The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1918-07-05
W.N.FERRIS LAUDS
WORKING. RESERVE
SAYS BOYS CAN HELP SOLVE
PROBLEM THAT coNFRONTs
FARMER TODAY.
SHOULD BE GIVEN A CHANCE
Says Farmer Should Do His Bit BY
Encouraging Boys-Will Be OF
Benefit to Entire Nation.

FORMER G0VernOr woodbridge N.
Ferris is an enthusiastic hacker OF the
Boys Working Reserve. In straight
forward terms he sets forth the bese-
fits that will be derived by the entire
nation If city boys are given a chance
to do their bit on the farm. He eau
tions the boys that their enrolment
in the Reserve means that they must
be prepared to sacrifice amusement
for hard, trying work.
His letter to Charles A. PARCELS,
State Director of the U. S. Boys Work.
ing Reserves follows:
1.-THE United States Boys Working
Reserve can be made an exceedingly
valuable organization. The boys
should clearly understand that they
are enlisting to do war service. They
are to have the same regard for com
mands that soldiers have. They must
entertain the notion that they are not
going out on the farms for a play
SPELL, but to render actual service and
to endure some hardships. The truth
Of the matter is, work on a farm, like
undertaking and requires real back.
bone. A soldier cannot expect to have
the same pleasant surroundings in
war that he has in steamheated
house. Furthermore, he cannot expect
that his bill of fare is going to con.
sist of dainties. On the farm the boys
will have plain, wholesome food.
Not Entirely Boys Problem.
"The problem of getting efficient ser.
vice out Of the boys doesn't fall en-
tirely upon the boys. The parents of
those boys should bear in mind that
the, opportunity to work on farms is
something really worth while for the
development of their sons. Two or
three months on farm will be worth
year of ordinary school training
from the standpoint of developing man.
hood. The most important influences
in my education were gained on the
farm. 1t was there that / learned to
get up in the morning whether I
wanted to or not. It was there that I
learned to do many kinds of work that
did not like. 1t was there, too, that
learned to get joy out of homely
activities.
Fathers and Mothers Can Help,
"If the fathers and mothers of these
Reserve boys can brace themselves to
a realization that their boys are con.
tributing to the saving Of civilization
and that they are actually helping to
win the war, they will exercise that
firmness which is absolutely necessary
to success in any undertaking. These
parents should stand back of the boys
and insist that they meet sacrifices
and hardships with the same delight
that an Arctic explorer does his work.
The boys should not only spend their
days on the farm, but their nights as
WE'LL They should become thoroughly
initiated in all the kinds of life that
belong to the farm.
A Farmers Duty.
at is true that farmers have a duty
to perform, but the mysteries of the
farm are comparatively few. Boys
who have an inclination to really work,
will in a very few days be able to rem
der invaluable service to the farmer.
Farmers are like other employers CON-
PEELED to exercise patience, especially
in strenuous times.
What is needed in order to make
the Boys Reserve campaign a succesa
is cooperation on the part of farmers,
parents and, boys.
A Great Opportunity.
81 consider this the greatest oppor-
tunity that has even been offered to
the boys Of this country. Eliminate the
factor of war, and the educational BEN
efits that are to come from this cam
paign are worth to the future welfare
of this country the price of the bonded
debt. This is no exaggeration.
Zone year ago very large number
of our American people did not quite
realize what this world war means.
Today the American,people are awake.
Even the boys and girls are awake
Give them a chance to do their bit"
(Signed) WOODBRIDGE N. FERRIS.