Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1891-09-05
A NOVEL IoaA.
Mr nookwsi,sr'. risa for tn. p.,n.,,
Reviewed

MI hooh~ai'sr'. risn for the F.rm.r'.
hevie we'd
The farmers village 10 not 80 novel
a scheme, asa scheme, hut II IL one
that has. We believe never been de-
vclop"d in America r an extent com.
mcnsura," with it's ADVANTAGES Mr.
John W Bookwalter has undertaken
TO put the idea In practical working
and To that cnd has purchased q tract
of bo. WD acres In Nebraska. with tho
Intention OF dividing /, up into farms.
and renting or selling them TO farmers
who are willing 70 enter int HIS
theories and benefit by them. There
seems to be nothing visionary In tho
idea and the only very exceptional
feature ot II Ia that Il is taken I'm bv
one man for the benefit OF his icllows
when 1t might easily be- carried out by
a combination OF plans and forces on
the part OF a number OF men who would
share equally in its advantages Mr..
BookwAlter proposes N build homes
for those who arc nos able 20 buy them
and allow them TO pay rent until such
lime rs they can become the owners II
they are 20 inclined. In this way each
man can test the plan and need net
commit himsslf financially 10 Ito failure
or success unless he chooses 70 do %.
Or course there Ia no morn liability 10
failure under thssc cocditivns than In
any other farming enterprise The
drawbacks would simply bc those con-
tingcnt upon all agricultural ventures.
The advantages, however would b
incalculable In the opportunity thus
given for the enjoyment OF the lighter
and brighter things Of life. Farm life
has its poetic side, but IL is loss ap-
parent 10 the average farmer than 70
the rest OF the world, and II has not
been a sufficiently strong element TO
eounterbalance the prosaio monotony
and tho isolation whioh repol 10 many
ambitious young spirits. The posss.
bility OF even degradation In tho life
OF farmer is sharply brought out by
Hamlin Garland In his stories Of
prairie life The existence thus OK
possd 10 divessed pisiiessly enough Of
every vesugo Of glamour tha. could
possiely cling 70 IL Tho hopelessnsss
OF the outlook for men and women
who seem doomed 70 q slow doa,h Of
mind and soul u not accented one
whit too strongly. II 10 we'll known
that the inmates OF insape asylums are
many OF them fArmers' wives, and the
monotony OF their lives 10 the reason
generally assigned for tfis fact which
10 always 9 feature OF hospital ststis-
tics But the farmers' village might we'll
be beneficial TO others than 70 ,hsse
exceptionally unfortunate onsa Tho
most prosperous ard wealthy farmer
would hardly forage the advaatsSss OF
social Intercourse for himssif end his
family II Il could be made available
Without interfering with his oooups-
lion. Mr. BookwAlter's plan OF build-
ns the homes In . group with the
arms surrounding them and reached
BY good and direct rosds sssn.s per-
'octly feasible and ought 10 BE- attract
vs TO young people starting out In life
o whom the chief drawback 70 the
arm llfo Is its loneliness There IL
title doubt thsi the dread Of ssttiinR
nto "rut and becoming mere ma
hines has had much 70 do with the
ending OF young men and women into
titles rather than take up for them
elves the aame los that their fathers
nd mothers have found tolsrsbis.
'hs chance OF q social existsnco Of
ducstion for their children, and the
Of q certain nsighborly
mutation, would remove In . grsa;
'easuro the objections 70 farming
'hich now present themselves TO young
oople In the choice OF . life ocoupa-
lon. II h hard 10 soe Why the plan
hould not extend and DO realized by
'any farming communities ON their
wn account and without the aid OF
aPitalist st Paul Pioneer PreOs