The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-11-30

and the privileges enjoyed by those
living in the country, and eventually,
give them a desire to move back TO
the country and make 1t a. permanent
home. 1t also offers an opportunity
for practical instruction in domestic
silence and household economy, under
circumstances that make both teach
ing and learning a pleasure. 1t all
makes for a better citizenship, men
tally, morally and physically, and I
maintain that the city or town that
does not provide these facilities Is
doing itself and its citizens an In
Justice. Our State colleges. partic-
ulariy in thu East. are. many of
them, very short of students IN the
purely agricultural courses. and the
reason therefor lies with the citizen
ship OF the State. Millions of acres
of high-grade farm land in the Oldest
State in the union are crying for cuf-
tivation. Millions of American Cit
liens tucked away In the slums, how
els and highways Of American cities
are crying for a way in which 10 keep
body and soul together. and are
starved. morally, physically and mem
tally. as a result of this malad just
ment of our social equilibrium.
The United States government.
through its agricultural department,
has accomplished some wonderful
results in hybridizing the old and or
iginasing new species. both In the
plant and animal Kingdoms. II has
established experimental stations,
agricultural colleges and other facili-
ties that have done vast amount or
good But, as far as this dangerous
shifting of population from country to
city Is concerned. 1t has done prac-
tically nothing to control 1t and con-
ditions in the meantime grow from
bad to worse. Our congressman and
our legislators have appropriated mil
lions for the deepening OF inland
rivers, creeks and ponds, for the
building of needless governmental
buildings in towns and villages that do
not want or need them. and for the
pensioning OF thousands of old and
young beneficaries, who never handled
a gun or smelIed powder burning in
real battle 1t would seem that with
a. proper presentation and realization
of the situation, perhaps small APP
preparation. at least, might be OBJ
tanned and used in the practicai
furtherance of more efficient agricul-
tural instruction In our pubic schools
Give the city child an opportunity
to avail itself of outdoor life and ma
ture study and you will inculcate In
him, or her, a desire to get back 10
nature and make the growing OF
things. for human consumation a
permanent business Any boy or girl.
with the right spirit. loves to be out OF
doors. They like to run. swim. boat
and fish, and they ought to be given
an opportunity to do these Things
country child Is familiar with all the
recreation and work that goes to make
a well-rounded citizen. A city child,
or a city man, without the privilege of
access to the country, Is lop-s sided In
dividual, at best. and just so far as we
take our children away from the eoun-
try and into the cities. just so far viii
we develop q top-sided citizenship ana
a lop-sided nation. With modern IN
crease of population. we are going 10
suffer severely as nation. II We O
not develop system of more sc!ent!iic
and intensive soil cultivation. If we
do not teach our own American boys
and girls how to take advantage OF
the opportunities that await them In
the country districts, then the foreign
Immigrant will continue to rise to the
opportunity and will reap all the bene-
fits Let us get our own people IN
terested In this matter, inaugurafe
course Of AGRICULTURAL instruction In
our own schools and then let the stu
dents understand that those making
highest grades at the end Of the pub
lie school perio will be given conces-
sions to enable them to continue their
studies In the State agricultural coll
leges. A general adoption OF this plan
will result N putting thousands OF
people back on the farms; will en-
nance farm land values that have in
many sections deprecated seriously IN
recent wears, and will bring about a
reimbursement OF living cost and make
for healthier moral tone generally
throughout the country.
F. H. LA RAUME.