The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1904-02-13
KEEPS TIE BOYS AT HOME.
FARMERS Association in Southern ILL.,
nOfs 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 a society bearing the name OF
Farmers Relief association. The asso-
citation is the outgrowth of an idea
Matched in southern Illinois, and in the
seven counties where the society is or
gained its effects are plainly seen, says
the Chicago Inter Ocean The rush of
young men to St Louis, Chicago and Gin
cinnati has been almost completely
stayed. The farmers boys are them
serves members of the new organization,
wnich 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 embodies some of the
pest 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 if in
each school district the families could
De brought into closer social relations
and the life given some little variety
the problem would be solved.
Inc 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
IN g. as the people say. The Wagner
scnooi district, a few miles south of Car
pondale, is the best organized conn
munity. In the Wagner society every |
person IN the district, transient or resi-
uent' is entitled to membership. To the
social events of the district the rural
pedagogue invites every man. woman
and child That means that there arc
no ieuds' no quarrels. no wrangling, in
the community. for all the people meet
In social way. 1
Inc society has gone further than
lnis' and has installed a school district
'eiephone system. An old lady who has
notnlng to do but darn heavy home
Ani, socks or sew carpet rags is the
neiio girl" Each family in the district
Jays hve dollars annually for the use of
telephone, and they use it, The young
men do their counting over the teIe-
none when the weather is bad. and the /,
'niy complaint of the telephone serv-
&c to be made so far was that one rainy
llgnt cupid had connected so MANY ,
Il the subscribers that very sick man ,
Quiz not get message through to the
octor In Carbondale. The man did not
lie, however. /,
AS soon as the telephone system was
WORKING order the school teacher 8
rganized string band This country 6
iusical organization furnishes the v
luslc at the dances and the church So a
aoles. The band has repertoire that
lcludes everything from ''The Arkansas q
raveler' to Comm Through the Rye" a
40 there is hardly night in a month q
lat it is not engaged. q
Inc Home league, the twin sister to 6,
he Farmers association, is the woman's n
I'D OF the country. 1t is conducted on "
e same lines as the clubs in the cities o.
conducts class in domestic science. Al
ID does Its share of entertaining. The a.
10 organizations combined have hit the h,
edit, or ION tick" system a knockout n
ow. If member has anything to sell SC
must demand cash for 1t. If he buys m
must pay cash. o.
All these things combined have helped
make country life attractive to the =,
antry people. When all the plans are n,
Ily carried out the organizers believe M
az the young men. or the proportion pb
them which remain in the country. is,
II be satisfied to stay out of the cities.