Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1915-10-28
JASPER THOMPSON COMMENTS
ON GIFT OF COMMUNITY
CLUB HOUSE.
HOPES TO CULTIVATE
INTEREST IN THE FARM
Lack Of soeiability Hold Responsible
For DepopuIation Of Rural Commune
ties-Iowa Philanthropist, Hitherto
Silent on Subject Of Gift, Explains
Purpose Of Social House.
pecial to. Times-Republican.


published of late in magazines and
newspapers with reference to the COM
munity home given by Jasper Thomp-
son, philosopher and philanthropist, in
order to brighten rural life. Mr..
Thompson has had little to say him.
self regarding the gift and how he
CHANGED to hit upon the idea, which,
If carried out by others, will do a
great amount Of good.
TO my mind the lack of sociability
out on the farms has much to do with
the depopulation OF rural commune
ties" was the statement made by the
venerable sage. Then pressed for a
further statement he said:
My personal observation in Europe
and oriental countries convinced me
that the royal family idea. aristocrats
mobiles. or whatever method coun-
try 3pursues that separates the laboring
classes from the governing classes, is
degrading and will either produce
revolution or war. Our democratic
form of government comes nearer
meeting the requirements of the people
than any other-a method that re-
ceives the consent of the governed
Any nation or government that shall
long endure in peace must consider the
welfare Of all the people. An intelli-
gent. prosperous people must have
laws which clearly define the rights Of
the people, with power to enforce
them. Still each mans home must be
his personal, independent domain, con-
forming however, to the general gov
eminent. Now any deviation from the
natural law Of our being in forming
government will surely cause dis
satisfaction, and finally disruption.
The study of this problem anG a desire
to aid, if SO little, in making for
humanity better home, better
people. and better nation, was the
inspiration that led to the movement
that has resulted in the Sunnyside
Farmers Social Club House.
Community Of Kinds.
I'VE find in the natural kingdom that
the wild animals always run in herds;
the birds in f1ocks; even the trees,
shrubs, and flowers have the same
tendency to be close together. The
fishes go in schools and the storm
comes upon us as an army. There is
no select aristocratic royal families
separated and alone in nature. Our
villages. towns and cities are the
products of this disposition of associa-
ton. and.it is good. The open country,
the forests and fields caE to the very
best there is in US, and when properly
banded, conforming to this natural
law Of the sacred instinct, the farm life
wilTbe the ideal life. where the strong,
clear, clean, people will emanate. The
danger of farm life is isolation; to set
up a little Independent republic; to
become selfish. arrogant, Jealous sus-
piciOus, envious, and utterly unsocial.
The old as welt as the young. need and
enjoy sociability. The young will have
tiff not on the farm then in the viii
laSe, the town or possibly the great
city, where they are lost. The in
dividual farm home, of course, is the
highest ideal. Still these must be
with the community with the
most closely allied social spirit. The
private home does not furnish center.
The lack of we'll defined center where
all could meet, building sufficiently
large and equipped, easy ofNaccess, set
apart for the sole use Of the farmers
out in the country, has been the cause
Of this deplorable condition, of individ-
ualism and unsociability among the
farmers.
This same idea carried to the ma
tons of the world is the cause Of this
murderous devastation lin
the old world. Were men and nations
permitted to go where they choose,
mingle and comingle, learn to respect
other mems rights and wishes, to be-
come social as nations tending toward
one language, one religion among
people, then war would be no more
May it not be that this most to be de-
sired condition may have it's inception