Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1915-11-27
November, 1915
Helping the Boy on
the Farm


Continued from page At the first time
that my Mother was really handsome
woman. Her face was bronZed with
outdoor toll, 1t is true, but it now ap-
peared lit with a new radiance. The
usual wrinkles were hidden in a glow
that resembled the soft mellow haze of
an Indian summer.
"John,'' said Mother, there must be
some reason why hired men will not
stay on the farm. The reasons they
give you for leaving are mere excuses.
Have you really ever tried to get to
the bottom of it and learn the true
cause of their discomfort? 1t may be
something that we can afford to rem
edy Once remedied, we might have
no further trouble. Hired men are
human beings, with human instincts,
with likes and dislikes, similar to us
all. They are influenced and governed
by the same things that influence other
men. Perhaps, Frank Chat referred
to mel, could go out and get the mans
confidence enough to learn what the
objection is
At that l spoke up, for the man had
already told me why he was leaving.
1t seems the night before he had come
home late, or rather early in the small
hours of the morning. He had driven
over twelve miles away to a larger
town than our trading post in order
to meet with some old pals of his
and there had played pocket billiards
until the room closed at midnight.
This, with the long drive of twelve
miles, made it about a. m. when he
got home. The next day, of course, he
was tired out, and Daddy became i'm
patient at his sluggish movements and
reprimanded him. Thereupon, the man
got mad and quit.
There" said Mother, after / had
related to them the mans account of
the affair, now we have a clue to the
ThA a IN &c
a social being. He wants the COM
partnership of his friends. He wants
some form of pastime and recreation
to relieve the monotony of his hard
work day in and day out on the farm.
In order to get it, he drives twenty
four miles in a night after working
all day long"
Then Mother leaned forward, her
chin resting in her hands, her eyes
looking across the landscape appar
emily scanning the horizon for some
time. Daddy made no reply, but sat
studying Mothers face. He seemed tC
know that Mother was thinking and
that she had something more to say.
$50 he drove twenty-four miles," SAID
Mother presently "out of sheer hunger
for friendship" Her eyes were still
resting on the horizon. Finally SHE
turned toward Daddy and spoke more
abruptly, John, did it ever occur tt
you that it might be a paying invest
ment TO nix up social room where oul
men could have their recreations a
home? Suppose we took the lowe
granary for that purpose. Suppose WI
even spent three or four months wages
in buying some of the games and con
traptions that men like as furniture
for this room Put in a half dozel
chairs, a card table and supply it will
some papers and some sporting new
magazines" MAN, said /, reading
stuff wouldn't keep him at home Wha
he wants is a pair of boxing glove
and a pocket billiard table. Then hi
friends would come to see him."
Very WE'LL" said Mother, "suppos
we got him some boxing gloves and
pocket billiard table. These thing
would last for some wears and thei