Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-21

matter Of the greatest Importance in
rural districts whore the isolated lives or
the farmers has been perhaps the great
est hindrance to happiness and develop
They teach the children the value Of
labor and economy, the benefit OF careful
and methodica1 work. They. are brought
to read good literature and to recognize
views are broadened by contact with each
other; they are taught to see the import
ance of planting the best kinds OF seed
and using the most improved implements.
and their physical development Is going
on at the same time that they solve the
problems involved in the Improvement Of
plants, fruits. animals and different farm
and household affairs.
Notable Organizations Develop.
Some notable local organizations have
been developed in different parts Of the
countries, one Of the most interesting be-
Ing that directed by Will b. Orwell, edi-
tor Of Otwells Farmer Boy. an agricul-
tural paper for children exclusively, pub
lished at Carlnville. Ill.
Mr.. Orwell Is a native Of Carlinvilie
He grew up on q farm in the neighbor-
hood, went to the country schools and
graduated at Blackburn College at that
place about twenty years ago. He is a
practical farmer with high ideals. an ,un-
usual amount Of common sense and the
faculty Of making hard work and farm
life fascinating. After he graduated
from college he settled down on a farm
restless mind realized that there was too
much monotony and too little activity
among the young generation that was
growing up about him, and as president
county, OF which Carlinville Is the county
seat. he devised a. plan Of awakening an
interest among the farmers boys by Of
fering prizes for the best corn produced
in the county under uniform conditions.
He worked UP this idea until he had
1880, youngsters striving for the honors,
and induced manufacturers OF agricultural
instruments to offer valuable prizes.
Progress of the Movement.
This movement having attracted consid-
cradle attention, he was appointed a
commissioner to the st. Louis exposition,
for which he secured exhibits Of corn
from 5000 farmer boys in Illinois. TINS
experience taught him what might be
done IL the movement was properly man
aged, and shortly after the close Of the
exposition he started q paper called OF
wells Farmer Boy. which has already at
has been eelf-supporting from tho start
and is devoted exclusively to promoting
corn contests. bread-making contests and
to interesting the young people upon the
farms of Illinois and neighboring states
in self-improvement and self-advance-
ment.
William H. Anderson. state superintend-
ent of the anti-saloon league. whose home
ia in Carlinvilie, and who has known Mr..
Orwell from childhood. told me many in
teresting things about him the other
day His work II unique. and has be-
come q passion with him" said Mr.. An
derson. He has gone into 1t from the
same motive that leads other men into the
ministry and into the foreign field, as mis-
sionaries, to make better men Of the COM
Ing generation as we'll as better farmers,
and he has a practical business sense to
guide him 80 that his sentiment does not
lead him into impracticable lines. He has
demonstrated his capacity a. business
man in building up a great nursery bust
ness. which he is now selling out 30 that
he can give his whole time to his work
among the boys in his newspaper and in
other directions.
He docs not eonine himself to farm
ing. but looks after the moral improve
ment Of his disciples as we'll as their
material advantages. For example he has
induced more than 10000 boys in Macou-
pin and the neighboring counties to sign
the temperance pledge, and years, ago he
started q movement to teach them to
save money
Promotes Money Saving.