The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-08-16
STATE COLLEGE DEAN SEES
FUTURE ON FARM
DR.. Arthur Holmes Points Out Use
of Agricultural Colleges and
What They Are Doing.


Philadelphia, Aug. 15.-Dr. Ar
thur Holmes, assistant professor of
psychology of the University of Penn
sylvania, will leave his present posi-
ton in the fall to become dean of
State college, filling a post which
has been vacant for more than two
years.
Doctor Holmes has been with the
university for four years, and is one
of its most popular professors, not
only because of his academic work,
but his strong personality as well.
His resignation will be greatly re-
gretted by the entire student body.
One of the chief reasons why Doc
tor Holmes was selected for this i'm
portant position was because of his
influence over the student, and his
to develop character in the men who
have hitherto had no one to take
personal interest in them.
Speaking of the agricultural possi-
bilities for the young men of the
country, Doctor Holmes says;
There is no reason why farming
should not be as much of a profess
sion, requiring just as much special
ization, as law or medicine. Given
such scientific training, the returns
will be as great, if not greater, than
in many other professions.
Farming formerly gave good re-
turns even when blindly done, be-
/ cause the soil was rich enough to
stand 1t; but now that all the free
lands are taken up and the soil is
becoming less fertile, owing to mis-
| use, returns naturally decrease, and
| the cry is raising that farming no
longer pays. Then along came the
agricultural college, and the farm
| ers' institute to point out remedies
and new methods of farming, and we
find scientific principles taking the
place of the old blind methods, with
the result that farming is again be-
coming paying proposition, which
our young men will take up.
The economic reason is not the
only cause, however, for the young
men deserting the farms. l consider
that the social instinct, the desire
of youth to be with others of its kind
has had quite as much to do with
the fiocking into the cities as any
other reason. Here, again, we finC
change. With the extension of the
VI al uGlINGIy, lu6 ItltpuOu6 anu luk
trolley, one no longer has to live il
crowded cities to find an outlet fol
ones social, physical and intellectual
needs.
The Y. NJ. c. A. is beginning t.
recognize and cope with this problem
by going into every small village anC
town and establishing a club room
with courses of interesting and in
structive lectures. Then they organ
: ize team of some sort and get th
young men interested in variou
sports. Then, too, the throwing
open of the school houses as socia
centers helps to increase the facili
ties for social intercourse and LESSEE
the need of the cheap amusements o
the city and render them less de
sirable."
DR.. Holmes was very enthusiast
over the prospects of good position
5 which he sail were waiting for tn
/, graduates of agricultural colleges.
e When men just out of colleg
= can obtain positions as scientifi
managers of farms at s75 or 500
4 month, with board and lodgin
: thrown in, it can scarcely be sal
I that farming is not money-makin
: proposition for young men. At thf
i salary enterprising young men wi
e save money until they have enoug
y to buy farms of their own, when the
d will find their training well repaid.