The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1914-05-01
''Ths Social Problem
ID The csusssy aad
ciiy's Relation 10 IT.
from wednesdsy's DslIy. !

Icial Science club, held last evening
In pr. j. W. Andrews. library. the
tannual election resulted as follows:
president. Professor NJ. w. Deputy
Of the Normal school; vice presi-
dent, Professor F. j. sperry. city
superintendent Of schools; secretary
and treasurer, Dr. NJ. n. Coulter. re-
elected; members OF executive COM
mittee. A. ]. veigel, local postmaster
and Professor w. w. Frost of the
normal school.
H. r. Blomqaist. city engineer
read a paper on The Social Prob
lem in the Country and the City's
Relation to It." The discussion was
led by Judge Lorin Cray. Mr.. Blom.
quist said in part: ..'....
Modern city life for the comfor.
tably situated is too luxurious to be
good 70 rhte body, the mind or the
morals. II dulls the lighting edge"
kills ambition, often takes the best
incentives out OF life and under
mines the moral standards Country
life on the other hand has been too
hborious and full Of care and hard
ships to permit the development OF
the finer instincts In men and WON
en-. II has not presented opportuni-
ties along lines which produce ar
tfstic development. but rather the
DEVELOPMENT OF honesty, sincerity,
ruggedness and the practical things
I'm life. II is to the credit of the
country life that Il IL not over civ
Ilized. Enough OF the rough still
remains for all practical purposes.
Rural, life is full Of the physical
exercise that keeps men young and
vigorous.
BLENDING or Best Qualities.
The blending Of the best quail
ties in the city people and the coun-
try people in a social melting pot
would produce a healthy social life
which would have the yigor, sincerity,
and enthusiasm OF the country and
the refinement, art and culture OF
the city. How Is this to be done?
A beginning has been made by the
cooperation of farmers and bust
ness men along lines mentioned.
But only a beginning has been
made, and much is still to be done
Any intercourse which will bring
farmers and the men OF the city to-
gether upon common ground viii do
much toward effecting a better un.
Outstanding and sympathy between
the two. believe that q much bet
ter cooperation could be effected
and any misunderstanding or sus-
picious feelings that may exist
between farmers and businessmen in
the city could be overcome by a
thorough discussion of all questions
or subjects Of mutual interest II
it>were possible TO maintain a COM
munity club whose members would
consist of both the farmers and the
city men OF the community, where
all questions OF mutual interest would
be taken up and such business
transacted as effects the community,
both country and city. It would help
TO bring the two people together, not
only in business but also socially.
Division Of Social Problem.
Another division of the social
problem is the rural school. The
school system does not properly
care for rural education. The rural
school has not progressed with the
rising standards Of their own COM
munities. A recent survey OF the
social conditions In one OF the cen.
trail states reports that, In thirty
miles Of travel on country roads not
one implanted barn or farmhouse was
observed, hut every schoolhouse was
out Of repair. It is evident, both
from this neglect OF the property
and the meager appropriations for
school support. that the average
farmer today has no special loyalty
TO the little country schoolhouse. In
fact In some sections there is great
dissatisfaction with the schools and
they are branded as being distinctly
hostile 10 rural life, not In sym
patty with rural ideals, and serving
mainly as q "gang-way" to the life
Of the town. The Country Life com
mission reports. The schools are
held responsible for ineffective farm
ing. lack OF ideals aud the drift to
town This is not because the rural
schools as a whole are declining,
but because they are in state OF
arrested development, and have not
yet put themselves In harmony with
the recently changed conditions OF
life.'
Rights Of Country People.
The country people have right
20 insist that their schools shall nj
their boys and girls for country life,
cultivate a love Tor the country
and an appreciation OF rural oppor-
tunities. with the natural expecta-
ton that most Of them viii be need
ed on the farm. Even II third OF
the pupils should ultimately go to
the city. Il is unjust to the ma
jority and to the community to make
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