The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1914-06-25

we Will have to make our newspaper
the country newspaper-just about
folks we know and the folks
u subscribers know, and about our
subscribers themselves. Now some
people feel, or assume to feel, a lofty
indifference about seeing their names
in print, and some affect a reluctance
10 having any personal mention made
OF themselves. perhaps because they
suspect that the editor is a man of so
sublime a mind that he himself is
above such trivalities, and might look
down on a fellow creature who betray-
ed any appreciation of personal pub
Lefty. Let me tell you a professional
secret taught me by many years of as
location with newspaper men of var
ious degrees. 1t is this: There is no
man on earth who will stretch his neck
any farther to see his name in print
than a newspaper man will.
Given, the country newspaper of the
future-just about folks-and we are
10 inquire how those folks may be
served to their best advantage in the
betterment Of rural conditions. We
must admit that much of the personal
news in the country weekly is rather
trivial in its character. People like to
read it: there is a market for it; but
we want to do something of some per
manent value as we go along: some
thing that will be appreciated by
those who come after us: and one of
the best of these side lines of the pres
ent, which in fifty years will seem to
have been our real excus for haying
been in the newspaper business is the
problem of rural improvement.
Now rural life may be made more at
tractive and better worth the living by
efforts along three general lines-the
work itself, the physical side of living,
and the culture of the mind.
The first | need merely mention-the
making Of labor easier. So much has
been accomplished within the present
generation along this line that the
methods of forty years & seem unbe-
ievable to the farmers boy of the pres
ent. Men who think hat they are
still young car easily recall the first
steam threshing machines, the first
selfbinder and the first c~ornplanter
that came into their communities.
Those who are a generation younger
can recall the first gas engine they
ever saw furnishing power on the farm.
The country newspaper has little to
do with this except to chronicle the
new inventions and record their
successful use in the locality. This
has its value, as what one man has, his
neighbor will get if it is a success.
The machines for tightening the wo-
mans work on the farm are not so
numerous. from the variety of the work
she is called upon to do. Nevertheless
the country newspaper man must keep
his readers informed on any local ad-
ventures in this line. Did o catch
that expression? | may speak of any
sort of a new tool for the nan on the
farm as an investment, but If it is for
his wife it is an adventure.-a venture
into untrodden fields. | believe | will
not change the phrase. The small
power washing machine is worth a con
sideration. A few localities, notably
Chatield, Mimi, have done something
in running a cooperative laundry in
connection with their cooperative
creamery, and have tried to give my
readers enough about this to suggest
further inquiry.
The second line of improvement is
the improvement in housing the family
in making the home. In this division
the country newspaper may have a full
Ter share of usefulness. The faithful
chronicling, and the detailed descrip-
ton of improvements in heating and
lighting the homes, and the friendly
mention of all such important improve
ments can hardly have other than a
favorable effect, in the encouragement
of others to 60 and do likewise.
The matter of household sanitation
on the farm is as yet in its infancy,
and yet the farm is the easiest place
in the world to modernize in this re,
spect. With an ample supply of water
and but little care necessary as to the
disposition of the small amount of
sewage from one family, and with the
increasing knowledge of the useful
tools the outlook is very encouraging.
The rapidly growing number of farm
homes with modern city conveniences
testifes to the possibilities, and it is
for the country newspaper-the local
give each improvement of
this kind prominence not only accord
ing to it's news value, but according to
it's value as an incentive to further pro-
Under this head, too, comes
the preparation of foods, and a little
domestic science. One country news
paper of my acquaintance has made
It's recipe department a regular clear
ing house of choice recipes furnished
by local housewives. This is good bus
mess from all points of view. Not the
least important in this line is the gar
den and lawn. Don't be backward
about telling your newspaper man
about your success with
small fruits, or rarely grown vege-
or ornamental shrubs. If he
knows his business he will play it
up" to use a technical phrase, to its
full value.
1t may be some time before every
will be a picture. but the
man al help with sugges-
lions, and by attracting the public eye
10 local successes.
The third division which I would
make in the betterment of rural con-
litions is in social and educational
facilities. Man is a gregarious animal.
He is happiest in the herd. Your boy
would rather work fourteen hours a
lay with a threshing crew than to
lrive a gang pillow for ten. The CO.
operative instinct is born in him, and
rom the time the little folks collabor-
.te in making mud pies, up through
he baseball and pullaway periods of