The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1910-08-29

the stock and talk over their problems
While the children play and the women
visit"
In addition to the grange. there are
many local farmers clubs that are
doing a great deal to bring their men,
bers together socially. The only rea-
son that there are not more such or
CARNATIONS is the lack of some one to |
take the lead. The cities have so long
been dra wing the best blood from some
rural communities that in many places :
there is precious little left to build
upon. With the changing conditions
that are restoring the farm to lead
Ing place in our national life there
will be no lack of leaders, and the II
time will come when every community II
will have its club or grange.
In the Mississippi valley states,
where industrial cooperation has OBJ i
tanned strong foothold. cooperative
picnics are one of the principal diver
sions. These are big affairs. including
| all the people for miles around. There L
| are speeches and amusements and plen-
| ty to eat. and every one goes home
| happy.
A number of country towns and ru-
raj communities have a field day"
once or twice a year. which is in the
nature of big picnic, at which ath-
letic contests predominant.
Local Fourth Of July celebrations |
give the country boys chance to |
work of their patriotism for week in
advance in helping to get things ready, |
and they enjoy the day a great deal
more than they would a ready made
celebration in big town. where all
they could do would be to stand on
the side lines and shout. The best part
Of these affairs is that they develop
originality and initiative on the part of
the young people. 1t teaches them to
develop any latent ability for leader
ship which they may possess. The boy
who can get together nine farmer boys
Oh Saturday afternoons and organize
them into a ball team that can win
from the neighboring township is the
one who is going to be able to do
things when he gets older. 1t is no
small task to make an effective team
out of nine boys when eight of them
want to pitch and the other couldn't
catch a ball to save his life.
1t is the farm boys of today who
will be foremost in the agricultural
communities of tomorrow. One Of the
most important of the social factors
affecting farm life is a boys club.
Nebraska has a well developed sys-
. tenn of boys and girls corn clubs.
There are a few in Iowa and Illinois,
and more are being organized. The
! members of these clubs each have
. their plot of corn. They meet around
!, from place to place, get better ac-
= Quainted with one another and study
Il corn growing. Often an experienced
corn grower meets with them and
&! gives them some practical lessons. In
some cases these clubs are under the
supervision of the agricultural college,
/ which sends out letters of instruction
! to the boys every two weeks or so. In
/ the winter corn contest is held al
/ the agricultural college. Some of the
i | counties have local contests. There
i are prizes for the best corn and for the
i best corn judging Often the boys who
i do the best work at the local contest:
81 have their expenses paid to the state
Il contest at the agricultural college
j Similar contests in cooking and sew
7 ing are held for the girls. Work O
II this kind is an inspiration to the boy
4 and girls. They begin to see some o
III the real enjoyment Of farm life
u This work is being extended to tn
4 boys Of the cities by means of summe
Al camps. where the boys are taken for
II vacation at the same time getting IL
a struction and object lessons in agr
a culture. Many a boy who otberwis
81 would have spent his life in tow
II working for somebody else is thu
al started on the way to become an ind
# pendent farmer.
- Another big factor in rural social lii
&C is the country literary society. Th
reaches more people than grange (
NY a club can reach. Its disadvantage
I've that the membership is SO large tn
DIS only a few can appear on the pr
Is grams. But great many can liste
ost and they eagerly avail themselves
pu- the opportunity. The country litera
VI society when rightly managed col
bines both the social and the educ
)me +;o,., fo.+nros and is a oreat milf
cid' the community.
'ine Along with these other social facto
. =" come the local lecture courses. L
lelp Io,a. - 49, oI,,,ore tho host hn+ y.
suit =: a.,;a;,s,,, c-ooa Tbo,, +bt
are ice cream suppers. picnlcs a
: fishing excursions in the summer a
,cial 80 ,,,,,o., l., +ho ,,in+or Tho =
men often have a ladies' aid socie
AMY where they can meet and sew and vi
ause to their hearts content. The men hs
NC a fraternal order OF two, where tt
LOT can get together on Saturday event
sent During the last few years the Y. NJ.
nose A. has been extending to the coun
Ed and doing a great deal Of good VIC