The Norfolk weekly news-journal., 1907-05-10
CORN BELT" LIFE.

The following description of life in
a corn belt" town was written by
Miss Helen V. Roberts of Fort Dodge,
Iowa, and won a prize in a contest
conducted by Golfers. 1t will be read
with interest by people of this sec
ton because it is supposed to refer to
conditions found in Nebraska and
South Dakota as well as in Iowa:
Our town is in the corn belt, and
although we are not farmers, and, in
deed, quite resent that appellation, if
you know what corn means of work
and worry, you know our town. The
old saying that corn is king simply
means that no other human interest
is entitled to a moments considera.
ton if it conflicts with crop require
ments.
In January and February the man
who rejoices in mild winter weather is
put down as craven ignoramus who
sets personal matters like coal bills
and influenza above the one public is
sue. Our real patriot is the man who
grins from out his whiskers and his
fur overcoat as he takes in his frozen
thermometer and says: This ought
to be cold enough to pulverize the
soil"
With the advent of March definite
worry about conditions begins. If the
spring is late the outlook is one of
general gloom: if it is early and the
know-nothing optimist is happy, the
pessimist recalls the famous snow
storm of lS-:, and casts a shadow over
the budding trees and greening fields
that looks like coming thunder.
storm. If it rains too much how are
we ever to get into the fields to do
the spring blowing, and if 1t doesn't
rain enough, of what use is the pull.
verifying cold we suffered during the
winter?
And then come the weeds. Like
other forces of evil, they seem to need
no encouragement. Sunshine and
moisture are always proportional sat
isfactorily for them, whatever the
righteous corn may think about it, and
they flourish in way to offer encour-
agement to any fowls of the air who
are seeking accommodations.
Corn is supposed to be "knee high
by the 4th of July" but it seldom is,
and the groans Of the pessimist on
Independence Day are usually louder
than the village cannon.
Corn needs hot weather, and, above
all, hot nights. The man who smiles
over mild, cool summer Is probably
the same poltroon who didn't like ear
tabs, and said ten below was cold
enough for him. Again the genuine
patriot can be easily identified. He
his coat and keeps on his
collar only until the friendly darkness
comes. The hot wind which has burnt |
and blown all day from the south dies
down with the sun, and there Is not a |
breath stirring except the breath of
our patriot who eXclaims, as he mops
his brow: "I'll bet you could hear il !
grow tonight"
But even If 1t is sufficiently hot and
dry to satisfy the demands of King
Corn, the fear of a wind-storm to Law
the corn fiat. or hail-storm to riddle |
It, Is ever with us during the summer.
But all the anxiety that has gone
before is mere soothing syrup com
pared with the excitement of our an.
nual race with the frost, which takes
place during the early weeks of Sep.
TENDER. The cornstalks stand as high
as mans head, The field is a forest,
its strong green leaves suggesting an
ancestry as ancient as the oaks. ra-
Their than a mushroom growth of only
ninety days. But the kernels are still |
soft and milky, and until they harden
the whole crop is at the mercy of the