The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-09-30
RURAL WONDERLAND FEDERATE
CLUBS 7s.
CLUBS

The movement in the interests o
rural women has taken firmer h9l5
upon the club women of the country
than even the most sanguine had sup
posed This movement has grown
out of the fact that in most states oil
the Union greater interest has been
developed in the subject of agricul.
ture. Whether the increased cost oil
living Is responsible for the awaken.
ing or the natural commercial devel.
opment of our country, it is hard to
determine. Certain it is, however
that our national and state govern
ments are appointing commissions to
study carefully and exhaustively the
present state of agriculture and its
greater development A study OF
soils, of crops, and their rotation, OF
breeds of stock, of improved farm
machinery, Of more modern buildings
of modern commences in the farm
home, of better school facilities es-
pecially county and township high
schools, whehe agriculture can be
taught. The providing libraries for
rural communities and the best forms
of amusement for the young people
on the farm. 1t is hoped that the
boy and girl will elect to remain on
the farm, instead of gravitating to
the city, where they are lost in the
great throngs already overcrowding
the industries to be found in longest
ed centers. Here identify is lost and
names are exchanged for numbers
1t requires strong frame and ex-
ceptional character to rise out of such
a station in life. Much less energy
and ability on the part of the young
man or woman would have been re-
quired to maintain themselves in
rural community, where the personal
touch with friend and neighbor can
always be had; where friendly in
terest is always found; where life
may be passed in the pure air and
sunshine, instead of living in dark,
unventilated buildings and passing
their days in most unhealthful sur
roundings, without friends, even
when in trouble or i'll. M4
In my study of these great conser-
walton movements, have been par
ticularly struck by the evident losing
sight of the woman on the farm. All
attention seems to have been conferred
on the man, and realizing that in all
ages of the world and in the monds
of all students of sociology the opin-
ion has prevailed that no people rises
above the status of it's women, have,
therefore been impelled to lift my
voice in behalf of rural women.
To this end appealed to all state
presidents as to what was being done
to interest rural women in their state
in the great subjects under considera-
ton by club women everywhere.
Surely, education, food sanitation,
health and hygiene, child labor and
domestic econamy are Of as vital in
terest to the women in the country as
the women in town.
Replies have been received from at
least one-half of the state presidents.
The reports are most encouraging and
inspiring. 1t will not be possible to |
mention what is being done in all the
states, but a few win be mentioned.
Most state declarations provide ira
Yelling libraries and travelling picture
galleries for the small towns and
,onutry school districts. We are all
with the rest rooms, which
nave proven so helpful In bringing
about community of interest be-
.ween town and country women. In
many state declarations scholarships
or students, boys or girls, are pro-
'ided in the state universities. i
In New York state the farmers
wives Reading Course. numbering
fifteen thousand women, belongs to
he state federation has its headquar-
ers at Cornell University. Its gen.
'ral direction is in the hands of a
member of the faculty of the New
York State Agricultural College at
ithaca. :.
A newer and more admirable effortl'
o secure the interest and help of all
is the organization in rural
chool districts of school clubs. These
re for the women and are under the
supervision of the teacher They are
rowing most valuable, because they
AXE up the needs of the school and
1hatever pertains to the advance
1ent of the school district. School
ibraries are provided and school
quipment, such as charts, maps
lobes, encyclopedias and dictionaries
nd in some localities Nature study,
ird study and talks with lantern
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