The Washington herald., 1911-07-09

invest his money in bonds, stocks, or
mortgages would be to invite beggary into
the closing days of himself and of his
wife, who has worked as hard as he has.
Were he to put his little capital into
business, he would soon be bankrupt.
The human elements should be consid-
cred when doctors, professors, and other
amateurs condemn the tenant system"
What do you think of the back to
the country movement?'
That 1t is necessary. patriotic. and
sensible. 1t Is especially noticeable in
New England. We treat the prodigals
with great kindness and respect in New
Hampshire. One of them, Robert P.
Bass, is now governor of the State. But
country life has its requirements. One
must love the out-of-doors, the growing
crops and the poultry, sheep and other
animals. The man or woman who loathes
the city would not be happy or success
full in Boston, Chicago, or New York. To
those who want freedom, who have an
affinity with the soil. and who are in
dustrious, I say. Come Still, ! would
not counsel a clerk or a bookkeeper to
take up farming unless he had sufficient
capital on which to live until he learned
the business. That there must be an
exodus back to the country Is obvious.
The consumers are eating ahead of the
lacking in the workers. Neglecting the
country, we have devoted our genius
muscular strength, and money to the de-
velopment OF our towns and cities. Here
after, we must equalize our growth or
go hungry.
GranEers Now Arc I'm Fashion.
But 1 see another side of the rural
movement and the one to me that is the
most promlsing-it is actually becoming
fashionable. The poor are said to imi-
tate the middle class and the middle
class are said to initiate the rich. Start
something at the top and the ferment OF
desire begins at the bottom. Going
further, the rich, II is often remarked.
like to ape the manners and customs Of
Europe. Millionaires abroad have rural
estates. There is not only distinction but
comfort and satisfaction in sAch property,
Britain. Cows and dogs and horses and
sheep have begun to interest the Ameri-
can urban mind and imagination. Poor
country boys and girls having become
rich men and women, long for early
scenes and unartificial associations So
fashion and natural inclination are pull
ing toward the country to the advantage
of villagers and agrfculturists.
II know a man who spent 1900 for a
ments. In a single little New Hampshire
community ten captains OF trade have
expended S1.000.0o0 for residences. All
the people have felt the impulse Of that
new noney-farmers. lawyers, mechanics,
and preachers Once that quiet region
was asleep; row It is awake and optimis-
tic in its activity. Some fashions are
inane or harmful. The fashion of living
a part Of the year IN the country, how
ever, is not alone excellent in itself, but
1t is Of great value economically. The
manufacturer wants his fields to produce
at full capacity. He takes pride in scien-
tific agricultural methods. Consequently
his example has its influence on the ma
tives.
And the country is hospitable toward
money and intelligence. Robert Perkins
Bass, whom / have mentioned. was born
in Chicago moved to New Hampshire,
turned forester and farmer. and we elect
ed him governor Winston Churchill. an
emigrant from St Louis, settled among
us TO write books and study agriculture.
and we sent him to the legislature. Back
to the farm. therefore. has political pos