The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1916-08-22
~ PAUL PIERCE.

There IN a stock Joke, told OF ah'
town under discussion. running IKE
this:
.oh. smithtoxn's a good town
n n pretty hot most OF the ume
All Il needs Is plenty OF rain Sn'
GOOD society
.Huh. that's all that hell needs
This hackeyed joke is true OF th'
average American farm today ~
n needs IL plenty OF rain and soo0
society. Especially does II neeu nv
sood society. or social life, ms :
such a glaring lack that II Is o@us
An, srea, concern among those vac
nav. the higher agricultural inter
ests nj heart. Surprising Is 'ne
srest modern advance In agricui'
rural methods and In the matters Oh
stock and poultry raising AppAi
entIy all the world loves the iar'n'.
today. Every agency great an
ANAL from the United States govern
mani 20 the penny-aliner VINO az
tributes advice on every suOJeN' ,
vhioh the farmer could poss4oN
mad concerns itself with the man
~ho ,,lls the soil. Surprising TOO
q the s,and-still in the matter %
Advancing the social lie OF me iai an
:, and his family. Surprt-ihs - Lac
A,sf.rence between the high stan
Ard the farmer demands Tor His
farm products. live stock aho AZ
ana the absence Of any standard a.
an for his social life. TIC rAise
the social standard at the same t1ihe
h IN raising the standard OF ms
stock. never occurs 10 the aNeras
ssrmer. Yet. when he provides TINS
social life for his boys and girls nc
VIII provide the greatest means "
hold them on the farm.
This subject is not new one
among agricultural extension leSu-
-. II IL something they nave
olose NJ heart. something in when
th~y should be supported by all "hc
isvs young people. This topic shoula
appsai especially TO womens CLUBS
gsrs IN A work close at hand.
vork which will repay its promoters
: thoussnd- fold. quote G. NJ
yrier Of the agricultural extension
Asuartment OF Purdue university
.The failure OF the rural eommun.
~ 20 continually raise the soeisi
stsndards and 10 increase the op-
.ortunitiss for the advancement OF
SAsir young people is woeful. Tne
fnffrrs 10 due 10 neglect ana IN
Many cases 70 an utter misunder
elandins Of the social needs OF the
hovs ana girls. A lack OF proper
guldance, proper instruction and
neoper influence might also be added
- causes for this shortcoming-
sTodAy we nnd great unrest
among the people OF the country A
portion Of this unrest, longing Tor
Setssr things is commendaole' out
- portion included In the desire
Ar The unattainable or for that
UAich should not be attained In far
lrum commendable. Isolation OF life,
~ dead level OF monotony, the
doarth OF social life and the lack OF
educational advantages may be
Oamsd a. leading factors In the
alarming increase in the movement
- the city on the part OF the young
nsn and women OF the country.
Appreciation OF the efforts OF the
yOung people and an attempt at an
adjustment OF their lives to present
lay conditions would work won
0ess In combating the influences Of
unrost. There never was time IN
a. history OF the nations rural life
vhon an adjustment In needed more
oOrsly than IL Is At the present time
whan great forces are at work 10
yull 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
oxtsnsion work, as the legitimate
snsa through which the farm 10 10
enjoy social life. Both these agencies
ere vital In the movement because
cAsy furnish the centers and or.
eAn19ation. But there In third
agency which win do more toward
making . success Of the social life
Sor the farm movement than either