Decorah-posten., 1901-05-28
The Youth and the Farm.

young folks are continually drifting TO
ward the large cities and showing a gen
eral tendency 70 abandon country liie-a
life. by all odds, the more desirable. Va
would deem it a fortunate privilege to
be able to point u the eSaggerations o.
the statements constantly re-appear1n2
in the press that the rural youth arr
thus persistently laying the foundation
for future discomfort and misery, as vel
as adding to the degradation of the
crowded town. Indeed, the very posi-.
bilitv Of such a condition seems too cruel
for admission. But since we cannot dis
prove, nor even seriously question what
TO all appearances are nothing short OF
plain facts. we naturally endeaver 20
account for this singular state of affairs.
What. then, are the attractions OF the
city which claim the young generation
to such an extent. in spite of n fair COM
petence on the farm, What is it that
tempts the young to give up, as they of
ten do, a comfortable home, and to
td We IiG hNt OitNN VI NAAiibAAopN 1890
20 seek the uncertainties of city life?
Some are hunting fortunes, Others am
usenents. Both are destined to disap-
pointuent-all. surely. more or less so.
City amusement may, and TO many Ger
tainlv does. prove essentially different
from tho preconeeived idea of the coun-
try lad. Volumes could be written OF
the dangers lying in wait for the young
person from the farm who sets out in
quest Of something to crafty his cray
ing for the curious and the unknown.
But ever leaving this out of the ques-
ton, supposing the young person is
able TO get into some fairly safe moral
harbor. il is still extremely uncertain
what the new conditions may ultimate
" bring him. This will, Of course. event
ually depend largely on his own inherent
qualities.
AS for the opportunities a great city
offers in a general way to a young maj
whose first experience. at best, can diff
FER but very little from that which is the
common lot OF strangers IN strange sur
roundings, no one is p%rovident enough
TO foreteIl. Ofcourse, things may urn
out satisfactorily. We would certainly
not maintain that the large city has no
chances for the young. On the contrary,
we should say il has a great many for
those who know how to grasp them.
But il is well TO bear in mind that the
great majority will ever have to be sa-
tisfed with a moderate return from
their labor. The eminently successful
in a financial way are but a few, as COM
pared with the many who share with
them little else but the desire for riches.
To make a career in a large city is, in
our days, no easy task. There are
sometimes a thousand applications for a
single good position, and the require
ments as TO practical and educational
equipments are increasing year by year
Taking all conditions into account, il
is a fairly safe assertion that the great
number of coutry youths hocking TO the
city with glowing anticipation ofease
and luxury. and expecting to reach sta
tons high in business and social life will
have realized in the curse of a few
years, or even sooner. that they have at
tanned a good deal less than their imagi-
nations foreshadowed. In fact, n bare
living in some obscure position may be
deemed a fortune some day by a great
many Of them. In the meantime, hun
dreds of others will have gone to the
dogs, while an exceedingly small number
win have succeeded in reaching their aim.
With very little variation, this is the
Common experience and admits OF no
contradiction.
And then, what is the matter with
country life' To say it has no attrac.
tion is an absurd proposition, and con.
sequently calls for no argument. 1t is
evident. however, that many Of ON
young folks do not appreciate these at.
fractions, or regard them Il be sniff
GENTLY strong TO enducc them TO stay on
the farm. Yet, few, II any, Of the real
comforts of lite are necessarily lacking in
our farm communities. The average
farmer is in good circumstances. and no
a few have amassed considerable riches
Certainly there are exceptions, lust a.
there are instances where most Of us fnC
ourselves so situated that it becomes ur
gent for MS 10 do without one thing OF
another. Circumstances of this charac
ter the majority of our old settlers who
began with little or nothing except thei,
good health, and a determination tc
succeed, have had TO contend agains-
more frequently than the younger gen
Grafton. But downright poverty is not
and never has been, the real cause OF tn,
young leaving the farm - in fact. the,
are often as anxious 70 get away from
the comfortable home as from the poo.
one. n sometimes more SO. II SEEM
that comfort has been 10 many tn
source OF dissatisfaction co1nparativel,
unknown in the earlier days of our set
Elements. These disconnected youth
are the spoiled children of success who
as a ule, will find life an uphill roa,
wherever they go. because they expec
TOO much, and wish 20 give too little il
return TOR what they receive.
But let US look M country life 0enerallv