The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1911-12-12
PROBLEMS OF
COUNTRY LIFE
REV. J. M. WALTERS IN ADDRESS
BEFORE FARGO COLLEGE STU
DENTS TODAY TOLD or RECENT
COUNTRY LIFE CONGRESS TO
WHICH HE WAS DELEGATE.

Rev. J. M. Walters, who has recently
returned from the great country life
congress in Spokane, told the Fargo
college students this morning of his
impressions Of that notable gathering
The problems OF the city have long
been the subject of thought OF the great
reformers of our country" said the
speaker, but the time has come when
the problems of the country must take
a prominent place in consideration OF
sociologists.
There is a great need for the study
of country life in the curriculum of
every student, that we may improve
and make richer the lives OF those who
make their homes on the farm. MY
own experience as a farmers boy has
opened my eyes to many conditions of
rural life. The farmer has too long
striven to become richer, but not
broader. A new era, however, is
dawning in the lives Of the sons of
agricultural toll, and 1t is such move
ments as those started In the con-
gress which I had the honor to adj
dress. that viii develop the fuIness of
rural life"
Model Farm Home.
an one cornor OF the great armory."
said Mr.. Walters, Il was delighted to
see model farm home, with the con-
veniences that may easily supplied on
the farm, such as running water in
the farmers house. Farmers have too
long endeavored to provide handsome
iy for their thoroughbred cattle, and
not for their families. Water is piped
to the barn. but the poor country girl
is seen carrying heavy pals Of water
to the house, when a few hundred feet
of pipe would solve the problem"
Recreation on Farm.
1.-THE country boy needs recreation
hours as well as the city boy. Great
movements are on foot to provide
Fairgrounds and recreation clubs for
our city youth, but what for the coun-
try boy? One speaker who has infiu-
ence among farmers recommended that
the farmer boy who rises with the sun
and quits work with his going down,
should have Saturday afternoons OF
for baseball and such sport"
Country Schools.
People are coming to realize the
Importance Of the rural schools. The
old boxes with poor light and ventila-
ton are passing out of existence. Even
one county superintendent had install
ed kitchen in the little building
where the little girls could learn to
cook and might have a warm lunch
at noon"
After discussing points in regard tC
recreation in rural schools, Rev. Mr.
Walters told of the place the church
should hold.
we need moral advancement a.
we'll as agricultural. The country
school and church should work hanS
| in hand together. The country church
has not done its work when 1t opens
it's doors in the morning and closes
them at night 1t should be a meeting
place for men to discuss the affairs o.
their daily life"
II was very much impressed witt
the mildness of the climate" said tn,
speaker, But give me good old NORTH
Dakota land. The booming spirit ha.
invaded the west Men are there t,
make money, and go to extremes IL
doing so. Literature is spread abroad
and in many cases vast sums are re
ceived for poor sand hills with few
struggling apple trees. The roses
there are very nice, but when we max,
up our minds to stand the cold o
North Dakota, we will make NOR,
money here than there, and can hea
our houses warm enough to raise ros
es; or If we can't, we can buy them
and will realize that North Dakota il
a mighty good place to live after ALL