The Bad River news. [volume] (Philip, Stanley County, S.D.) 19??-1912, 1909-04-15
Social Problems

way of charging all social dis
orders up to our neighbors. Es-
peclally is it true that we people,
who live in the country, believe
that the city has all the social prob
lens that amount to anything.
The country. in our minds. is
simple and rural with nothing
wrong or distasteful about it.
Out here: in the West SO much
attention is absorbed by the physi-
cal difficulties surrounding US that
we are like y to believe that there
are no other problems to be con-
sldered. But the problems Of
Stanley county are not all prob
lem> OF rainfall and deep plow-
ing On thr contrary. the most
casual investigator by merely
scratching around upon the surface
of things can dig up several inter
e>tius sociological facts.
Have you ever stopped TO con-
slider the peculiar characteristics of
some of our homeSl In the first
place it is safe to estimate that
there are more bachelors of both
sexes keeping up establishments in
Stanley county than in any terri
tory of equal area on the face of
the globe. We believe that, taken
the county over. families are an
exception rather than the rule.
However. the families represent
the people that are staying and
promising to become permanent
settlers.
In fact. the migratory character
istics OF our settlers grow out of
the situation we have just men
toned The homesteaders who
quit the country, quit, not because
they lose their nerve, or because
they lack faith in the country's
future. but because they are single.
The problem is not one whit differ
ent in the beginning of the
twentieth century from what it
was in the early years of the
seventeenth, when the colonies of
Virginia, settled by single men,
all but perished dozen times and
existed miserably for half a cen
tury, while Massachusetts, and New
Amsterdam, settled by families,
hourished and waxed strong.
Whatever other virtues single men
and women may possess, they cut
small figure as pioneers. One
homeseeklng family is of more
value to new country than
dozen old maids and bachelors.
Again, the writer is firmly con-
yinced thst homesteading is not
conducive to the happiness of
good many Stanley county homes.
His professional work during the
past two years has brought him
experiences that afford consider
able food for thought when the
days work is done and the even
ing lamp lit. Stories have been
told within the four walls of his
office that are as absorbing, as
vibrant with human passion aud rs
full of domestic tragedy as any
novelist ever conceived. Thus.
naturally, he has come to believe
that homesteading presents some
difficulties that result in making
married couples less happy than
they might otherwise be.
Married folks on the claim either
see too much of each other or too
little. The husband is apt to be
around the house too much. That
leads to domestic trouble IS Quick.
ly as anything else the Fates ever
devised for breaking up happy
homes. The average woman does
not want man hanging around in
the way of the orderly accomplish
ment of her household duties.
Naturally there isn't much outside
to do in new country, especially
at certain seasons of the year, 90
the husband just stays at home:
Often he is too awkward to assist
with household duties, and tho
wifo orriuoc at tho oOnc1naiOn thaf