Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-03-16

any real way into the life of higher thought
and development.
These are some OF the factors In the rural
decadence problem, and the question arises,
how shall they be counteracted in favor OF
country life as compared with city life ?
We answer, in word by making rural
conditions approximate more nearly to those
of the town in just these particulars.
The farmer is, by forcs OF training aud
circumstances, conservative, slow TO adopt
new methods and to adapt himself to
changed conditions. His life is as rule
struggle with stern conditions, the prics OF
his bread unremitting though GER
tainly not merely mechanical toll He must
be given to close ca culation, and especially
when results are doubtful or incapable of due
demonstration in dollars and cents, sksp-
tic. All this carries with 1t no disparage-
ment OF close economy and questions in no
wise the sterling worth and nobility OF the
farmer.
The average farmer believes that the
fruits of toll are in direct proportion to the
hours of toll Accordingly he aud bis
aborers. be they his sons or paid employees,
save kerosene in tho morning 10y rising with
the lark only to burn it in prolonRnS the
other end of the day The great fact is
forgotten that a man is capable in the long
run, of a given number OF hours OF
diligent, profitable daily toll, and that any
attempt to exact more labor by increased
hours either detracts from the quality Of tho
work done or overworks the laborer so that
be is able to do less work per hour, aud be-
comes disgusted with his occupation. The
latter is often the result; and the first step
toward making farm life moro attractive
is to cultivate the idea that due amount
OF judcous leisure is time 50 spent as to
mean larger farm profits and fewer migra-
tions to the city.
Another result Of the farmers habit Of
thought is that his constant dealings with
tangible things lead him into wrong estl-
mates of utility. Now the value of book,
picture or sheet OF music cannot always
DO estimated in terms of 'cold cash. y
Investment in them yields no definite re-
turns, yet they meet demand in the
proper rounding of lie for farmers sons
and daughters that otherwise remains I'M
satisfied. This demand is becoming more
and more urgent, and unless rural life is
made to respond to it, the city will continue
to grow Cut off for the most part from
library end lecture course the young man
on the farm feels that his village or city
brother has a decided advantage over him.
Hence his purpose to improve his own a1-
vantages even at tho undoubted expense of
/ vii in
days of cheap intellectual luxuries, there
can be no excuse for this hunger which i'm
rels young men from the farms into the
most sxacting workshops, manual and in
tsllectual. 1t is not alone that the latter
offers him definite hours of labor that he
seeks it, but because also the village or city
reading and lecture rooms await his leisure
hours with opportunities for intellectual
growth such as are foreign as a rule to
farm life.
The sooner aud more forcibly farmers as
a class are brought to such realization OF
these facts as will place good selection OF
books under every farm house roof, or al
least a choice circulating library in every
agricultural! community, the less urgently
will this problem Of rural decadence press
for solution.
Other considerations OF q solicid nature
have place in this discussion, equally as inn
portnnt, perhaps, those touched upon
The subject IN fact, in its full scope cover
a field not easily exhausted. The remedy
must be on lines as broad as the evil is fal
reaching Farmers cannot in justice, ant
must not as a matter of expediency, expec
their sons to rest content with what they
themselves were forced to accept at q simila
age; and sons in turn have duty in no
Understanding the blessings of their lot
while striving to bring the true ameliorat
ing influences to bear upon their own condi
ton and that of their fellow workers.