Newark post., 1911-04-12
OUR WATCHWORD

An interesting paper read by Miss
Frances Preston, of Point Lookout, |
Little Britain township, Lancaster
county, at the Farmers Institute held
lately in Oxford Opera House:
Our watchword on the farm or else
where is progress. This must be ac-
complished through culture and educa-
ton and ii vain our toll, we ought to
blame the culture, not the soil.
The printing press is admitted to be
the chief avenue OF influence today,
and in the daily newspaper this in
huence o. print reaches its height, for
what comes 10 us through the eye is
more effective than anything that is
spoken. How Important then that
which is printed should be OF things
pure. Too often the the communica-
tions evil and these bear fruit after
their own kind Progress demands
clean journalism, and it is no longer
necessary to brood over an unclean
newspaper when one can be had which
contains all the important news OF the
world and nothing OF evil report.
Good books are the basis OF culture
and education and there is every rea-
son and every opportunity Tor people
to secure the best and most helpful
ones. There is no lack o. Literature
today ON farming, and the time for
consulting the maxims and signs OF
rhe almanac for planting and harvest
ing is past, for these crude rules a-e
only half truths OF altogether dead
wrong.
The spirit OF unrest that has caused
so much discussion abouv the back
to-the land movement is much the
same impulse that causes the farmer
and his lamily TO move 10 town Each
is seeking wha" the other looked at
from a distance, seems to have free
dom from work. happin 'sS, peace and
plenty OF the simple life which is with
in. 1t does not depend OH external
conditions. but on our own thinking,
and this is governed large by what
we read,
To the townman there is much fam
cied tranquility about broad fields and
wild-eyed cows and gentle hammered
hens. but sentiments will not produce
these things.
Ruskin divides books into two
classes: Those OF the hour and those
Of all Gime Life he believes. is too
short to read the lormer, but why
gossip with the neighbors when we
have our choice ithe best that has
been written by the greatest men and
women OF the word and if we wish.
may talk with kings and queens. This
eternal court is always open, and we
may enter at any time and take rank
according to our wish. No wealth.
can bribe the guardian OF these gates,
for the passwords are labor and merits
and no vulgar person ever enters
there. -
Country people often move 30 town
for the sake OF >ociety, but with an
appreciation OF good books it is posi-
Bile to have ali the society we want or
need on the arm. In the words OF
Ruskin: DO you ask to be the COM
panion of mobiles? Make yourself no
Bile and you shall be. Do you long
for the conversation OF the wise: Learn
10 understand it and you shall hear
it."
DR.. Hills once said that the W.
men OF today adhere very closely &c
the custom OF the Indian squaws: They
rake two feathers from a wi d bird and
stick them in their hair. The woman
of today is not satisfied with this. She
wrings the birds neck and lor severa
months the wings stand out i'll front
Then she goes into three weeks medi-
tation, and at the end OF that time she
comes our with the wings urned back
and man pays five dollars for The
change.
This custom would soon be forgot
ten if everyone belonged to the .Audo-
bon Society, and the laws for the pro-
rection OF the most beautiful bird:
would be uncalled for.
Progress in education demands CON
slant changes, but to be cultured nc
longer means to have a knowledge O.
Greek and Latin. We may not be able
TO read the popular French play or te
see Maude Adams in the title role o
Chantecler, but we can read with prof
the translation in recent magazine
One verse reads:
o God OF little birds.
Who breathed into our wings to make
lis light,
And painted s'hem with colors OF Hi
sky,
Our thanks for this fair day, ior mea
and drink.
Sweet skv-born water caught in cup
OF stone,
Sweet hedgerow berries washed o
dust with dew.
The editor who bought the Ameri
can rights for his magazine though
that he was buying literary freak
but the play is now recognized as
classic which has a special meaning
for the world today. The character II
this great work OF art are the ami
mails OF the barnyard, which are mad
TO sa1inze men and women. One il
lustration will give the moral situatio
on which the play rests.
Chantec' and The old dog Patio
are talking about the Blackblrd, VIII
represents the fashionable young ma
with the habit OF turning every sacre
thought into laugh. Patton shake
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