The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-10-17
BY ISAAC L. TOTEM.

There has been a very noticeable
decline of neighborliness in Rich
mond's rural districts during the past
few years, which is due, in large
measure, to the consolidation of coun-
try schools.
Let US say in the beginning, that
it is not the purpose of this article to
decry modern educational methods.
because no fair minded person would
make any objections to the system
that provides for the country boys
and girls the same educationl advan-
tages that are provided for the chill
dren in the city. 1t is our aim to
arouse, if we can, a little Of that old
time nearness between neighboring
demonstrating back to life, as it were,
that spark of hospitality, and that
common-interest-feel that was so
much in evidence only a few years
back
1t is often the case in progressive
moves that many intermediate points
are overlooked. and it becomes neces-
sary to go back and bring these up to
the standard established in the for
ward movement. When the schools
in the various districts are abandoned
to give way to the consolidation plan,
it was not foreseen that the one place
which the farmers had of getting to-
gether was being taken away.
OF course, the building itself was not
taken away. but the initiative force
was. 1t is seldom now that we have
our spelling bees, literaries and So
Gals of various kinds that were enjoy
ed before the schools were abandoned
There seems to lie no one now to take
the initiative, and We all stay at home
and wonder why the neighbors are
not more sociable.
This lack of neighborliness is com
mon topic when farmers get together
yet, like so many other things, there
seems to be plenty VINO are willing
to talk, but none who are willing tc
act in trying to arouse, or bring into
existence, as it were, something that
would cause farmers ana farmers
wives and their sons and daughters to
get together on a more sociable ba
farm neighborhood who will take il
upon himself or herself to try to or
ganize farm life club, as many of the
country life folks have been doing in
the northwest. Perhaps the old aban
doned school building still stands in
your locality where it is only a rem
devious for tramps and others of a
migratory disposition. A little remod
cling, at a nominal outlay might place
this building in a suitable condition
for country life organization in YOU
community.
Trustee Howarth says, that there
are two of these abandoned schoo
| buildings in Wayne township. One O
them is not in a fit condition for use
but the other one, Fairview, No. 2
can be used any time, on condition
that it be kept clean. The key cal
be obtained by calling at the trustees
office.
In many of the farm localities toda,
social conditions are as bad, if no
worse, than the social conditions o
flat life in the large cities. It is no
an uncommon thing in a flat building
where the families number as high al
ten and twelve, for none of the occu
pants to visit each other; and, it i!
not an uncommon thing in farm neigh
borhoods to hear someone say, II have
lived here two years Tor three years
and in that length of time, only on<
Of the neighbors has been to call OF
u.s."
This is not the kind of country life
that the city man dreams of finding il
the rural districts. He has been tolC
of the whole-hearted feelings, of the
real and not artificial enjoyments, anG
of the social affairs that do not make
you feel as though you were going tt
do something all the time that you
shouldn't, but, when he comes to the
country, he finds conditions altogeth