The Detroit times., 1916-08-22
BY PAUL PIERCE

There Il a stock Joke. told OF any
sown nnder discussion. running Ike
this.
"oh. smithtovns . good town u
i, n pretty hot most OF the time.
An n needs IS plenty Of rain ana
good society 1900.
auuh. hats all that hell needs.
Tlls hackey ed Joke is true OK ihe
average American farm today. All
a. needs Is plenty Of rain and soou
soele,y. Especially does d need me
sood society. OF social life Jnis -
suoh a qlaring lack that IL BIS eau-
,ng great concern among those "Ao
taVe the higher agricultural intel.
tests az hear surprising Dr. '"e
sroat modern advance In agrieu'.
,,rat methods and in tbe matters OF
stool and poultry raising Appai
entlv an the world loves the farmer
,oday Every agency great ana
small from the United states govern.
ment 90 the pennya-llner WHO us
,y,butes advice on every sunjee'
Which the farmer could possio'-
need. concerns Itself with inc M""
who tiils the soil SurpFis'ns' 100
a. The stand SIN in tbe matter OF
adyancing the social iife 81 me arm
or and his family Surprisins is inc
dlfference between the hish s,Au'
dard the farmer demands Tor hIs
farm products, live stock ana "..'
ana the absence OF any standard o.
all for his social life To raise
the social standard az The same Iiae
he a. raising the standard oil mas
stock. never occurs 70 the aVeEss'
farmer Vet. when ne provides 'L's
social life Tor his boys and girls ~
will provide the greatest means TO
hold them on the farm.
This subject Is not new one
smong agricultural extension ie@a' /
srs n ia something they nave (
olose AZ heart. something 10 which I
they should be supported by all "ho I
love young people This topic should .
appeal especially 20 womens eiuOs' +
Here A. work close at hand .
work ahlch viii repay its promoters
= thousand fold quote G NJ
rrier OF the agricultural extension
department OF Purdue university
.The failure Of the rural commun-
nv 20 continually raise the social
standards and TO increase the OBJ
vortunItles for the Advancement OF
their young people Is woeful- The
failure is due 20 neglect and IN
many cases to an utter misunder-
standing OF the social needs OF the
boys and girls A lack OF proper
guidance, proper instruction ana
uroper influence might also be added
A causes for this shortcoming
To-day we End great unrest
among the people OF the country 4
portion OF this unrest longing Tor 4
better things is commendaole. hui (
the portion included In the desire T.
for the unattainable or for that
which shonld not be attained Is far
from commendable. Isolation OF life,
the dead level OF monotony, the
.dearth OF social life and the lack Of
Educational advantages may be
named as leading factors in the |
alarming increase in the movement I
70 the city on the part OF the young I
men and women OF the country
Appreciation OF the efforts OF the 4
young people and an attempt al an I
adjustment OF their lives 10 present
day conditions would work Won
ders in combating the influences Of .
unrest There never was time n !
The history OF the nations rural life !
when an adjustment is needed more /
sorely than II Is al the present time
when great forces are ar work 20
pull the boys and girls away from
the influence Of country life
The rural church and the rural
school are the two agencies most
named by educators in agricultural
extension work, az the legitimate
cnes through which the farm Is 10
enjoy social life. Both these agencies
are vital in the movement because
they furnish the centers and or
Eanizatlon But there Is a third
agency which will do more toward
making success OF the social life
fos the farm movement shan either