The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1914-12-22
factors Which Affect We'll.
Being Of Farmers.
Bad BOOK WORST ROBBER,

BAD BOOK. WORST ROBBER
Weather, Books and Roads Contribute
Largely to the influences of Rural
Life-All Are Factors In Favor Of
tho Mail Order House and Against
Local Merchant.
rcopyrIghted. 1914. by Thomas J. s%ullivan1
weather, books and roads contribute
largely to the influences of rural life.
Bad weather and bad roads mean
books.
And books they say are the light
houses erected. In the great e of
time. They are masters who instruct
as without rods or ferules, without
words or anger. without bread or
money. If you approach them they
are not asleep. II you seek them they
do not hide. If you blunder they do
not scold. II you are ignorant they
do not laugh.
But the worst robber in all the
world is q bad book. 1t has long been
the DEVILS policy to keep the masses
Of mankind in ignorance; but. finding
| that they will read. he is doing all in
his power to poison their books. Now.
let's see what our rural friend is read
inc. Oh. rnra avis! oh, book withou!
parallel in the history of commercial
destruction. The book" Is a huge pic.
toriaI. trlcolored retail catalogue.
The catalogues OF mail order houses
are d kind of leaky boat on the waters
| Of temptation: somo OF the temptation
will get in anyhow.
Mud a Great Help Too.
What is more natural with gloom.
darkness, rain and mud surrounding a
farmer or suburban dweller. when to
venture forth means either a sacrifice
of self, or faithful horses, than for him
TO turn to the aEluring catalogue for
both pastIme and a mems Of procnr-
fnr the n~ecessaries of life? Thus IT
can DO seen that the third and best
factor in favor OF the catalogue houses
is mud.
Man is measured by bis deeds, and 1t
seems strange that after mastering the
art OF reading the stars, discovering
1 the course 0f the planets, controlling
tlle iron monster, the lightning. the
sea and the wind, man shows bis in
ability to conquer the one great prob.
lem which is proving such a draw
back to the hest expression Of his life
in rrral districts as far as social and
commercial conditions are concerned.
Poor roads seem to be his heritage, his
master.
A country's stability is measured by
It's agricultural importance, as the
well being OF a nation is HE a tree
agriculture is its root; Industry aud
comm cree are its branches and its life.
II the root be injured The leav fall,
the branches break awny and the tree
dies. Community pride begins where
agriculture leaves of. and both are
equal and inSeparnble I'll their fmpor-
lance to a healthy, happy, successful
existence for man.
Blue Grass Roads Are Best.
II. is a pleasure to drive through the
blue grass district Of Kentucky, where
they have what they call macndam-
lied turnplkes. These roads are the
equal OF any paved city street aud
OF course are passab1e at all seasons
of the year. They cost approximately
$4,000 per mile. The highways in Ken
lucky are from thirty to sixty feet in
width. 1t is estimated TINT were the
highways OF Illinois regulated to fifty
feet S2a5.000.000 could be added to the
wealth Of the farmers Of the state.
That alone would build more than 5000
miles of road.
Spend s15o,ooo,ooo.
This country today has about 1885,
900 miles Of public highway, on which
It Is estimated that the people of the