Graham guardian., 1911-10-20
erty-stricken folk known as

X
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.
Az 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
notwithstanding cotton crops OF the past lew
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 fclk-particularly In the remote noun.
tain districts where regular schools are q rarity;
and finally they have exerted influence Ii 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
commodious and thoroughly weather-tight 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. It has been pretty difacult to
nurture ambitions for better home among q peo-
pie weakened by long poverty and disease and
with barely enough money to keep body and soul
together. highly beneficial influence In this
same 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.
ern states. These men and women have worked
for better conditions through the medium OF the
children. Of rural Dixie. Having won the conf
dence Of the farmer boys through the Corn club
competitions and of the girls through the more
recently introduced Canning clubs 1t has been a
simple matter to inspire them with desire to
not only improve the farm but also to improve
the farm home and provide 1t with greater COM
forts and conveniences. Indeed, many of the
prizes offered by southern merchants and or
CARNATIONS OF publicspirited citizens in these
contests designed to improve agricultural yields
IN the south have been objects destined to at.
ford hint Of home comforts or Injuries hereto
fore undrearned 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 over the south farmers and
planters have expended some OF the money
they have made In these fat years in building
new dwellings or In restoring old ones. Many
colonial or antebellum mansions which were rap.
Idly falling into decay have thus been rescued
and restored in the nick OF time and when pro-