New-York tribune., 1909-11-12
FOR RURAL UPLlFT
GLOOMY PORTRAIT OF
COUNTRY BOY.
j. II. Garfield Shosrs 7. ". C..
Il. Delegates Nerr Field
-Senator Root Speaks.

James r. Garfield. son OF President
Garfield. former Secretary Of the Inte-
rior and a member OF the Roosevelt
Country Life Commission, told OF his
conclusions as 20 life on the farms at
committee of the Young Mems Christian n
Association in the waldorf-Astoria last
night The picture Of rural life which
he drew was a very gloomy one.
Our country life has been neglected
in more senses than one" he said.
While the movements for social better
ment have been working for uplift and
Improvement IN the cities. in the country
there has been stagnation and decline.
have reached my conclusions after long
and careful investigation Of the subject.
Those who have been born and reared
in the country know too we'll that the life
there is disheartening life. not an in
spring one"
He continued:
Those of US who have lived in the
country. those who have been there. il
only for weeks At 2 time, have been
enough in touch with the spirit OF rural
life 70 know It's lack OF opportunity. We
farm is place Of drudgery, when IL
should be a place of beauty. II has lost
its hold on the boys because Of thai
deadening drudgery
The country school. with it's decreasing
numbers, has not he inspiration of the
city schools, with their efficient instruc-
tors and their up-to-date methods, nor
has II the healthy tone IL had in the
DAYS. OF these lads fathers. when the
schools were crowded There is no more
vicious association than is often found
in the country school.
Our problem. then. in this Christian
Association work for the country boys. Is
20 give 70 the country boy the advan-
tsges which the city boy has. Our sug-
geStion Is 20 organize associations by
counties. The secretary OF the county
association should be a man who knows
how &c fire the heart OF the country boy
20 know more and 20 be more than he
Is to-day. The country boy needs physi-
cal education as well as the city bov.
Following the plough is work. not play.
and II will not give him an all-around
development.
There is need. too. for the religious
work of the association. Unfortunately
the churches have not been able 10 get
hold of all the boys II should be our
aim TO get hold Of the boys and arouse
their religious natures not through Sun
day meetings but as a part of their daily
lite.
I'VE should see that the country boy"
said 1rr. Garfield. instead Of being a
dullard and vicious, has his mind opened
70 what is going or in the world about
him. and Is aroused so that he viii
take a keener interest in his own work
snd life"
SECRETARIES REPORT.
The speaking was begun by the secre-
tsries of different branches Of sssocia-
tion work. who reported the progress Of
the year in their respective departments.
They were George B Hodge, OF the edu-
cational department; George J. Fisher.
Of the physical department; Clarence z.
Barbour. of the religious department:
r. II Robinson. Of the boys department;
". B. Miller. Of the army and navy de-
I,artment; 9. J. Hicks, Of the railroad
department; Charles r Towson. of the
industrial department. and John r Mott,
Of the foreign and student department..
Senator Elihu Root spoke with ap-
provsl Of the work OF the association.
I have listened with delight" he said.
''to the representatives who have told rs
OF the work that has been done. II is
cutie as encouraging TO see how well
they have shown US the spirit in which
the work was done must confess that
I had no idea that the Young Mems
Christian Association had grown 10 be
such an enormous institution. It IS sure
ly a wonderful work
With such vast equipment and MEM
bership you will Of course, encounter in
81 Iur- ae
gers which you did not have when you
were poor and less we'll known These
vast sums OF money and this general an
plause which is accorded 70 YOU present
problems OF their own. But think YOU
will meet these difficulties as well a.
you have met those of the past. | find
that there has always been in control Of
your work a supreme good sense For
! instance. you have kept out of politics.
out Of doctrinal theology and out Of the
cant and charlatanism which so often
hurts efforts in the behalf Of morality
and Christianity
PRAISES RAILROAD WORK
William c. Brown. president Of IN.
New York Central Railroad Company,
spoke warmly in appreciation OF the as
sociation's work for railroad men.
Il doubt greatly" he said. IF there IS
. NNN cuIn Ai4-tAl LIdL the men az the
throttle. the man at the switch and the
man AZ the key will he clear headed and
ready as is furnished by the Young
Mems Christian Association. The -sso-
citation offers a home 20 the railroad man
where he will be comfortable and az his
ease. but away from the temptations
which are waiting for him everywhere
else.
During the recent depression, when
We had idle men and idle cars. when men
on half time were watching the bulletin
boards 70 see how soon they could take
out their engines. when our receipts had
fallen of and we were economizing in al
most every item Of expenditure. we did
not cut of dollar from the sppropria-
/ tion for Y. NJ. g. A. work. II was OF the
greatest importance ~ Just that time"