Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1912-02-07


little less acute than it was few years ago when
the cities babe fair to drain the rural districts Of
all tue best OF Its young blood However, it is
only fair to say that the crisis has been passed
IN this drift from the country to the CITY, The
tide has turned not only as shown by the migra
ton or many city folk countryward, but yet more
significantly by the growing content with which
an increasing proportion Of the young people
VINO nave been born and reared in the country
elect to remain in their native environment when
the time comes for them to strike out for them
selves
1t Should be pointed out, just here, though that
the considerations that prompting an in
creased percentage of rural youth to stay by the
time-honored vocation of their forefathers are not
all the purely sentimental ones that influence so
many city folks to seek the country as a place of
residence 1t is undoubtedly true that the average
individual is prone to underestimate the adyan-
tages and exaggerate the disadvantages of his own
situation and environment. And it is equally true
that far away fields look green" literally as
we'll as fguratively speaking Consequently the
city resident, sick of stuffy apartments and noisy
dirty streets, working for wage or salary is
prone to find dream of paradise in the prospect
of being his own boss in the cool, quiet country
The country girl or boy the other hand must
inevitably look at the situation through the oppo
site end of the telescope He or she is familiar
from experience with the hard work of the farm
which the inexperienced city dwller has given
scarce thought to in advance and many of the
distractions of city life which have paed on the
urban resident who turns his eyes farmward pos
sess the charm of novelty for the untraveled
young people Of the farm.
Boys and Girls Sticking to the Farm.
That despite this state of affairs a constantly
increasing proportion of the country girls and
boys choosing to stick by the farms is highly
significant and betokens change of material con-
df>ions as we'll altered mental state And
speaking of material things, or had we better say
financial conditions, it might we'll be put down
first and foremost that one of the main factors
in inducing country bred youth to remain in the
country is the increased prosperity that has come
in recent years to tillers Of the SOIL In the old
days when almost every farm heavily mort
gagged and the daughter of the household
saw little ahead but lifetime struggle with debt
it was no wonder that they turned to paths where
]ife if not easier, was certainly more pleasant
and allowed more equal division of the time be-
tewen work and play.
But now, with the farms on a sound, profitable
basis and the average rural couple able to start
their married life on a farm of their own-wholly
or partially paid for,-there is not so much at
traction in the jobs which the city affords the
unskilled worker,-the $12 or SIS week at which
the street car conductor must start or the S.
SO week that Is offered to the new recruit among
the shop girls of the big city stores. Even If a
country youth is allured by the lights and life
and gamor and gaiety of the large city he is
compelled, by that sound, practical common sense
which is the heritage of the average farmer boy,
to stop and consider whether it is worth the sac
rifce demanded in dollars and cents, to say moth
ing of the sacrifice of health to which perhaps he
gives nary a thought.
Prosperity Has Brought Improved Conditions.
The farmers who have given serious thought to
the problems of keeping thei" girls and boys with
them or near them on the farms have been quick