Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-04-12
CITY VERSUS COUNTRY.
Some Reasons Why Bright Boys Are
Unwillino To Be Farmers

Unwilling To Be Farmers.
From time to time some magazine
or other periodical publishes an arti-
Gle setting forth the views of the wri-
ter thereof as to the best means of
solving what he pleaseS to term, The
problem of how to keep the country
boy on the farm" This problem
might be stated somewhat conversely
by making it read How to persuade
some of the city boys to live on the
farm" for the conditions that would
cause the country boy who is ambi-
tious, honest, and industrious to remain
on the farm in preference to going to
the city would cause the city boy who
sees better opportunities in the cOun-
try to go there.
In otner words, the solution of the
problem" of keeping the country boy
on the farm is nothing more nor less
than bringing about conditions that
will make country life socially more
attractive and the possibilities of ac-
quiring wealth there less remote.
There is no questioning the fact that
the greatest incentive to the country
boy is the hope of being able to dis
tinguish himself in a professional or
so successful as to gain a competency,
or more, for himself and those depen-
dent upon him.
One feature of this question that,
judging by the success achieved by the
country boy in the city, he is needed
there. If he were not, the number or
those achieving success in the differ
ent lines of business and in the pro-
fessions would be very materially
smaller than it is. From the best in
formation at hand, tine number of coun-
try boys, as compared with those city
bred is greatly in favor of the country
boy 1t must be conceded however,
that the country boy does not succeed
only because he comes from the coun-
try. but usually because those who go
to the cities are ambitious, energetic
and persevering.
1t is the possessing of these charac-
teristics which makes him determine
upon greater things than ne sees in
prospect on the farm. Hence as rule
it is the exceptionally bright, we'll
qualified country boy who makes sue
cess of his life in the great cities. The
fact also remains that while many
achieve distinct success, there are 9TH
ers who fail 10 get beyond the average.
and some who are as unsuccessful in
the city as they would have been mad
they remained on the farm, probably
more so. These would not succeed any
where.
II is useless, and from one standpoint
wrong to attempt keeping the country
boy, who has the ambition and qualiti-
cations from achieving things on the
farm, or anywhere else he sees fit to
employ his energies, for he is not made
of the stuff that can be kept" any
where. Fully as Intellectual would be
the bright, ambitious city boy in town
if he sees more inviting opportunities
in the country for the attainment of
the purposes he has in mind as his
lifework.
There can be no fixed plan for keep
ing the country boy on the farm. The
problem" involves sociology and psy-
chology as well as commerce and in
dustry holds out attractions of socia!
and business nature sufficiently allur-
ing to offset those offered by the city.
These, it is gratifying to know, are net
so far in the future as the casual think
er might imagine.
The continued increase of popula-
ton, the building of numerous railway
and electric lines, the more general use
of telephones. better church and edu-
cational facilities, and, probably the
most potent of all. the improved meth
Ods of farming, contribute to making
country life more attractive.
These latter are inducing many to
give ear to the call Of the soil They
are resulting in various organizations
by those making specially of partic-
ular lines of agriculture, lectures by
competent men on various subjects,
and the accessibility to the best agri-
cultural literature, making plain the
possibilities on the farm tnat until
comparatively recent years were not
generally known. One of the best in
dications of the progress of scientific
agriculture is the organization of boys
corn clubs and the teaching of agricul-
ture In the schools. These have the
effect of impressing upon the children
of farmers that their work is one re-
quiring brains, scientific knowledge,
and business methods. and that the
farm holds out opportunities to those
possessing those qualifications.
They are showing the country boy
that by intensive, scientific methods Of
farming it is not necessary for him to
own thousands of acres of high-pric-
ed land in order to make money, but
that on comparatively small areas cul-
tivated in a manner to produce the
best results. combined with frugality.
industry. and business methods. he
may within reasonable time attain
compctence.-New York Times.