The Yale expositor., 1911-09-28


the poor whites" have been
found living in squalor and discomfort to
say nothing OF unsanitary conditions, that par
alleled anything in the negro cabins. No wonder
so many OF this class OF the inhabitants fell vic
tins to hook worm" and other diseases.
AS has been said the coming of material pros
perity has proven the chief spur to the era OF
better homes In rural Dixie but it is only fair to
say that the improvement set in before the
recordbreaking cotton crops Of the past few
years were even In prospect and have found In
spiration from sources quite apart from business
activity. For number of years past number of
individuals and humanitarian organizations have
been doing missionary work" of the best kind
in the south Under the guise of medical at
tendance they have carried health and hygiene
to many isolated families, who had remained
In ignorance OF modern Ideas on such matters;
they have sought to educate the children of
these poor folk-particularly in the remote noun
tain districts where regular schools are a rarity;
and finally they have exerted influence in every
possible way to secure the provision of better
homes. Efforts have been made to arouse the
ambitions of the men to provide better, more
commodous and thoroughly weather-tght dwell
ings, whereas the women have had their interest
kindled along the line Of home ornamentation,
etc.
This arousal of interest has come the more
readily where the improvement of business or
agricultural conditions has made 1t possible for
the heads of the household to obtain remunera-
tive employment. 1t has been pretty difficult to
nurture ambitions for better home among a peo-
pie weakened by long poverty and disease and
with barely enough money to keep body and soul
together. A highly beneficial influence in this
general direction has been exerted during
the past few years by the field agents of the
United States department of agriculture and by
the workers Of the state agricultural institutions
that have been established In most of the south
states. These men and women have worked
for better conditions through the medium of the
children Of rural Dixie. Having the conf
dence Of the farmer boys through the Corn club
competitions and Of the girls through the more
recently introduced Canning clubs it has been a
simple matter to inspire them with a desire to
rot only improve the farm but also to improve
the farm home and provide It with greater COM
forts and conveniences. Indeed, many OF the
prizes offered by southern merchants and
CARNATIONS of philosophical citizens in these
contests designed to improve agricultural yields
In the south have been objects destined to af-
ford a hint of home comforts Injuries hereto
fore undreamed Of
The direct sequel Of the good crops OF recent
years in its effect upon home In Dixie Is even
more conspicuous than the indirect influences
above mentioned. All the south farmers and
planters have expended of the money
they have made In these fat years In building
new dwellings in restoring old ones. Many
colonial or ante-bellum mansions which we're rap
idly falling into decay have thus been rescued
and restored in the nick of time. and when pro-