The mirror., 1915-04-08
the school-house and thus miss the

| movies.
It is often acclaimed that more in
sane people come from the country
than from the cities and, knowing
the lonesome, solitary. isolated life
that some farmers live, it is easy to
believe this; but as it is a fact that
but 2O.442 inmates in our asylums
come from the country, which in
cludes towns of 1000 population
and under, while 1864 come from
the cities.
Mr.. Eberhart, the late chief-ex-
ecutive of Minnesota, is strong ad-
vocate for centralized rural buildings
which serve the dual purpose of
schools and social centers. He says
that the farmers and their families
must have entertainments and social
gatherings as we'll as the city people.
lie cites an instance which happen
ed while ON tour, 70 show the neces-
sity of such places; and tho the in
cident has its pathos, it also has it's
humor: A farmer accosted him after
his address, beseeching him to OBJ
tain the release of his wife who had
been committed to the insane asy-
lum, but as the probate court had
passed upon the case, it was out of
the Governors jurisdiction as he ex-
planned to the farmer. But, Cover
nor" expostulated the farmer, she
can't be insane. Do you see that
white house over there? [ built it
eight years ago and it is modern in
every way. She can't be insane,' y
he insisted. She hasn't been away
from that beautiful new house since
1t was built
The new school houses are used
for school purposes during the day
time, and notion pictures or dancing
parties are forms of amusement in
the evening. and on Saturdays or
other fixed days, they are converted
into club rooms, the women of the
district holding their home better
ment meetings. and the men their
different improvement meetings,
while the demonstrators and lectur-
ers from the university speak to a
full audience, all of which tends to
stimulate the community interest in
community achievements.
The cooperation in consolidated
schools is perhaps, the direct result
from the farmers cooperation in
business. 1t is but a few years ago
(and it is yet, to much lesser extent)
when a farm might have been defined
as a place to exc out an existence.
Germany, Denmark and other count
ries had long before proven that
we'll managed cooperation among
farmers was successful; when the
farmers of U. S. woke to the fact
that they too should derive benefits
from their work. Here was neph-
ew of Uncle Sam who drove his
family to church with a democrat
wagon and team of work horses
while the man he sold his produce
to was using an automobile for tha
purpose. First there was few
small attempts at cooperative buying.
Then a community of fruit growers
co-operated, placing high priced
business manager at the head of tn e
association, and sold their fruit at a
profit. Dairy, potato, grain and
vegetable districts soon followed
the example and now an era of pros
perity looms before the U. S.farm-
er and he has learned the first prin-
ciple of successful farming that to
compete with other producers and
do business with business men, he
most use business methods not only
in the producing but also the selling
of his products. Company cooper
ative creameries are the must success
full in this part of the country and
we of a dairy district. who have
placed the COW on the same pedestal
as the hen, corn and wheat, should