The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-02-17

For years it has been the custom
among farmers who have managed to
oct somewhat ahead in the world to
retire and remove to town or city.
AS soon as they have made enough
money to live in comfort they turn,
their backs on the acres of the old
homestead.
Last fall a neighbor of mine closea
his farming affairs, moved to town.
and turned over the place to a tenant.
When he left, the place was in COCO
condition. The yard OF the farm
house was green and pleasant; the
barn lot was clean; all the gates
about The place were in good shape
and the farm looked as we'll as any
in the community
The tenant is just an ordinary rem
Ter. Already the place has begun to
go down. It looks like what it is
rented place. Remember, that this
farmer had put in the better part OF
lifetime making a good farm Of It,.
He moved to town In order that his
children might attend the township
school, lately built at the county
seat. That is the reason nine out of
len farmers give for leaving the
farm. The children will study Latin
and German, Greek, history and the
logarithms. And when they come out
with their diplomas they will have
TO learn some business or some pro-
fession from the ground UP. In case
they want to come back to the old
places they will know nothing about
agriculture or stock husbandry.
Il can count on the fingers of one
hand the children OF these retired
farmers who have made as much of
success OF their professions as
their father before them made in his
profession. They grow up in the vii
lagos and little towns, and when they
have grown up and are educated
they can find nothing to do. know
dozen of them who are street car
motormen and chauffeurs.
Many of the girls have drifted 10
the bigger cities and have found jobs
In the department stores and as res
taurant cashiers. They are weaneo
away from the farm and from coun-
try life. Few of them have married
farmers. Many of them are working
for starvation wages.
Most of the children Of these farm
ers who retired are finding it hard &c
make both ends meet without con
slant help from the old folks. They
are hoping to make real start in
NE when the old folks have passed
away and the farm comes into theil
hands. when they will sell it. They
VIII never live in the country unless
ialrly forced 10 do so. They los
their agricultural interests in thu
country, and they are needed fal
worse on the farms than they art
IN the shops, stores and factories.
There is way out OF this sisua
Ton. It will force the farmer t
spend little more money, but it vii
Keep him and his children on III,
farms. He says that he moves to TIL,
city SO his children may have bet
Ter education than they possibly cal
gel in the district schoolhouse.
The consolidation school is no lons
er an experiment. In all the state
m which it has received a trial it ha
neen success, and it has made NOV
ing into town for the education o
me children unnecessary. 1t will Civ
me country child as good an educa
uon as he can get in the grade
school of the village or town. Will
ne IS getting this education he viii
not be getting lot of false idea
ana worthless habits at the sam
time.
The retired farmer" is a patheti
hgure in the life of the town or TIL
small city. He has spent his life.im
N the fields. and his work has KEEP
MIN contented. He cannot occupy al
MS waking hours with his garden o
an occasional trip to The old place
y ne has sold the farm, his case
worse still. He is workingman on
q job, He Is too old to begin loa
ing now and be contented. He rust
gu. and dies q disconnected man.
This neighbor OF mine. who move
% town and bought q little house, e.
pecting to take 1t easy" the rest {
nls days. changed his mind. He sper