Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1904-03-24
KEEPS THE BOYS AT HOME.
Farmers' Associa alton in Southern Illi-
nois Has This Object for Its
Principal Aim.

The continual exodus of boys from the
| farms of southern Illinois to the cities
Is being combated in this section Of
| Egypt by society bearing the name of
Farmers Relief association. The assO-
citation is the outgrowth of an idea
hatched in southern Illinois, and in the
seven counties where the society is or
ganized its effects are plainly seen, says
the Chicago Inter Ocean. The rush OF
young men to St Louis, Chicago and Gin
cinnau has been almost completely
stayed The farmers boys are them
selves members of the new organization,
which has in manner furnished at
fractions to rural life which largely off,
set the allurements Of the city.
The Farmers Relief association is
modelled somewhat upon the lines Of the
trades union, and smbodies some Of the
best and most reasonable features of
former ill-born farmers societies. The
central idea Of the association is to make
country life attractive. The founder,
James H. England, contended that IL in
each school district the families could
be brought into closer social relations
and the life given some little variety
problem would be solved.
The school district was made the unit
in the plan. The school teacher was
raised from mere pedagogue to social
arbiter. He Is called the chairman of
the community committee, and he sees
that there is always some sort OF do
ms" as the people say. The Wagner
school district, a few miles south Of Car
bondale, is the best organized COM
munity. In the Wagner society every
person in the district, transient or resi-
dent, is entitled to membership. To the
social events OF the district the rural
pedagogue invites every man. woman
and child. That means that there are
no feuds, no Quarrels, no wrangling, in
the community, for all the people meet
in a social way
The society has gone further than
this, and has installed a school district
telephone system. An old lady who has
nothing to do but darn heavy home
KNIT SOCKS or sew carpet rags Is the
hNiAo Sill E1Cu IdIilily III the QlSCrlct
pays five dollars annually for the use OF
telephone, and they use It. The young
men do their courting over the teIe-
phone when the weather Is bad, and the
only complaint Of the telephone serv-
ice to be made 50 far was that one rainy
night Cupid had connected so many
OF the subscribers th"t a very sick man
could not get a messa through to the
doctor In Carbondale. I he man did not
die, however.
AS soon as the telephone system was
IN working order the school teacher
organized a string band This country
musical organization furnishes the
music at the dances and the church So
ciables. The band has a repertoire that
includes everything from THE Arkansas
Traveller to Comm Through the Rye"
and there is hardly a night in a month
that 1t is not engaged.
The Home league, the twin sister to
club Of the country. 1t is conducted on
the sane lines as the clubs in the cities.
II conducts class in domestic science.
and does its share Of entertaining. The
two organizations combined have hit the
credit, or ION tick" system a knockout
blow. If member has anything to sell
he must demand cash for it. II he buys
he must pay cash.