The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1911-09-30
STAY ON THE FARM.


from time to. time to young peo-
pie of both sexes to stay on the
farm there is a deplorable ten
dency on their part to leave the
country and seek employment in
the city. This movement is drain
ing the country district Of some
Of it's best blood. 1t cannot be ex-
pected, of course, that all who are
born on a farm will spend their
lives there. Many of them are
fitted by nature, inclination and
talents for other lines Of work |:
but, apart from this, the number
who should remain on the farm is
much greater than those who ac-
tually do so. Far too large a per-
centage of the sons and daughters
Of farmers see no attraction in
farm life and take advantage of
the earliest opportunity to ex-
change it's independence and Sc
curity for the hazard and uncer-
tainty of city life. They wish to
escape what they call the druid
gerry Of farm life; but, on account
of their unftness for professional
work or skilled labor, they are
forced into life Of no less
monotonous drudgery- in the city.
The majority Of young men and
women Of this class are attracted
by the glitter Of the city and the
alluring prospects which it seems
to hold out. The mania for ex-
element draws them away from
their country homes. They do not
realize the hardships which con-
front those who seek employment
in the larger cities, and the far
more serious dangers that beset
their moral welfare-dangers
which are at a minimum on the
farm.
We shall cite two instances of
the perils to which young men
and women are exposed on their
entrance into the life of the city.
First of all, there is the uncer-
tainty Of steady employment
which is, perhaps, greater for a
young man than for young wo-
man. Even after a young man
secures a position he can seldom be
sure that it is a permanent one.
Men who are employed on rail
roads, in mines, factories, mills,
and similar large concerns never
know when they will be thrown
out Of employment. A period 81
depression brings a consequent de
crease in the number Of hands that
can be employed and many are lei
out. A strike throws the men in q
particular line Of work, and it may
be in allied departments, out fol-
an indefinite time, if not perman
emily. The workingmen thus
thrown out Of employment have
to meet the expenses Of living
and even if they have succeeded
in laying anything by, which is
often difficult because Of low
wages, the savings soon disap
pear This enforced idleness spells
ruin to many who cannot gel
work and who are unable to move
to another place in search of EN-
ployment.
1t is well-known fact tha-
when, in any line Of work, it be
| comes necessary to reduce ex
penses on account Of smaller gros,
earnings the working force is re
duced. Last year we had an in
stance Of this in the reduction 0.
the number of railroad employees
A short time ago the Bureau O.
Railway Economics published 1
statement showing that up tt
April 80 Of the present year, rail
roads operating sixty per cent 0.
the country mileage had reduced
the number Of employees by $4,000
If we apply similar ratio to othel
companies not reporting we fnt
that 10000 railway employee
were discharged during the pas
, year. Similar conditions exist il
| nearly all. lines of work. It is NJ
wonder, therefore, that men VIII,
have at heart the interest Of tn,
young warn them against seekins
employment in the city and ad
wise them to remain on the farm
, In the second place, these, ma
terial hardships are not by an,
means the worst that threaten tn,
future Of the young men and WON
en- who foresake the farm for cit,
! life. The moral dangers are fa
more baneful. While these ar,
encountered by all they are espe
! cially serious in the case of limo