The Farmington times and herald. (Farmington, St. Francois Co., Mo.) 1902-1905, 1903-10-22

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additional need for good roads in
order that he may be kept in
communication with the outside
world.
A great deal has been said
and properly so, in regard to
the influence of good roads upon
education. In the convention
held at Raleigh, N. c., the ac-
count of which had the pleasure
of reading, great emphasis was
placed upon the fact that you
cannot have a school system such
as you ought to have unless the
roads are in condition for the
children to go to school.
While we are building great
libraries in the great cities we
do not have libraries in the
country; and there ought to be
a library in every community.
Instead of laying upon the farm
cr the burden os buying his own
books, we ought to make it pos
siblc for the farmer to have the
same opportunity as the people
in the city to use the same books
and thus economic on the eX-
pense of library. ! agree with
Professor Jesse in regard to the
consolidation of schoolhouseS in
such Il way as to give the child
in the country the same advan-
tagcs which the child in the city
has. We have our country
schools. but it is impossible in
any community to have a well.
graded school with only few
pupils, unless you go to great
expense. In cities. when Il child
gets through the graded school
he can remain at home and,
without expense to himself or
his parents, go on through the
high school. But If the country
boy or girl desires to go from
the graded school to the high
scnocl, ASA rule it is necessary
to go to the county seat and there
board with some one; so the eX-
pcnsc to the country child is
much greater than to the child
in the city, was glad, there
fore, to hear Professor Jesse
speak of such a consolidation of
schools rs to give the children in
the country advantages equal to
those enjoyed by the children of
the city.
And ought rot the people to
have the opportunity to attend
church? | am coming to believe
that what We need in this coun-
try even more than education of
the intellect, is the education of
the moral side Of our nature. |
believe, with Jefferson, that the
church and the state should be
separate. | believe in religious
freedom, and ! would not have
any mans conscience fettcred
by act of law. but | do believe
that the welfare of this nation
demands that mans moral nature
shall be educated in keeping with
his brain and with his body. In
fact | have come to measure civ.
ilizatiOn by the harmonious de-
velopmcnt Of the body, the mind
and the heart. We make a mis-.
| take if we believe that this nation
can fulfill its high destiny and
mission either with mere ath.
letcs or mere scholars. We need
the education of the moral sense
and if these good roads will en-
able men, women and children
to go more frequently to church,
and there hear the gospel eX.
pounded and receive inspiration
therefrom, that alone is reason
enough for good roads, APP
plause.
The people of the towns, espe.
cially the rural towns, are inter
ested in making it possible for
the people in the country tc
reach their local market or trad
ing place during all times of the
year, for, throughout the agri
cultural portion of the country
at least, the villages and cities
rest upon and derive their sup
port from the farms. The farm
is the life of the city, and the
cities are intensely and vitality
interested in enabling the coun
try people to get to the towns tc
do their trading. Sometimes
have heard country merchants
express dissatisfaction because
the people of the country would
buy of the mail order house. II
the country merchant wants tt
keep his trade at home let hin
make the roads good between
his patron and his store. That
is the best way. Applause.
There is broader view of this
question, however, that deserves
consideration. The farm is and
always has been conspicuous be
cause of the physical develop
ment it produces, the intellectual
strength it furnishes and the
morality it encourages. The
young people in the country find
health and vigor in the open all
and in the exercise which farm
life gives; they acquire habits
of industry and economy; Their
work gives them opportunity fol
thought and reflection; their con
tact with nature teaches then
reverence, and their environ
ment promotes good habits
The farms supply our colleges
with their best students ant
they also supply our cities witt
II r..