New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-07-22
THE ENTERPRISE AND
Observer, Consolidated
substitution $I.5O Per Annum
N. ". FISHER, Editor and Proprietor.
WHY BOYS LEAVE THE FARM


Why BOYS LEAVE THE FARM
Not long ago bright farmer
,oy. writing on the subject OF
Why the Country Boys Leave
he Farms gave an explanation
hat may not be far from right:
After covering various phases or
arm life from the boys stand
,oint, he said that there were OF
en-. two or three boys on the
arm and that it could go to but
me of them after the father was
through with it. Realizing this
he elder boys usually began to
ook around for a place for them
selves. but found land prices too
ligh in their immediate localities
for them to hope to purchase a
farm and purchase it as their
father had his by his labor on the
land. When the father bought
his farm land was selling, per-
haps, for S. and $40 an acre, but
the same land is held today IN
the older farming districts for
$25 to $50 an acre, and that the
reclamation of this discouraged
the boy.
Again, his experience and
knowledge was not sufficient to
direct him to the sections OF
cheaper lands and that the dis
tance scared him. In this frame
of mind he remembered some one
of the neighborhood who had
gone to town and found work
and was supposed to make a hv-
ing. Here, at least. was some-
thing tangible, something that he
knew about, or thought he did,
which amounts to the same thing
in giving confidence, so he start
ed out for the town to become
in the overcrowded ranks
Of town dwellers.
There is possibly much in this
view of the situation. Driven by
religious fervor for the most part,
the earliest settlers in this coun-
try. the ancestors of the folk who
now people the American farms,
came to this country in companies.
They had the society and advice
of old friends and neighbors and
SO we're emboldened to take this
step. The first generation was OF
course familiar with the details
Of this migration. and the
thought of leaving home. and ia
miliar surroundings was OBJ
scured in the romance OF the
thing, beside land was plentiful
and the move for a new farm was
but the pushing back into the
wilderness a few miles and hew'
ing one out. So generation FOL
lowed generation, each succeeding
one pushing farther until tn
country was covered. With eacf
succeeding generation the splrl'
of the pioneer has become weaker
the inspiration of ancestra
achievement less, until today To-
tho most mart. we see in the mi
grants the descendants pf 'th'
Germans. Irish and Swedes VIII
have come over at later period
and whose family lore has no
vet been left to the memory 0
the rising generation.
The farm boy of today in tn
northwest and Atlanta seaboard
| the boy who is going into town
and filling the ranks OF the fac
! tory workers and office men ma
Ihave heard of Louisiana and 1t
cheap lands; may even have hear
J something of the opportunltle
but. after all, his knowledge is bu
vague. He may pluck up courag
Ito inquire how much It will cos
him to get there and learn tina
the fare is anywhere from twen
ty to fifty dollars. This, to hin
is 4 large sum, perhaps more tina
he ever had at one time In n,
life. He remembers how long n
father had to work on the farf
to accumulate $50. and tn
thought comes to him that it wi
cost him as much to get back
he does not like it, or if thing
are not just as his mind picturef
He has no inspiration to give MI
confidence in his own abilities 7
care for himself and make n
way among strange people and !
strange surroundings and so give
inn the idea and settles down t
become part Of the great MAJ
Sufacturing machine of the se'
ition in which he lives. He WI
be discontented, and as he grow
in experience and wisdom WI
voice his discomfort and perhaI
Iaudibly wish that he had ma
greater confidence in himself an
his own powers. His childre
will be brought up in this q
mosphere of vain regret. ana
they have the right stuff IN the
they will profit by it and reson
not to make the same mistake
hat the strongest Of the ri 'nee
Of their time. striking out to g
AWAY from the weakness ard e
rors of their fathers; the weake
will still abide by the machm
will fnItO