped to provide for the +child more sleep, better food, more fresh air in the living chambers, +more recreation, a relief from over-work, or some special medical +care--as the particular case may demand. + +If one wishes full evidence of the effective gain for studentship that +results from the new manner of treatment of the dull and backward pupil, +let him examine the many reports of individual cases as published in the +_Psychological Clinic_ at the University of Pennsylvania, especially the +issues of 1909-1910. The indifference or the thoughtlessness of country +parents may easily allow for the existence of the foregoing bad physical +conditions in the case of their own daughter, and as a result her +otherwise promising life may become permanently blighted. + + +LESSONS IN MUSIC AND ART + +The ordinary farmer needs to learn to take more pride in his daughter +and in her accomplishments. The time will come when he will be far more +proud of her wealth of character than he will be of her wealth of +material goods. A country father of moderate means bought a first-class +piano for his two girls and employed a music teacher. "You may think +that I cannot afford such things," said he. "But I can. I am running +this farm for the good it will do my family." He was a true philosopher, +as well as a successful farmer. + +It is entirely practicable and most helpful to her development to +provide that the country girl be given instruction in music, or art, or +something special and advanced in the form of needlework. In its best +sense this special instruction will not be thought of as vocational +training, but rather as a necessary manner of giving permanent +expression to her æsthetic nature. The author believes that the matter +should be stated even more emphatically. That is, not to give the normal +girl some such means of indulging her æsthetic tastes is seriously to +neglect her education, if not to do her a permanent wrong. + +While vocational training and economic advantages are important +secondary considerations in connection with the daughter's instruction +in the fine arts, the father who helps her become an amateur in one of +these lines thereby renders her a splendid service for life. It is +neither very difficult nor very expensive to arrange to have the girl go +to the near-by town or to a neighbor's once or twice per week where she +may receive competent instruction in music or painting. To make the +arrangement most effective there will need to be a musical instrument in +her own home, a conveyance at her ready disposal, and a regular +allowance of time for practice. No just and affectionate parents can +deny their young daughter any fewer advantages than these, if the means +for securing them can at all be acquired. + + +THE REWARD WILL COME IN TIME + +The lessons in painting or fine needlework may be provided for in the +same way. If the expense seems heavy, the far-sighted parents will think +of their declining days of the future and imagine the large return the +daughter may render them through the skill which they have been +instrumental in developing in her. + +But without waiting for old age to overtake them the father and mother +of the girl artist may derive some benefits from her work. She may +furnish the table service with hand-painted chinaware or adorn the walls +of the home with attractive paintings. And also, as heretofore +indicated, the daughter may herself in time conduct a class of amateur +students of the fine art in which she has made preparation. + +One word of precaution must be offered in reference to the training here +considered. In the usual case the girl is not started young enough. Her +advancement in the music, for example, is likely to be much more rapid +and her skill much more marked, if the age nine to eleven, rather than +five or six years later, be chosen as the beginning time. The author has +witnessed many pathetic instances of adult girls in a desperate attempt +to master the mechanical part of the introductory music. The extra +amount of desire and effort possible at this more advanced age do not +nearly compensate for the better memory and the greater facility of hand +and finger movement possible at the earlier age. This same general law +of early beginning probably holds good in respect to the other fine +arts. + +In relation to all the foregoing seemingly trivial matters there comes +to mind what is perhaps the most serious problem that confronts +practically every well-reared young woman; namely, that of her +successful marriage to a worthy young man--a subject to be discussed at +length in another paper. And so it is contended that if her future +happiness or well-being be a consideration, if the realization of her +fondest hopes and her instinctive desires be worthy of the thought of +her parents; then, they must by all means see that some of the foregoing +refining qualities become woven into her whole character during the +formative period. Thus she may be given practically every possible +advantage in finding that true life companion. + + +THE MOTHER'S OFFICE AS TEACHER + +In his usual familiar and straightforward way "Uncle" Henry Wallace thus +addresses the country mother through the medium of an editorial in +_Wallaces' Farmer_:-- + +"It is the mother that shapes and molds the character of the girl. If +she is sweet spirited, looks out upon the world hopefully and desirous +of seeing the best in men and women, her daughters will as a rule have +the same sort of outlook. If she permits gossip and fault-finding at the +table, her daughters may reasonably be expected to do likewise. If she +sharply criticises the preacher's sermon at the Sabbath dinner, she need +not expect her daughters to become devout. If she is a poor housekeeper, +how can she expect her daughters to excel in that finest of all arts? We +know something of the depth and tenderness of a mother's love, how +earnestly she seeks the welfare of her daughter; but if she has a wrong +conception of what is best in life, even this unspeaking affection may +be the source of evil instead of good. + +"One of the first things you should consider about that girl of yours is +her health. Give her plain food and plenty of it, sensible clothing, a +well-ventilated and well-lighted room, and all the exercise that she +wants, even if she does seem to be something of a tomboy; and, barring +accidents, she will usually be healthy through early girlhood. When she +begins to develop into womanhood is the time for you, mother, to do what +no one else can. Tell her about herself, about the changes that must +come, and about the care she must take of herself if she is to be a +healthy and happy wife and mother. A mistake here through false modesty +is often the source of trouble for years to come." + + +HOME-LIFE EDUCATION + +This book is based on the assumption that every good young woman is good +for something of a practical nature. In considering the make-up of such +a character, it seems reasonable to assert that no other qualities stand +out more prominently than the trained ability to carry on successfully +the work of the household. The necessary drudgery of the home life seems +to be the greatest burden that modern society has placed upon women. +Proportionately great should be the preparation to bear this burden. The +ideal to be realized is, perhaps, not that the girl may be enabled to do +more of such work, but that she may be trained to be true mistress of +it. Woman's work is never done, and it never will be, no matter how many +worthy women kill themselves in an attempt to finish it. So the greatest +thing to be desired in respect to this unending round of toil and +drudgery is that of a well-poised, spiritually-minded character, such as +may enable its possessor to sit down at the end of a working period +unusually long and in spite of the confusion and unfinished business +restore the composure and keep in touch with the higher implications of +life. + +It is not really a difficult matter to teach the ordinary growing girl +to work and perform faithfully all of her assigned duties. It is more of +a task to teach her how to quit when she has worked long enough and +thereby to preserve her health and prolong her services. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXIX. + +FIG. 36.--These country boys and girls supply the home neighborhood with +the produce from the school garden. Such work is first-class vocational +training.] + + +EDUCATION FOR SUPREMACY + +It is unquestionably a splendid aid to successful womanhood for the +growing girl to be taught how to cook and sew and take care of a house. +But as a guarantee of peace and happiness throughout life she had better +be taught many specific lessons in self-mastery. And it seems certain +that the farm home offers many more advantages for developing a poised +character in the young woman than does the city home. So let it be seen +to by country parents that their girls be trained from childhood to meet +life's stress and storm with calm composure and sweet serenity. Only +such training will suffice to tide the latter over the great crushing +ordeals that tend at some time to fall to the lot of every good woman. + +Conditions in the well-ordered country home may be made to contribute to +another form of self-mastery in the growing girl. That is, she may be +made supreme over the conventionalities of dress and the social customs +that touch her life. By this it is not intended to prescribe in respect +to such things as the style or appearance of the young woman's clothing. +She may be first or last or medium in the list of the well-dressed. But +it is here contended that she can be trained to subordinate these +matters to a personal charm that is her very own, and that emanates from +a beautiful and well-poised life within. It is quite as destructive to +good character for one to be meanly clothed through necessity and at the +same time envy and despise those who are better dressed as it is to be +among the richly adorned and try to make mere adornment a mark of better +and superior rank in society, or a means of lacerating the feelings of +one's associates. + +The country mother will let pass one of the rarest forms of opportunity +for refining and beautifying the character of her daughter if she does +not educate the latter rightly in respect to these conventionalities. +Train her to be neat and attractive in appearance, but at the same time +teach her that no manner of outer adornment can cover up or substitute +for sweetness and purity of the inner life. The splendid effects of such +an education will reveal themselves to best advantage in the young woman +when she has finally entered a home of her own. If she cannot then and +there shine in a light that emanates from her own soul, the sacrificial +work of ministering to the needs of her own household will never be well +performed. + + +AN OUTLOOK FOR SOCIAL LIFE + +Provision will by all means be made that the growing country girl be +introduced to the best social life within reach. She must mingle with +those of her own age and learn how others think and act. She must attend +parties and the other social gatherings, especially the literary +societies if there be any available. For the sake of her training, if +for no better reason, she may be brought into close relation to the +Sunday school and the church. It will be good, indeed, if she find some +congenial work in one or both of these organizations. Let it be +remembered that the healthy-minded, well-matured woman is very probably +at her best and is most highly satisfied and contented with life only +when she has opportunities to perform some kind of worthy social +service. Farm parents may well bring it about, therefore, that their +young daughter have some specific deeds of altruism to perform. Let her +carry a small gift or a word of cheer to the door of the sick or the +infirm. Let her make with her own hands some simple, inexpensive present +to be carried to the one who needs it most and whose heart will be made +glad by it. + +Above all things else, it must be provided that something more than the +mere grasping nature of the young country girl be indulged and +developed. Some there are who still contend that life for men is, at its +best, a game of chance and contention. But such an ideal, if held up to +the growing girl, will tend to check or destroy all that is best and +most beautiful in the feminine nature. Young women especially must learn +through practice that the best and most beautiful character is +altogether consistent with the performance of deeds of service and +altruism. + +Finally, educate into the daughter as much habitual cheerfulness as +possible, let her heart be made glad again and again, not merely +because of what she has, and because of what she receives day by day, +but also and especially on account of what she gives out of the best and +sweetest of her own nature in behalf of those whom she may find occasion +to help and cheer on their way over the journey of life. All this will +help to make her a creature of whom not only the other members of her +family, but also the entire community will be most proud. + + +REFERENCES + + My Escape from Household Drudgery. Mary Patterson. _Success + Magazine_, August, 1911. + + Proceedings of Child Conference of Research and Welfare. + Beulah Kennard. Page 47, "The Play Life of Girls." G. E. + Stechert & Co., New York. + + Women's School of Agriculture. I. H. Harper. _Independent_, + June 29, 1911. + + The Girl of To-morrow--Her Education. E. H. Baylor. _World's + Work_, July, 1911. Prize essay. + + Education of Women for Home Making. Mrs. W. N. Hutt. Annual + Volume N.E.A., 1910, p. 122. + + Give the Girls a Chance. Canfield. _Collier's_, March 12, + 1910. + + The Durable Satisfactions of Life. Charles W. Eliot. Pages + 11-57, "The Happy Life." Crowell. + + The Kind of Education Best Suited for Girls. Anna J. + Hamilton. Annual Volume N.E.A., 1907. p. 65. + + Parasitic Culture. Dr. George E. Dawson. _Popular Science + Monthly_, September, 1910. + + Training the Girl to help in the Home. William A. McKeever. + Pamphlet. 2 cents. Published by the author. Manhattan, Kan. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +_THE FARM BOY'S CHOICE OF A VOCATION_ + + +Turn which way you will upon the great broad highway of life and there +you will always be able to find the wrecks and broken forms of +humankind--men and women who have failed in their life purposes. Strange +to say, that particular aspect of the science of character-building +which has to do with the substantial preparation for vocational life has +been very much neglected. By what rule do men succeed in their callings +and by what different rule do other men fail? Are some foreordained to +success and others to failure? Is there an inherent strength in some and +a native weakness in others? Is there a type of education and training +which specifically fits and prepares for each of the native callings? +None of these questions has been thoroughly gone into with a view to +finding out what were best to be done and what best to leave undone. So, +we blunder away, hit or miss, in the vocational training of our boys and +girls. + + +SHOULD THE FARMER'S SON FARM? + +In attempting to give helpful suggestions to farm parents relative to +their boy's vocation, perhaps this question will first demand an +answer. The tentative reply to it is this: The farmer's son, or any +other man's son, should follow that calling for which he is best suited +by nature and in which he will thereby have the greatest amount of +native interest; provided it be practicable to prepare him for such +calling. Some farm boys are destined by nature for mechanical pursuits, +others for social or clerical work, others for captains of industry, and +so on. Likewise, the city boys may reveal in their natures a great +variety of instinctive tendencies and interests which will be found of +great worth in guiding them into a successful life occupation. + +Yes, the farmer's son should by all means take up his father's business; +provided that at maturity he may have both native and acquired interest +in the same and that to a degree predominating any other native or +acquired interest. + + +IMPATIENCE OF PARENTS + +It can be proved that the country boy matures more slowly than the city +boy. For example, at the age of sixteen, he is behind the latter in +height, weight, school training, and sociability. But while the city boy +matures more rapidly, the country boy makes up for the loss by a longer +period of development. It is the author's firm belief that this fact of +slow growth proves a tremendous advantage to the country youth in that +it allows for greater stability of character, and especially for a +greater amount of courage and aggressiveness in form of permanent life +habits. + +But one might well wish that all rural parents could realize the evil +consequences of being impatient with the son in respect to his choice of +a life work. Many a good boy yet in his teens is hounded and driven +about by the continuous nagging of his parents, who ignorantly believe +that he should have his future destiny all planned and ready for its +realization. As a result, this same good boy is often driven to +desperation and to the point of leaving the home place--of breaking away +from the affectionate ties that bind him to parents, and of seeking the +position wherein he might earn a living. As a matter of fact, few young +men have any very clear or reliable vision of their future life at the +age of eighteen, or even twenty. Many of the best men in the world are +faltering and uncertain even as late as twenty-five. However, if the +relatives and friends would only exercise all due patience, offering +only such helps and suggestions as can be given, and trusting the future +finally to throw upon the problem a light from within the youth +himself--then, we may be assured, practically every man will finally +come to some line of effort that will bring him a comfortable living. + + +WHAT OF PREDESTINATION? + +The old-fashioned idea of a boy's being marked by the hand of destiny, +"cut out for" some particular calling in life, still has a place in the +minds of the masses. The kindred belief that some men are "natural-born +failures" has also wide currency. A third superstition is the very +common opinion that others are "just naturally lucky." All these +traditional opinions are the outgrowth of ignorance of human nature such +as may be dispelled by means of a course of instruction, or a carefully +arranged course of home reading, in modern psychology. + +None of the foregoing superstitions would be worthy of our attention +were it not for the gross injustice which they entail upon children. +Parents everywhere--in both city and country--are dealing with their +children upon the assumption that one and all of these fallacies are +true. "My oldest boy just naturally has no luck," said the father of +three sons and two daughters. "He changes around from one thing to +another and fails every time." But what of this particular boy's early +training? Was it the same as that of the others? Did he enjoy equal +advantages? Did his parents when married really know anything about +rearing children? or, did they really mistreat their first-born through +ignorance and use him as a sort of practice material from which they +learned how to do better by the succeeding ones? + +Until the foregoing inquiries about the "unlucky" son's boyhood life be +fully answered, we cannot reasonably permit ourselves to condemn him. +There is nothing more in predestination than this; namely, it can be +shown that the child is born with not a few latent abilities--aptitudes +for doing and learning this and that--and that one of these aptitudes is +likely to have correlated with it more than the average amount of nerve +development in the corresponding brain center. As a result, that +particular aptitude will require less training than the others and will +tend to predominate over them as maturity is approached. + +The reply of the psychologist to the statement that some men are +"natural-born failures," is this: Few if any of those possessed of +ordinary physical and mental qualities at birth are necessarily so. +Excepting the feeble-minded and the like,--whose marks of degeneracy are +usually apparent to all,--it may be asserted on the highest authority +that none are "natural-born failures" to any greater extent than they +are "natural-born successes"; but that they have within the inherited +nerve mechanisms many possibilities of both success and failure. + + +THREE METHODS OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING + +We should be willing to overlook almost any other interest in this +discussion for the sake of inducing in the farm father the belief that +his young boy is a potential success--the belief that this boy is +furnished by nature with the latent ability to shine somewhere in the +broad field of human endeavor--provided he be rightly trained and +disciplined during his growing years. Here, then, is probably the +greatest of all the human-training problems; namely, the vocational one. + +Roughly speaking, there have been three methods of vocational training. + +1. _The apprentice method._--First, historically there has been the +apprentice method, the youth being "bound out to learn a trade." The +chief faults of this traditional way of teaching the boy to be +self-supporting were these: it made no allowance for intellectual +development, and it gave the father too much authority to choose the +calling for the boy. + +A modern offshoot of the old-time apprentice course is the trade school +which flourishes in many of the big cities to-day. This new institution +has one great advantage over its prototype. It offers such a great +variety of forms of training that the youth may exercise much free +choice. But it preserves one of the serious defects of apprenticeship in +its neglect of the intellect of the learner. The modern trade school can +never hope to do more than prepare young men and women to make a good +living. It is a get-ready-quick institution, and can never be expected +to give the student breadth of view and depth of insight into the great +problems of human life. + +2. _The cultural method._--The second-oldest method of preparing men for +a vocation is what has been called the cultural method. It has aimed at +high advancement in book learning with the thought of finally enabling +the student to enter a professional class comparatively few in numbers +and supposed to possess a superior advantage over the great mass of +human kind. One fault of this method has been to emphasize learning for +its own sake and to defer too long the training of the individual in the +material and practical side of his calling. + +But the chief fault of this cultural method has been its contempt for +common labor and ordinary industry, its theory being that true education +prepares one to avoid such practices. If the young man wished to prepare +for law or medicine or teaching or the ministry,--one of the "learned +professions,"--then the old classical school was at his service. But if +he would become a mere artisan or industrial worker, there was no +advanced course of schooling available. + +3. _The developmental method._--The third and newest method of preparing +the young person for his vocational life is in reality a compromise +between the first and second. It provides that the learner shall have +book instruction and industrial training at the same time, and that both +of these are to be regarded as cultural, since taken together they +prepare for independence of thought and action, and for the vocation, as +well. This new method of preparing young people for their life work +would call nothing mean or low. It aims to serve all impartially in +their struggle for self-improvement and vocational success. But its +motto is the development of head and hand together. It seeks to produce +cultured handicraftsmen as well as cultured artists and professional +men. + + +THE FARMER FORTUNATE + +Our justification for the foregoing somewhat lengthy discussion of the +different theories of education is that of wishing to be certain of +bespeaking the father's patience and forbearance in the preparation of +his son for the vocational life. The farmer is most fortunate in having +ready at hand a large amount and variety of industrial practice to +supplement the boy's book lessons. In this respect he probably has a +superior advantage over all other classes. + +But in guiding his boy gradually toward the vocational life the farm +father can easily mistake what is merely a passing interest on the +former's part for a permanent one. The carefully kept records of farm +boys show that they take up many different lines of work with great +enthusiasm, and yet soon tire of them and drop them. These serial and +transitory interests are usually mere juvenile responses to the +awakening of some new nerve centers. They are not much different in +nature from the brief passing interest which the child has in his +various playthings. + +Now, the chief function of these transitory interests in special forms +of work and learning as shown by the young growing boy is this: to +furnish the occasions for a great variety of activities and practices +for trying him out on all the possible sides of his nature. Not one of +these intense boyish interests is necessarily very directly preparatory +to his final choice of a vocation, while all are indirectly so. +Therefore, if the fifteen-year-old son chances to win in a corn-raising +contest, or at a live-stock exhibition, or if he manifests unusual +interest in arithmethic, declamation, or nature study, do not regard any +of these as necessarily pointing to his best possible vocational work. +Presumably, at such an undeveloped age, he is still in possession of +some latent interests and aptitudes, one of which may far outweigh any +such thing hitherto awakened in his life. Give him time to mature and, +if at all practicable, send him on to college. + + +WHAT COLLEGE FOR THE COUNTRY BOY + +It is the opinion of the author that the State Agricultural College, as +now situated and organized, is the ideal institution of higher learning +for the country-bred youth. It offers him every reasonable incentive and +opportunity for continuing in the calling of his father, if he be so +inclined, while at the same time it gives instruction in many other +departments of learning. Whether the state institution be a separate +one or merely a college within the organization of the state university +matters little. In either case the young man will be brought within +reach of a course in scientific farming, stock raising, horticulture, +and the like, either to choose or let alone--and the so-called cultural +work will still be there for the taking. + + +THE FOUNDATION IN WORK + +Many rural parents, weighted down with the over-work of the farm, +cherish and express a very earnest desire that their sons may find some +easier form of earning a living. So they deliberately plan with the boy +the "easy" course to be pursued. Said one such farmer: "Wife and I +decided that there would not be much in it for Henry except hard work if +he settled down on the home place, so we decided to send him to college +and educate him for something that offered less work and more pay." So +they shielded the son from the heavier duties of the farm and encouraged +in every way the boy's thought of an easy way to success. + +But one thing these well-meaning parents failed to foresee. That is, +when the boy entered college, he began to look for that same sort of +royal road to learning. The assigned lessons and tasks soon took the +appearance of drudgery and he dodged and avoided them wherever possible. +In less than a year the youth had failed at college and was back home. +"The confinement of the college did not agree with his health." More +than three years have passed since, and the boy has spent the time +drifting from one "job" to another and all the while growing weaker in +character and integrity. + +Here we have but another instance of the old, old story, with its tragic +aspects. Yet, nearly all the faltering, vacillating men now drifting +about the country might have been saved through careful training in the +performance of work. The boy who would be insured success in his coming +vocation must be required to buckle down to solid work of a kind and +amount to suit his years and strength. He must learn through the +character-building experience of toil, not only what it means to stay by +an assigned duty till it is performed, but he must also experience the +unfailing joy of work well done. He will thus have the advantage of the +spur of successful effort and acquire the beginnings of that splendid +self-reliance which is a distinguishing mark of all successful men. + + +CLEAN UP THE PLACE + +But there is a sort of drudgery and of ugliness against which the boy's +nature instinctively rebels, and it ought to. By this we mean to refer +to the actual conditions of over-work and the accompanying run-down +appearance that characterizes so many farm homes to-day. No wonder the +boys hasten away to the city to find a "job." + +Why not clean up the place by cutting away the underbrush and weeds, by +planting shade trees and repairing fences and out buildings, by painting +and renovating the house and barn?--and all this as an investment in +behalf of the children and their possible future interest in the farm +home as the best place on earth in which to dwell? All this and more +might be urged as means of guiding the thoughts of the farm boy towards +the possibilities of his taking up the calling of his father. And while +all these material advantages may not serve to overcome the natural +tendency of the young man to seek a radically different type of +occupation, they will at least make it more certain that his natural +abilities for an agricultural pursuit were not left unawakened. + + +MONEY VALUE OF AN AGRICULTURAL EDUCATION + +The College of Agriculture in Cornell University some time ago made an +inquiry into the educational status of the farmers in a certain county +of New York. It was found that out of 573 farmers, 398 had not advanced +farther than the district school, 165 had attended high school one or +more years, and 10 had received a college education. The 398 who had +attended district school only were receiving yearly for their labor +$318; the 165 farmers of high school education were receiving annually +$622; and the 10 who had attended college one or more years were +receiving an average of $847 income for their services. + +The foregoing investigation is at least suggestive in its results. It +tends to prove that there is an actual earning-capacity value in the +higher agricultural education. While the matter has never been +extensively studied, it can doubtless be shown that the graduates of the +agricultural course are receiving much larger incomes than any of the +classes named above. In addition it can doubtless be shown that these +graduates are better equipped, not only for earning a livelihood, but +for substantial citizenship. Of course there are many notable exceptions +to this rule, but the rule is, nevertheless, general. + +Now, if the farm parent wishes to figure his boy's future on the basis +of money-earning capacity, he can easily be shown that the higher +schooling in the average case increases such capacity. In addition there +is abundant evidence of the fact that the higher schooling gives the +young man a much better equipment for serving the society in which he is +to live. + + +A SUCCESSFUL VOCATION CERTAIN + +Finally, it may be said that the successful vocational life of the +ordinary country-bred boy may be guaranteed as practically certain, +provided he have every ordinary advantage of development and training of +which he is capable. Train him early in lessons of obedience and work; +make his life more wholesome through ample play and recreation; see that +he learns how to earn money and how to save a part of his earnings; +provide that he attend the public school regularly until at least the +grammar grades be finished; give him an opportunity to become personally +interested in the business side of the farm life; allow him +opportunities to mingle with the cleanest possible society of his own +age; and then await patiently his own inner promptings as to what line +of work he should take up. A college course may prove necessary in order +to help him uncover deeper and better levels that lie hidden in his +nature. Then, after he has chosen a calling in this careful and reliable +way, with all your might, mind, and soul encourage and support him in +his efforts! This is practically the only way to make a big, efficient +man and citizen of your boy and to make his calling a _divine_ calling. + + +REFERENCES + + _Vocational Education._ Published bi-monthly. $1.50 per year. + The Manual Arts Press, Peoria, Ill. + + Vocational Education. John M. Gillette. Chapter VI, + "Importance of the Economic Interest in Society." American + Book Company. + + Vocational Guidance of Youth. Meyer Bloomfield. Chapter II, + "Vocational Chaos and its Consequences." Houghton, Mifflin + Company. The entire volume is most timely and helpful. + + The Problem of Vocational Education. David Snedden, Ph.D. + Houghton, Mifflin Company. + + New Type of Rural School House. W. H. Jenkins. _Craftsman_, + May, 1911. + + Vocational Direction, or The Boy and his Job. _Annals + American Academy_, March, 1910. + + Education for a Vocation. President's address before the + N.E.A. Annual Volume, 1908, p. 56. + + Vocational Direction. E. W. Lord. _Annals Academy of + Political and Social Science_ (Philadelphia), March, 1910. + + Social Phase of Education. Samuel T. Dutten. Page 143, "The + Relation of Education to Vocation." Macmillan. The entire + book is sound and sane. + + Income of College Graduates Ten Years after Graduation. H. A. + Miller. _Science_, Feb. 4, 1910. + + Occupations of College Graduates as Influenced by the + Undergraduate Course. F. P. Keppel. _Educational Review_, + December, 1910. + + Assisting the Boy in the Choice of a Vocation. Pamphlet. Wm. + A. McKeever. Manhattan, Kan. + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +_THE FARM GIRL'S PREPARATION FOR A VOCATION_ + + +What, may we ask, are rural parents doing in regard to the careful +preparation of their growing daughters for the vocational life? The +author has frequently asserted that many a farmer is to-day giving +vastly more thought to the question of preparing his live stock for the +money market than to preparing his girls for their life work. The +seriousness, the well-nigh cruelty, of this situation becomes apparent +only when we inquire into the facts. How long must this carelessness +continue? How long will farmers remain indifferent to the tremendous +responsibility of giving their children every possible aid in the +direction of a high and worthy occupation? Their chief concern continues +to be centered too exclusively upon the cattle and the hogs and the +corn. Are the boys and girls to be left to shift for themselves? And are +they to continue to have their careers determined by mere chance and +incident? + +[Illustration: PLATE XXX. + +FIG. 37.--Country school girls learning the rudiments of cooking. In no +distant future such work will be required along with the traditional +subjects.] + + +WHAT IS THE OUTLOOK + +So, if the country father having a young family were here before us, we +should ask him: What is the outlook in regard to a happy future for +your growing daughter? Do you want her to take her place among the men +and be forced to do some sort of man's work in order to obtain her +bread? or, do you earnestly desire that she find some sort of worthy +woman's work? And if the latter be your choice, what helpful agencies +are you bringing to bear upon the situation? In the midst of all your +consideration of these matters touching your daughter, we should have +you most earnestly and prayerfully consider at least one thing; namely, +with few possible exceptions, the healthy, growing girl looks forward +instinctively to the time when she is to become mistress of a household +of her own. And in every case, if the girl fails to become such a +mistress, there is only one reasonable alternative to be thought of and +that is to provide that she engage in some sort of work which will give +expression in the largest possible measure to that which is best and +truest in her feminine nature. + +Ordinarily, in planning for the future of their daughter, parents might +as well consider the problem as having a two-fold aspect. Assuming first +of all that the girl instinctively desires to preside over a home of her +own, how can she best be prepared for that place? Second, in case that, +by some miscarriage of plans, she fails to reach this most worthy +ambition, what may she safely fall back upon as an adequate means of +self-support? Now, if this statement of the matter be a correct one, it +seems that the general scope of the problem of preparing a girl for her +vocation ought to be fairly clear. Still another way of putting the +situation is this: The girl must be carefully prepared, not only for her +first choice of an occupation, but also for her second choice, because +of grave danger of the failure of her first choice to be realized. + +There is a perplexing aspect of the whole question implied here, and +every parent who has a daughter should become aware of it and also +prepared to confront it. That is to say, almost any ordinary man may go +out into the open market and push his quest for a life companion and be +able to return in the course of a very short period with one at his +side. But with the girl it is radically different. Practically her only +stock-in-trade consists of her personal charm and her pecuniary +advantages. And many a young woman with both of these qualities very +strongly in her favor fails, by some chance or other, to receive an +acceptable offer of marriage. Statistics widely gathered will show that +age is also a very positive factor in this matter, and that the ratio of +probability of marriage of a single woman begins to fall very rapidly +before she reaches thirty. + + +DESIRABLE OCCUPATIONS FOR WOMEN + +While there is abundant evidence to prove that the great majority of +normal young women desire instinctively and above all things else a +happy marriage, including a contented home life and children to care +for, some alternatives must be now pointed out in case of failure to +realize the highest ambition. + +1. _May teach the young._--School teaching is perhaps the most common, +as well as the most commendable, occupation for unmarried women. In many +a case, the farmer's daughter will find it greatly to her advantage to +engage in this occupation for one or more terms. Thousands of the most +worthy young women in our land are devoting their lives to this highest +of secondary vocations for women. The work of teaching gives exercise to +the altruistic feminine nature and approaches in a fair degree the +satisfaction which comes to the mother who is sacrificing for children +of her own. + +But school teaching wears heavily on the vitality of nearly all young +women who follow it long. Diseases peculiar to the sex are said to be +very prevalent among such teachers, probably resulting from an excessive +amount of standing. Tens of thousands of girls are going from the farm +home to the school room, some of them to remain permanently in the +business, but the majority to earn money of their own and to place +themselves in better position for successful marriage. So, perhaps the +first duty of the country parents to the daughter who takes up school +teaching is to see that the latter's health be not seriously impaired +thereby. After that, the young woman's proper advancement in the +profession may be thought of. The ungraded district school is an +excellent trying-out and testing position for the young teacher. But if +she continues many terms in the school room, graded work will prove more +advantageous, especially in the important matter of bringing the young +woman into the company of marriageable young men. + +2. _May take up stenography._--A vast army of young women now support +themselves with the use of the typewriter. This work pays slightly more +the year round than school teaching. It is somewhat more confining; but, +for various other reasons, it is less deleterious to the general health. +Such office business, however, subjects the young woman to many +temptations. It is the opinion of the author that stenography is not at +all a desirable occupation for the farmer's daughter to enter. The +continued absence from home, the constant association with people +differing radically in tastes and manners from the rural population, not +to mention again the many temptations to accept lower moral +standards--these and other matters will tend to estrange the farm +daughter from her parents and to make them feel that something of the +former charm of sweet simplicity and home affection has passed +permanently out of her life. + +One thing at least is to be considered before the daughter be permitted +to leave the country home for an office position. That is, the work is +not to be considered as permanent, but rather as a possible means of +preparing for marriage and the contented home life that should follow. + +3. _May do social work._--Next to the work of teaching, perhaps the +social-service work now being developed and carried on in the cities +would make its appeal to the true-hearted young woman. Here again we +have a sort of task that dips into the affections and sympathies of the +worker and furnishes an opportunity for her to give freely out of the +best she has in her make-up. Among the fortunate considerations of +teaching and social work are the opportunities they offer for the +sympathetic care and guidance of children--the indulgence of altruism +and the mother instinct in the young woman. Parents will observe as a +rule that their daughter returns from such occupations as these with +increased affections for the home family and the home life and a broader +and more general interest in people. + +In recent years there has developed a new and remarkably promising field +of social work for both young men and young women. Charitable, +philanthropic, and other social-welfare institutions have been greatly +multiplied, while their work has been put on a scientific basis. The +modern method of securing employees in such places is that of calling +persons especially trained and fitted to do the work required, and to +pay reasonably for the service. Several new, first-class schools and +institutions for training workers in this human field have been recently +organized. + +Now, if country parents become anxious to have their daughter go away to +the city and find desirable employment and that at living wages, the +author recommends this new line of social work most highly. For reasons +given above, and for others, it will prove an excellent stepping-stone +to the home life--the work is in the general field of human betterment +so inviting to the natural instincts of the well-reared young woman; the +associates are persons likewise interested in human welfare and ranking +high in moral and religious character; the required work is usually of a +nature to awaken the deepest sympathies and affections and to make the +countenance of the worker shine with a new spiritual light. + +4. _May secure clerkships._--Clerking and general store work is much +followed by young women to-day, but such work may be put down in the +list of hazardous occupations for women of any age. Close economic +conditions in the cities force many thousands of girls to leave home and +seek clerkships at a wage so low as indirectly to undermine the health +and more directly to impair the morals. Great armies of these girls are +compelled to live in dingy, cramped quarters, to subsist on much less +than the quantity of wholesome food necessary for good health, to +practice the strictest economy in matters of dress--to say nothing of +the constant temptation to sell their virtue as a means of increasing +the small income to the living margin. + +Only in extreme cases, therefore, will intelligent farm parents consent +to their daughter's leaving home to take up a clerkship, and that when +her home life and her social surroundings can be satisfactorily foreseen +and arranged for in advance. Even then, the question must be raised: +Will this new position probably prove helpful as an introduction to a +better form of occupation? + +No other possible occupations for the farmer's daughter will be listed +here excepting that of trained nurse--a position in which many young +women are doing a splendid service for humanity and at the same time +supporting themselves adequately. But of course such a position should +not be thought of unless the girl feels an inner call to take it up. +Practically all other outside lines of work for women are too masculine. +Parents should by no means allow their daughters to take up a life task +that means nothing other than mere money-making. Many women, it is true, +are succeeding to-day in business callings, but they are doing so as a +rule in violation of certain laws of nature. Many of these business +women are masculine in their dispositions and they become more so as the +unnatural calling continues to be pursued. + + +A COLLEGE COURSE FOR THE GIRL + +At first thought it would seem that ability to prepare a good meal and +to do her own sewing might constitute all the education in household +economy necessary for any young woman. But such proves not to be the +case. There are hundreds of home-making problems, great and small, for +which mere knowledge of the two important affairs just named will +provide no answer. While the ability to cook and sew well are doubtless +essential characteristics of the good housekeeper, they are not at all a +guarantee that their possessor is a good home maker. + +Parents must learn to take the larger and more liberal view of the +future of their children. Not merely practice in the culinary art, but +also a developed and refined personality; not merely industrial +efficiency, but also constructive ability of a social nature; not merely +mechanical skill in managing the details of housework, but a set of +well-matured, effective plans for making the home over which she +presides a place of joy and contentment for the other members of the +family--these are some of the evidences of character which the wise, +far-seeing parent might well desire for his daughter. Now, it is the +thesis of this chapter that the normal woman is at her best only when +she has become mistress of her own well-managed household. But such an +exalted position can scarcely be reached except through a broad, general +course of preparation. + +The one-sided, classical college training has spoiled for life many +otherwise good and happy women. Such a course tends strongly to draw the +mind and the affections of the young woman away from the home and from +motherhood and other such matters so fundamental to the well-being of +the race. But in seeking for an ideal school for the daughter the farmer +will find unsurpassed that institution which offers extensive courses in +household art and management, supplemented fully with work in the +so-called culture subjects--language, literature, history, sociology, +psychology, and economics. This work constitutes what might be called a +balanced schedule of instruction for the young woman. If pursued to its +conclusion, such a course of training enriches her personality and +multiplies her opportunities for future usefulness many fold. + + +ASSOCIATIONS WITH REFINED YOUNG MEN + +If the young woman's preparation for her life work be satisfactory to +all, she must have extensive experience in the society of young men such +as only the co-educational college can give. As her position in the +rural home has been already too much isolated, an exclusive women's +college is least to be desired as a place to educate the country girl. +But the domestic science course in a state university or a state +agricultural college will be found almost ideal. Here the girl may be +held to a reasonable performance of her assigned duties, while at the +same time she may mingle freely in the society of both sexes. + +Indeed, if the thesis of this chapter be a sound and tenable +one,--namely, that normally woman's highest satisfaction is to be sought +through helping her attain efficient home life,--then, there is every +reason for agreeing with the late Professor James in his contention that +every young woman ought to be taught how to know a good man. It is +distinctively the business of the young college woman, not only to +prepare well all her lessons in household economy and the literary +subjects, but also to keep her eye out for a suitable life companion. +And her father should be made to realize that her opportunities for +marrying a man of high worth and ability are increased many fold through +the completion of a course in the ideal form of co-educational college. + +Marriages among college mates are usually most successful, both in the +final establishment of substantial home life and in point of resulting +in a reasonable number of well-reared children. Statistics gathered +widely show that the young woman college graduate marries somewhat later +than her non-attending sister, that she has slightly better health, that +her children are somewhat fewer, but better reared. + +[Illustration: PLATE XXXI. + +FIG. 38.--a girls' class in sewing. No girl of this age needs to wear +any better garment than she can make with her own needle if she be +rightly trained. Such training is a part of real preparation for life.] + + +MAKE THE DAUGHTER ATTRACTIVE + +It may therefore be urged upon all rural parents, as a cold business +proposition, as well as a duty, that they take every reasonable +precaution to develop in their growing daughters both an attractive +personality and a beauty of the inner character, whether she be so +fortunate as to attend a good college or not. All this must be done with +a thought of rendering the daughter as attractive as possible in respect +to any worthy young man who may in time seek her heart and hand in +marriage. It is time for parents to cease passing this thing by as a +mere piece of sentimentalism and to begin to do the fair thing by their +girls. Why should it longer come to pass in this enlightened age that +some parents break down the physical health of their girls with the +burden of over-work and thus consign them to a life of moping and bitter +disappointment for the future; that other parents indulge their girls in +the giddy, butterfly type of life and thus blight their prospects of a +substantial and satisfactory place in human society? + + +SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION + +In summarizing and concluding this chapter we wish to remind the reader +of what has been said in the preceding ones. There are a number of +distinctive elements that must be carefully wrought into the character +of the farmer's daughter with a view to laying a substantial foundation +for her future career. + +1. First of all, the girl's health must be kept in mind. She must not +have an over-burden of work heaped upon her delicate shoulders, nor must +she be allowed to expose herself unnecessarily to the inclemencies of +the weather so common in the ordinary rural districts. There are many +women moping about to-day, ill and despondent much of the time because +of the negligence of parents who permitted them when growing girls to +wade about through mud and slush and thus impair permanently their +physical well-being. Many of the minor ailments of mature life recur +habitually, and that because they were permitted to be acquired when the +organism was young and sensitive. + +2. The daughter must be taught how to carry on practically all the +necessary details of the housework. The plain cooking and sewing and the +general care of the home must be required as duties on the part of every +promising girl. It is especially obligatory on the part of rural parents +that they train the daughter in such a way as to make her a true +mistress of the household over which she may sometime preside. She must +learn through specific guidance how to subordinate the heavy home tasks +to her spiritual well-being. + +3. It is also essential that the girl learn how to manage the business +affairs of the home; especially, how to purchase the supplies of the +kitchen and the larder in the most economic fashion. She must also learn +both how to secure her own personal belongings at a reasonable cost and +how to make them serve her real needs without unnecessary expenditure +of money. It will be a great achievement in her behalf if the girl +approach her marriage day thoroughly imbued with the thought of +coöperating with her husband in the general business of maintaining a +home. + +4. We would remind the reader again of the necessity of giving attention +to the development of an attractive personality in the growing girl. +Pleasing manners, refined expressions, neat and attractive apparel, +kindliness and sympathy, frankness and straightforwardness--all these +should enter into her make-up and be thought of as parts of her +permanent character. They will also go far toward winning to her side a +suitable life companion. + +5. The young girl on the farm should have much advice in respect to the +nature and character of men. This will be achieved partly through her +well-ordered social life and partly through specific talks from +thoughtful parents. Country girls are probably less informed in respect +to the natures of men than are city girls. Many beautiful and innocent +young women are led astray either before or after marriage by evil and +designing men; many of them consummate marriages with men who have an +outer appearance of trustworthiness, but who harbor within some most +serious and insurmountable evil and disease. Although she may not for a +time be conscious of what her parents are doing, the latter should be +for years purposely engaged in preparing their daughter to know at sight +a good man. + +Finally, it may be said that there is no greater charm or thing of more +superior beauty in this good world of ours than the character of a woman +who has been well-born and well-reared, and who has been safely guided +into the home of her own wherein she reigns as mistress supreme. In this +ideal home the love and sympathy and the kindly deeds of the true +home-maker will reveal themselves permanently in the lives of her +children and her husband and the many others who come into contact with +her constructive personality. + + +REFERENCES + + Women's Ways of Earning Money. Cynthia Westover Alden. A. S. + Barnes & Co. + + The Home Builder. Dr. Lyman Abbott. Houghton, Mifflin + Company. Sympathetic and cheering. + + Almost a Woman. Mary Wood Allen, M.D. Crist, Scott & + Parshall, Coopertown, N.Y. A plain talk to the young woman + about her sex nature. + + The Problem of Vocational Education. David Snedden, Ph.D. + Chapter XII, "The Problem of Women in Industry." Houghton, + Mifflin Company. + + The Vocational Guidance of Youth. Meyer Bloomfield. Chapter + I, "The Choice of Life Work and its Difficulties." Houghton, + Mifflin Company. + + Parenthood and Race Culture. Charles W. Saleeby M.D. Chapter + X, "Marriage and Maternalism." Moffat, Yard & Co., New York. + + Should Women work for their Living? M. Yates. _Westminster + Review_, October, 1910. + + Social Diseases and Marriage. Educational Pamphlet, No. 3. + American Society of Sanitary and Moral Prophylaxis, New York. + 10 cents. Every parent should read this booklet. + + Vocational Training for Girls. Isabelle McGlaufin. + _Education_, April, 1911. + + A Healthy Race; Woman's Vocation. C. M. Hill. _Westminster + Review_, January, 1910. + + Social Adjustment. S. Nearing. Pages 128-148, "Dependence of + Women." Macmillan. + + Purposes of Women. F. W. Saleeby, M.D. _Forum_, January, + 1911. + + Does the College rob the Cradle? H. Boice. _Delineator_, + March, 1911. + + The College Woman as a Home Maker. M. E. Wooley. _Ladies' + Home Journal_, Oct. 1, 1910. + + The American Woman and her Home. Symposium. _Outlook_, April + 17, 1910. + + Teaching the Girl to Save. Home-Training Bulletin No. 7. 2 + cents. Wm. A. McKeever, Manhattan, Kan. + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +_CONCLUSION, AND FUTURE OUTLOOK_ + + +In concluding this volume we wish again to remind parents of the +necessity of working for specific results in the rearing of their +children. Modern man, unlike his ancestor, who roamed over the earth, is +a creature of complex and highly refined make-up which no primitive or +natural environment could possibly produce. The forces that work upon +his character development are so radically different from those which +formed the life of his remote forbears as possibly to account for the +contrasts in the two forms of finished personality. + +Although there is evidence to support the theory that man belongs to the +general evolutionary scheme of animal life, the progress of the race has +been so very slow that a thousand years of time can show no very +distinct improvement either in physical form or mental quality. While +the human young is exceedingly plastic as an individual,--yielding +easily from one side of his inherent activities to another,--the race is +relatively fixed and stable. + + +STRIVE FOR PRECONCEIVED RESULTS + +Parents and other instructors of the young must therefore accept their +charges as made up of very complex potentialities of learning and +achievement--each a bundle of latent characters transmitted to him from +the ancestral line. Many of these inherited characters are too weak in +any given individual ever to show in his life conduct; many others will +come to the surface only in response to proper stimuli and practice; +still others will break out and show a predominance almost in defiance +of any training intended to counteract them. + +But the teacher and trainer of the infant child may accept the theory +that the latter, if taken in time, can be bent and modified many ways in +his character formation; that such plasticity is, however, always +subject to the relative strength or weakness of the many inherited +aptitudes and activities latent within the individual. + +There is no good reason, therefore, why the parent should not begin +early to build up the character of his child in accordance with a +preconceived plan; provided such plan do no violence to any of nature's +stubborn and inexorable laws. The parent may also accept this task as a +long and tedious undertaking, and expect to get results in proportion as +he works intelligently for them. The farmer does not even think of +producing good crop results from his land without hard work and much +thought; then, why should he expect so delicate a plant as the human +young to reach satisfactory maturity without much care and +consideration? By far the greatest sin against the child is neglect of +his training. + + +CONSULT EXPERT ADVICE + +We must not be unmindful of the necessity of a balanced schedule of +activities for the child. The vegetable plant must have air, sunlight, +moisture, nitrogen, and so on, to support its growth. If one of these +essential elements be lacking, the result is fatal to the fruitage. So +with the child. If the best character results are to be expected, +certain essential elements must be put into use. We have named them as +play, work, recreation, and social experience. But as one approaches the +individual problem of child training it does not prove so simple and +easy as these terms imply. When and how to give each of these necessary +exercises, how much of each to furnish, the means thereof, and the +like--these and many other such questions begin to arise. + +When the parent reaches the point of perplexity in dealing with his +child, it is a fairly good indication that his interest is aroused, at +least. But what is to be done? Simply the same thing he would do at the +point of perplexity in the wheat propagation, _consult an expert_. If +one of the work mules becomes lame or reveals a bad disposition, should +the owner take it to an electrician for advice? If the family cow +becomes locoed or shows an unusual result in her milk product, should +one consult a piano tuner? Yet, strange to say, parents are often known +to do similarly in dealing with the perplexing problems of +child-rearing. Consult the popular magazines and the book shelves any +day and you will find many lengthy dissertations on the boy and the +girl, written not infrequently by persons who have spent a lifetime +studying _something else_. But they are very fond of children and they +mistake this fondness for knowledge of an expert kind; and worst of all, +they offer it as such. + +The farm parents who wish to receive expert advice in the treatment of +their children must learn to consult directly or through literature only +those who have made a long and intensive study of child problems. And in +the latter case they need not expect to obtain all necessary help from +one source alone. Usually the child-study expert is a specialist in only +one certain part of the field. For example, at the University of +Pennsylvania under Dr. Lightner Witmer, there has been made a specialty +of the sub-normal child. We should probably obtain from that source more +expert help in that one phase of child welfare than from any other +source in America. If one wishes reliable help on the subject of +diseases of children, he should naturally expect to obtain it from some +medical authority, from one Who has spent long years practicing in a +general hospital for children. One of the very few great sources of +information on the general psychology of child development is Clark +University, where many child-welfare problems have been worked out by +experts under the able direction of Dr. G. Stanley Hall. + + +MEET EACH AWAKENING INTEREST + +A very reliable general rule of guidance for the parent child trainer is +to strive to furnish intensive practice for each and every childish and +juvenile interest at the time of its awakening. As stated in Chapter II +the most predominant interests in the young emerge in response to the +unfoldment of instincts and the development of organic growths within. +Perhaps all do so. But the point of importance for the parent is to meet +each of these awakenings at the time of its highest activity with +intensive training. The instinct to play, to fight, to steal, to run +away, to work (?), to fall in love, to engage in some occupation, to +marry and make a home, to have children--these have been named as +especially important by virtue of their awakening successively the +individual's interests in matters of great consequence to character +development. + +But instincts are blind. Their possessor does not foresee the way they +point. They come suddenly and catch the subject unprepared to direct +their force in what we call intelligent ways. Hence, the extreme +necessity of there being present at the side of the child, at the time +of his instinctive awakening, some mature and intelligent person who has +been through the experiences the former is about to begin, and who will +sympathetically point the right way and insist that it be followed. + + +WORK FOR SOCIAL DEMOCRACY + +One can scarcely become deeply interested in the future of his own child +without coming intimately into touch with the child welfare problems at +large. Even country parents, isolated though they may be, will discover +that serious study of the matter of bringing up a family of good +children will require that they study the lives of other human young. +Moreover, they will need the use of other children as "laboratory" +material for training their own. All this will gradually lead the way to +a fuller social sympathy in such parents and to the inculcation of more +wholesome social ideals in the minds of their offspring. + +Finally, the rural parents who are seeking a full and adequate +development of the young members of their own family will most probably +see their way clear to assume a helpful leadership of the young people +of the neighborhood as advocated in Chapter X of this volume. + +While many agencies for the betterment of rural youth have been +discussed,--such as the County Y.M.C.A., the Boy Scout Movement, and the +Social and Economic Clubs,--the neighborhood which has at least one of +these agencies intensively at work may be considered fortunate. And it +may be said that such a neighborhood is well on the way to economic +improvement as well as social improvement. + + +THE OUTLOOK VERY PROMISING + +Throughout the United States there is being manifested a general +tendency to accept the theory that our human stock is relatively sound. +While there are seemingly large numbers of the criminal, delinquent, and +dependent classes, they are in reality comparatively few in proportion +to the entire population. And when we accept the estimate of the experts +that about ninety per cent of the cases included in the classes just +named are preventable through wise foresight and training, the outlook +for a better race of human beings becomes most cheering. + +"The proper study of mankind is man," says the poet. But for many +generations we have regarded this statement as mere poetry and not +necessarily truth. Our policy up to the recent past has been rather +this: The proper study of mankind is everything _except_ man, leaving +the all-important problems of child-rearing to the decisions of wise old +grand-mothers and debating societies. But a radical change has come, and +that within this present generation. Men and women highly trained in the +colleges and universities are now applying their scientific methods to +the study of man with no less zeal and earnestness than that which has +characterized the student of the non-human problems for many generations +of time. + +[Illustration: PLATE. XXXII. + +FIG. 39.--Sowing the seed, all by herself. + +FIG. 40.--Thinning the vegetables. + +New York Scenes.] + +Through the able conclusions of the painstaking expert the so-called +institutional life has been especially improved. The industrial +(reform) schools are now practicing a system of balanced activities--of +study, work, play, and the like--such as the findings of these +investigators have warranted. The method of paroling the delinquent +child, after he has spent a term of preparation, was proved most helpful +through the careful tests of a large number of cases. Recently the +parole system has been effectively applied to certain classes of +penitentiary convicts. A most productive agency for good now in use in +many of the prisons and all the industrial schools is that of building +up the waste places in the individual life through specific training and +instruction. The first question raised in such cases is, What is the +particular moral defect of the individual? second, What are the causes? +third, What will reconstruct his character and give permanent relief? +That is, the expert psychologist and the expert sociologist are being +called into service with the expert alienist and physician. The purpose +is to save and reconstruct the whole man. Compulsory education and trade +schooling are now very common in state prisons. + +In the care and protection of the insane and the feeble-minded our +country can boast of but slow progress. Many of the members of these +classes are permitted to run at large and even to marry and beget their +kind. Now, while our human stock is in its mass very sound and sane, +there are constantly being thrown off from it these mentally defective +classes. The complete obliteration of all such classes to-day would not +result in their complete disappearance from the race. Others would be +born as variants from normal parentage. But the evil of it all lies in +the fact that we are still permitting many of these defectives to +multiply, and that in the face of the fact that a normal child has never +been reported among the offspring of two feeble-minded parents. + + +THE MODERN SERVICE TRAINING + +Of all the institutions contributing to the direct improvement of the +race there is perhaps none surpassing in importance the modern training +school for social workers. In New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, St. +Louis, and other large cities such may be found usually affiliated with +some university or college. The general purpose is that of training men +and women to go into the field of social service and apply the methods +and conclusions worked out by the research student. Hitherto, much of +the social work has been conducted by persons possessing merely +religious zeal and enthusiasm. Their efforts were praiseworthy, but they +lacked the training necessary for coping with modern educational and +economic problems. The distinctive feature of the new methods is that it +is based on scientific and business principles. That is, the social +worker is trained in the same methodical way as the prospective lawyer +or school teacher, and is also paid reasonably for his services. + +The modern social worker not only proceeds with a well-defined plan, but +he usually makes or requires a survey of his newly-opened field. The +social survey--now becoming more common as a means of beginning a +campaign of improvement in the cities--has revealed some most +interesting, as well as distressing, situations in the submerged +districts. The housing situation, sanitary conditions, wages and incomes +of different classes, sweat-shop employment, the protection of workmen +in shops and factories, child-labor conditions, and so on--these are +examples of the problems of the investigator, while his tabulated +reports serve to guide the social worker. Now, the duties of the latter +are many, but in general they lie in the direction of improvement of the +conditions as found. Among the undertakings that often fall to his lot +are: establishing new social centers in congested districts, providing +for new parks and playgrounds, locating reading and recreation rooms, +organizing self-help and home-improvement clubs among the lower classes, +conducting cooking and sewing schools, and the like. + +Of special interest to the rural dweller is the fact that the modern +methods of first making surveys and then applying remedial agencies is +now being extended into the country districts, giving many marked +results already and promising greater ones for the future. + + +THE STATE DOING ITS PART + +That the nation and the state are active participants in these new forms +of child-conserving and man-saving endeavor is indicated on every side. + +The national government has encouraged the states in the enactment of +stringent child-labor laws. In the usual instance children under +fourteen to sixteen years of age are prohibited from working away from +home at gainful occupations. Correlated with this is the +compulsory-education law in the several states. + +The national and state governments have also coöperated in the enactment +of laws prohibiting the adulteration of foods and foodstuffs and in +enforcing better sanitation. As a result of such measures, state and +local, together with the help of greatly improved hospital practice, the +infant mortality in several of the large cities has been reduced more +than fifty per cent in the past decade. + +Inspired by the splendid pioneer work of the National Playground +Association, the cities and towns have recently made very rapid progress +in the establishment of playgrounds and recreative centers for old and +young. Many millions of dollars have already been expended for such +purposes. Now the country districts are adopting the same means of +social improvement. + +The primary system of selecting candidates for political office is +proving to be a most potent agency for the general uplift. By means of +it, better men are being inducted into office. Better still, the old +corrupt practice of the ward politician, so deleterious to the character +of youth, is losing its once powerful influence on government. + +The so-called social evil, so damaging to the health and morals of +thousands of our best young men and young women, is now under fair +promise of improvement. The remarkable survey of the Chicago Vice +Commission and the work of the other well-planned organizations looking +to the solution of the same general problem have proved most effective +in revealing the true conditions and of awakening the public conscience. +All of these activities in the interest of putting down the sex evils +point very clearly one moral to all conscientious parents; namely, that +the best and most certain method of inculcating lessons of purity in the +case of the young is through preventive measures, and through the +practice of purity during the years of growth. Open and frank discussion +of the sex problems as they arise normally out of the experiences of the +child, admonitions and prohibitions in regard to impure associates, the +insistence upon a single, and not a double, standard of purity for the +two sexes--these are some of the specific duties of parents. + +As an instance of what may be achieved by way of helping the weak and +depraved to defend themselves against debasing habit, and especially of +what may be done by way of prevention of a character-destroying habit +in time of youth, the Kansas prohibitory law is cited. The longer this +statute remains, the more effective its work and the more unanimous the +public sentiment supporting it. So popular has this measure become that +no political party and no faction of any other class has been able to +take any effective stand against it. It can be shown to any fair-minded +investigator that the great majority of the citizens of Kansas are total +abstainers from the use of intoxicants; also that the state has brought +up a new generation of tens of thousands of men, now mostly voters, who +have no personal knowledge of the use and abuse of alcoholic drinks and +who have become confirmed as total abstainers for life. + +Another unique Kansas measure--ignored and derided at first only less +than was the prohibitory liquor law when new--is the statute forbidding +the use of tobacco in any form on the part of minors. The wisdom of this +statute is supported by the conclusions of scientific study of the +effects of tobacco on the young. The general purpose of the law is to +prevent the youth from taking up the tobacco-using habit before reaching +full maturity of years and judgment. The general result will be the +gradual development of a generation of total abstainers from the use of +tobacco. + + +THE NEW ERA OF RELIGION + +Even into the sanctuary of the modern church is the new scientific +spirit finding its way. It has become an accepted principle of procedure +among ministers and other church workers of late that the best way to +save souls is not to depend wholly upon divine grace, but to assist this +subtle power by means of the constructive work of many human agencies. +Preventive measures that aim at safeguarding the young against evil +contaminations, the institution of social improvement organizations and +of literary and economic clubs, the formation of good-fellowship +societies, of societies for conducting social surveys, of committees for +giving vocational guidance and for the administration of spiritual +healing--these and numerous endeavors of the same class give evidence of +the great service which the modern church is rendering young humanity. +And all this splendid work is being carried forward without doing any +violence to the essential doctrines of the great historical institution +so long engaged in its serious efforts in behalf of human salvation. + + +FINAL CONCLUSION + +As a closing remark the author can only express again his belief that no +past age ever held out such inspiring hope and such splendid +encouragement to the many parents who appreciate the needs of +intelligent care and training for their children. And because of the +natural advantages of the surroundings, country parents have the +greatest justification of all for being enthusiastic over the outlook. +Now, let them go patiently and reverently at the work of bringing up for +the service of the world a magnificent race of men and women--men who +have brain and brawn and moral courage and religious devotion; women who +have a profound sense of maternal responsibility, an inspiring +superiority over the perplexing duties of the household, a deep and +far-reaching social sympathy, and such a poise and sublimity of thought +as to reveal the divinity inherent in their characters. For lo! In the +hidden depths of the natures of the common boys and girls there lie +slumbering these splendid possibilities! + + +REFERENCES + +The Meaning of Social Science. Albion W. Small. University of Chicago +Press. An epoch-making book, restating ably the general +problem of social reconstruction. + + Report of Committee on Rural Social Problems, National + Conference Charities and Corrections. Address Porter R. Lee, + Sec'y for Organizing Charity, Philadelphia, Pa. + + Annual Report. Association for Study and Prevention of Infant + Mortality, 1211 Cathedral Street, Baltimore. + + Government Report on Children as Wage-earners. Department of + Commerce and Labor, Washington, D.C. This department is + bringing out nineteen volumes in all, each covering a + particular problem of women and children as wage-earners. The + following are especially related to the subject matter of + this chapter:-- + + The Beginnings of Child Labor Legislation in Certain States; + A Comparative Study. + Conditions under which Children leave School to go to Work. + Juvenile Delinquency and its Relation to Employment. + Causes of Death among Women and Child Cotton Mill Operatives. + Family Budgets of Typical Cotton Mill Workers. + Hook Worm Disease among Cotton Mill Operatives. + Employment of Women and Children in Selected Industries. + Reports and Circulars National Christian League for Promotion + of Purity, 5 East 12th Street, New York. + + Annual Report of National Conference of Charities and + Corrections, 1911. Charities Publication Committee, New York. + See this valuable volume for reports of progress in the + different lines of child-welfare effort. + + The White Slave Traffic. _Outlook_, July 16. 1910. + + The Rockefeller Grand Jury Report of White Slave Traffic. + _McClure_, May, August, 1910. + + Moral Research in Social and Economic Problems. G. Connell. + _Westminster Review_, February, 1910. + + My Lesson from the Juvenile Court. Judge Ben. B Lindsey. + _Survey_, Feb. 5, 1910. + + + + +INDEX + + + Acquired characters, not transmissible, 7. + Agricultural education, money value of, 286. + Agriculture, as a rural school subject, 120 ff. + Anger, a healthful instinct, 16; + right treatment of, 17 f. + Aristocracy, fostered in the schools, 103, 104. + + Bank account, necessary for boys, 223. + Bill, Arthur J., 231. + Boardman, John R., advocate of rural play, 156. + Books, for children, how to choose, 74; + a selected list, 75 ff.; + on child-rearing, 79, 80. + Boys, bad companionships for, 202 f. + Boy Scouts Movement, 311. + Boy Scouts, Professor Holton's definition of, 165; + how to organize, 165 f.; + in Kansas, 166 ff. + Boys leave the farm, why, 62, 63. + Bread-making clubs, 150 f. + Bread-winning, cultural, 3. + Building site, suited to children, 68. + Business career, instinct for, 24. + Business, training for farm boy, 220 ff.; + finding the boy's interest in, 221 f.; + dealing fair with the boy in, 225. + Butterfield, President Kenyon L., 140, 161. + + Character-building, agencies of, 28 ff.; + must go on with schooling, 90 f.; + requires religious training, 94. + Chicago Vice Commission, 317. + Child-rearing, rural, 90 ff. + Children's hour, recommended for evening, 67. + Children's room, good illustration of, 64 f. + Child study, a necessity, 308 ff. + Cigarettes, law against, in Kansas, 318. + College education, for farm boy, 283 f. + Compulsory education, now general, 251. + Consolidation of rural schools, illustrated, 109, 123. + Cornell University, model rural school 115 ff. + Cornell University, 286. + Corn-plowing, may be divine calling, 98. + Corn-raising clubs, 150 f. + Corn Sunday, in rural church, 95. + Country boy, the right schooling for, 250 ff.; + his interest in humanity, 259; + must know current affairs, 260. + Country church at Plainfield, Ill., 87; + at Ogden, Kan., 87, 92; + Commission management of, 88; + too narrow, 92; + as social center, 94 ff.; + at Danbury, N. H., 96; + at Lincoln, Vt., 96; + federated society in, 96. + Country dwelling, its relation to juvenile character, 54 ff.; + plan it for the children, 56, 57. + Country girl, business training for, 255 ff.; + why she leaves home, 236 f.; + rules for training in business, 239; + not to be a money-maker, 247; + earning money in the South, 249; + schooling for, 262 ff.; + to be taught music, 265 f.; + vocation for, 290 ff. + Country Life Commission, 42 f., 148. + Country mother, as teacher, 268; + report of Country Life Commission, 42; + conservation of her energies, 44 ff.; + conspiring with the children, 51 f. + Country school, to be redirected, 152 ff. + Crying, good for infants, 14. + + Dance, usually degrading, 164; + hard to control, 211 f. + Department of Agriculture, 148. + Dickens, Professor Albert, 110 f. + Disease, relation to habit, 3; + avoidance of by care, 3. + Domestic economy, for girls, 298 f.; + in the rural school, 122. + + Exhibitions, by rural Y.M.C.A., 139 f. + + Fairchild, Supt. E. T., 108 f., 118. + Farm barn, not to be better than the dwelling, 62. + _Farmer's Voice_, 60, 73. + Farm girls, danger of over-working, 182 f.; + working in the field, 188; + sometimes misjudged, 190 f.; + work schedule difficult to make, 191; + and self-supremacy, 192 f.; + social companions for, 201. + Fear, nature and purpose of, 16, 19. + Federation for country life in Illinois, 161 f. + + Good health, fundamental to development, 3. + Good life, definition, 2. + + Hall, Dr. G. Stanley, 309. + Happiness, a part of the good life, 6; + how obtained, 6. + High school, rural provisions for, 124 f. + Holton, Professor E. L. on Boy Scouts, 165. + Home conveniences, necessity for farm women, 47. + Home life education, 270. + Home sanitation, in the rural school, 132. + "Homing" instinct, 23. + House help, training the children for, 49. + Human stock, mostly sound, 7, 8; + potentially good, 9. + Humble parentage and leadership, 9. + + Instincts, of children to be studied, 310; + two are fundamental, 12; + related to impulse, 14; + for home life, 23; + for business, 24. + + James, Professor William, 300. + + Kansas, Rural Boy Scouts in, 166 ff.; + a boy genius of, 227. + Kansas State Agricultural College, 165. + Kirk, President John R., quoted, 112 f. + + Leadership, of farmer and wife, 146 ff.; + preparation for, 148; + in Y.M.C.A., 133 f. + Library, for neighborhood in farm home, 155. + _Literary Digest_, 73. + Literature, purpose of in country home, 69 f.; + best adapted to the child, 71, 72; + types of, 72 f.; + on child-rearing, 79. + + Marriage, planning for the daughter's, 291 f.; + to be studied, 300 ff.; + training the girl for, 20, 21. + McNutt, Rev. M. B., and his work, 86, 87; + church built by, 87. + Mendel's law, and human inheritance, 8. + Minister, of city should preach in the country, 85; + a country type, 86 ff. + Moral strength, an aim in character-building, 4; + acquired through trial and error, 4. + Mothers' club, organization of, 160 f. + "Mother's hour," recommended, 46. + Moving to town, to educate the children, 36; + how it affects the farmer, 36, 37. + + National Corn Exhibit, 230. + Native ability, three classes of, 251 ff.; + how stimulus and opportunity assist, 253. + Newspaper, kind for the farmer, 73. + + Occupations for women, 293 ff. + Oklahoma Agricultural College, work at county fair, 229. + + Play, growing interest in, 27, 28; + practical uses of, 28 ff.; + an excellent set of materials for, 30; + sharply distinguished from work, 31; + after Sunday School, 97; + neighborhood center for, 159. + Play apparatus, model in farm home, 154. + Playground, apparatus for, 118 ff.; + for home and school, 154 f. + Playground Association of America, 155, 316. + Population, decrease in country, 83. + Prohibitory law, in Kansas, 318. + Psychological clinic, 265. + + Recreation, meaning of misunderstood, 33; + how related to farm work, 34 ff.; + for rural youth, 139. + Religion, the new era in, 319; + interest in a part of life, 5. + _Review of Reviews_, 73. + Rural manhood, 148, 156. + Rural school, changes in view-point of, 102; + to serve all, 103 f.; + compulsory attendance upon, 106; + model at Kirksville, 112. + Rural schoolhouse, better ones needed, 107; + location of, 108; + in Kansas, 105; + model at Cornell, 115. + + Saloons, a menace to boys, 206 f. + School grounds, size, and adoption of, 109. + School playground, 117 ff. + Sex evils, to be studied, 317. + Sex habits, secret, 204. + Sex instinct, as socializing agency, 199. + Sexual love, instructive and extremely helpful, 20; + necessity of careful treatment, 20 ff. + Smoking, bad for boys, 205 f. + Social democracy, fostered by training, 4. + Social efficiency, training for, 5. + Social entertainment, how to conduct, 209 f.; + several forms of, 211 ff. + Social renaissance, in the country, 199. + Social sensitiveness, a form of fear, 18; + great value in training, 19, 20. + Social training of farm youths, 197 ff.; + in economic clubs, 215; + a working plan for, 198 ff.; + based on sex instinct, 199; + menaces to, 200 ff.; + in ideal country home, 208. + Social training schools, 314. + Social work, for girls, 295 f. + Solitude, a means of culture, 35. + Stenography, for girls, 294. + + Teaching, hard on young women, 203. + Tuberculosis, is it inheritable? 8, 9. + + University of Pennsylvania, 309. + Usefulness, as ideal of education, 3. + + Vacations, based on instincts and desires, 163, 226. + Vacations, necessity of providing for, 176 f.; + a father's plan for, 177 f. + Vocation, for farm boy, 275 ff.; + should it be farming, 275; + go slow in choosing, 276 f.; + three methods of training for, 279 f.; + preparation of farm girl for, 289 ff. + Vocational schools, in the South, 229 f. + + _Wallaces' Farmer_, 43, 44, 73. + Waters, President H. J., 127. + Wealth, not evidence of substantial country society, 84. + Witmer, Dr. Lightner, 309. + Women, occupations for, 291 ff. + Work, as basis of society, 171 ff.; + for the boy's sake, 172 f.; + wrong attitude of workmen toward, 174; + a father's method of training boy for, 175 f.; + a schedule of hours for, 178 ff.; + how much for the girl, 183 ff.; + foundation for vocation, 285; + necessary as discipline, 30, 31; + not liked by natural children, 31; + acquired fondness for, 32; + a part of the good school course, 33; + spiritualized by country church, 98. + _World's Work_, 73. + + Y.M.C.A., rural 129 ff.; + purposes of, 131; + how to organize, 132 ff.; + leader for, 133 f.; + how to conduct, 136; + example of rural in Kansas, 143 f. + + + + + The following pages contain advertisements of a + few of the Macmillan books on kindred subjects. + + + + +THE RURAL OUTLOOK SET + +BY PROFESSOR L. H. BAILEY + +Director of the New York State College of Agriculture at Cornell University + + _Four volumes. Each, cloth, 12mo. Uniform binding, + attractively boxed $5.00 net per set; carriage extra. Each + volume also sold separately._ + + In this set are included three of Professor Bailey's most + popular books as well as a hitherto unpublished one,--"The + Country-Life Movement." The long and persistent demand for a + uniform edition of these little classics is answered with the + publication of this attractive series. + + +The Country-Life Movement + + _Cloth, 12mo, 220 pages, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.34_ + + This hitherto unpublished volume deals with the present + movement for the redirection of rural civilization, + discussing the real country-life problem as distinguished + from the city problem, known as the back-to-the-land + movement. + + +The Outlook to Nature (New and Revised Edition) + + _Cloth, 12mo, 195 pages, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.34_ + + In this alive and bracing book, full of suggestion and + encouragement, Professor Bailey argues the importance of + contact with nature, a sympathetic attitude toward which + "means greater efficiency, hopefulness, and repose." + + +The State and the Farmer (New Edition) + + _Cloth, 12mo, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.34_ + + It is the relation of the farmer to the government that + Professor Bailey here discusses in its varying aspects. He + deals specifically with the change in agricultural methods, + in the shifting or the geographical centers of farming in the + United States, and in the growth of agricultural + institutions. + + +The Nature Study Idea (New Edition) + + _Cloth, 12mo, $1.25 net; by mail, $1.34_ + + "It would be well," the critic of _The Tribune Farmer_ once + wrote, "if 'The Nature Study Idea' were in the hands of every + person who favors nature study in the public schools, of + every one who is opposed to it, and, most important, of every + one who teaches it or thinks he does." It has been Professor + Bailey's purpose to interpret the new school movement to put + the young into relation and sympathy with nature,--a purpose + which he has admirably accomplished. + + + +NEW BOOKS ON AGRICULTURE + + +How to Keep Bees for Profit + +BY D. E. LYON + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $1.50 net_ + + Dr. Lyon is an enthusiast on bees. He has devoted many years + to the acquisition of knowledge on this subject, and his book + is a practical one. In it he takes up the numerous questions + that confront the man who keeps bees, and deals with them + from the standpoint of long experience. + + +How to Keep Hens for Profit + +BY C. S. VALENTINE + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $1.50 net_ + + Mr. Valentine is a well-known authority upon the subject. His + knowledge is extensive and accurate; the information that he + gives will be of service, not only to the amateur who keeps + poultry for his own pleasure, but to the man who wishes to + derive from it a considerable portion of his income. + + +Manual of Gardening + +BY L. H. BAILEY + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $2.00 net_ + + This new work is a combination and revision of the main parts + of two other books by the same author, "Garden Making," and + "Practical Garden-Book," together with much new material and + the results of the experience of ten added years. + + +How to Grow Vegetables + +BY ALLEN FRENCH + + _New edition._ _Decorated cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $1.75 net; by mail, + $1.80_ + + "It is what it purports to be, a practical handbook and + planting table for the vegetable garden. Its directions for + growing in our northern climate are detailed and explicit, + and will be of invaluable assistance to those who follow them + intelligently."--_Boston Budget._ + + "The instructions are terse, yet complete, and cover + everything as to method of preparing the ground, sowing seed, + cultivation, etc. Practicality and clearness of direction are + the dominant notes of Mr. French's book."--_Brooklyn Eagle._ + + +A Self-Supporting Home + +BY KATE V. ST. MAUR + + _Cloth, 12mo, fully illustrated from photographs, $1.75 net_ + + "Each chapter is the detailed account of all the work + necessary for one month--in the vegetable garden, among the + small fruits, with the fowls, guineas, rabbits, cavies, and + in every branch of husbandry to be met with on the small + farm."--_Louisville Courier-Journal._ + + +The Earth's Bounty + +BY KATE V. ST. MAUR + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $1.75 net_ + + The present volume, though in no sense dependent on "A + Self-Supporting Home," is in a sense a sequel to it. The + feminine owner is still the heroine, and the new book + chronicles the events after success permitted her to acquire + more land and put to practical test the ideas gleaned from + observation and reading. + + +The Fat of the Land: The Story of an American Farm + +BY JOHN WILLIAMS STREETER + + _Cloth, 12mo, $1.50 net_ + + "The Fat of the Land" is the sort of book that ought to be + epoch-making in its character, for it tells what can be + accomplished through the application of business methods to + the farming business. Never was the freshness, the beauty, + the joy, the freedom of country life put in a more engaging + fashion. From cover to cover it is a fascinating book, + practical withal, and full of common sense. + + +Three Acres and Liberty + +BY BOLTON HALL + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, $1.75 net_ + + Possibilities of the small suburban farm, and practical + suggestions to city dwellers how to acquire and make + profitable use of them. + + +The Feeding of Animals + +By WHITMAN HOWARD JORDAN + + _Cloth, 12mo, illustrated, 450 pages, $1.50 net; by mail, $1.65_ + + "A valuable contribution to agricultural literature. Not a + statement of rules or details of practice, but an effort to + present the main facts and principles fundamental to the art + of feeding animals."--_New England Farmer._ + + +Rural Hygiene + +By HENRY N. OGDEN, C.E. + + Professor of Sanitary Engineering, College of Civil + Engineering, Cornell University, and Special Assistant + Engineer of the New York State Department of Health + + _Illustrated, decorated cloth, 12mo, $1.50 net; by mail, $1.68_ + + "Farmers and other dwellers outside of cities will find + Professor Henry N. Ogden's 'Rural Hygiene' an invaluable + treatise on all matters pertaining to the health of the + individual and the community. The author, a civil engineer in + the faculty of Cornell University, deals with the structural + side of public hygiene rather than with the medical side. He + tells how houses and barns should be built so as to promote + the good health of their occupants; how to manage + ventilation, drainage, water supply, etc.; how waterworks + should be built, what are the best kinds of power, how to + arrange the plumbing, guard against sewage, and so on. . . . + It is an unusually complete, practical, and readable + treatise." + + --_Chicago Record-Herald._ + + +Law for the American Farmer + +By JOHN D. GREEN, of the New York Bar. + + _Decorated cloth, 12mo, $1.50 net; by mail, $1.68_ + + "The book is superior to any of its class."--_Law Review._ + + "Very comprehensive and valuable."--_Kansas Farmer._ + + "Written with great thoroughness and accuracy."--_Chicago + Inter-Ocean._ + + +THE MACMILLAN COMPANY + + Publishers 64-66 Fifth Avenue New York + + + + + * * * * * + + + + +Transcriber's note: + + Punctuation has been made consistent without note. + + Archaic or alternate spellings have been retained. + + Plate X: 1st edition has a different caption for this plate: + An illustration of "Corn Sunday," as instituted by + Superintendent George W. Brown in the rural churches in + the vicinity of Paris, Illinois. + + Page 99, References: "Colton" changed to "Cotton" (John + Cotton Dana). + + Page 127, References: 1st edition has 1906, not 1905, as + publication date for "The Most Practical Industrial Education + for the Country Child." + + Page 140, "One boy may have have caught" changed to + "One boy may have caught" + + Page 329: "County-Life" changed to "Country-Life" ("The + Country-Life Movement.") + + + +***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FARM BOYS AND GIRLS*** + + +******* This file should be named 39483-8.txt or 39483-8.zip ******* + + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: +http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/3/9/4/8/39483 + + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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