The Idaho recorder., 1921-11-11


army trucks. % automobiles Of varied vintages
ana makes. score or more of bungalow trailers,
inen and women In khaki, children OF all ages
family washing Tapping on lines fires going, the
smell OF bacon aud coffee family breakfast groups,
anu big sign that set forth that the Chicago
Motor club was entertaining Gen" w. u. SCOTS
modern caravan, en- route from Brooklyn, N. Y,
10 Buhi. Idaho
Times change and with them" sagely re.
marked an ancient philosopher They do. indeed,
though probably we change less than do the times
For Chicago, young Il is-lt was not lncor
norated us city until 1s37-has seen many a
caravan headed west In the old days But thev
were caravans OF prairie schooners.' drawn by
oxen or mules. And the men and women were go.
ing forth 10 face the unknown, fight Indians turn
VI The prairie sod. contend with graashoppers and
droaght and put up 1fty-hfty battle with fate
Tor a home aud living
Not 50 this caravan II was travelling In CON-
iort ana at speed. II knew Just where II was go.
Ing. II was scheduled for kindly attentions along
ue way ana warm welcome Its lnnd
cured. There was water for irrigation Houses
hnd warehouses were ready Everything down to
the last detail had been arranged Failure was
unthinkabie. Success seemed assured
Shades of Kit Carson. Marcus Whitman and
brigham Young What contrast the Lincoln
Ilghway OF 1921 to the Santa Fe trail OF the
Turtles. the Oregon trail Of the Fortles the Nor.
mon tran Of the fifties. the "pikes Peak or Bust
of the SixtiesI
The figures Of the census OF 1870 show that the
trend OF the population from the country 10 tho
city has become greatly accentuated since IolO
Now Tor the nrst time In the countrys history
iaore Than half the entire population IL living In
urban territory" That II to say that of the popu.
iatoh Of i0ads3 i0s persons 5i9 per cent are ily.
Tug IN cities and 4S,t per In rural communities
=" tue census Of 1910 the corresponding percent
ages were 1913 and 53.7
This Is condition that is regarded as neither
gaf
TIE projects to get city dwellers back to the soil
hack 10 the soil An American slogan for Amer
cans Yet the country does not extend n general
invitation To NIL corners II IL not ready TO support
an Indefinite number of miscellaneous applicants
Mother Nature In very far from being the benevo-
Isni old soul she Is pictured BY the nctionists who
write farm prospectnses. She does not give her
i"nniies for nothing. She demands full payment.
And she exaets full penalty for mistakes
II Is the surest kind Of n thing that the
country home that pays It's way means hard
work for somebody There will be bsters back.
aclies and sore muscles that will have to be worked
from soreness Into strength. Ere the hlllowing
grain delights his eye. the city viii under.
stand why providence or nature or evolution pro.
yided him with eyebrows.
Moreover there is u slowness and deliberation
h natures ways and methods TIM, to the city man,
used doing things upon the instant will he little
Isss then maddening II Is useless to rage against
he ordered processes they cannot be hurried
The city must learn TO wait for seed time
md harvest and To possess his soul In patience
SO II Is evident that there Is a balance to be
struck. The city Is one thing the country In an
other. The city cannot be transpanted IN the
country. And strike this balance for
the a"nld be back the.lnnder; he must do II
for himself
In striking this balance, however. there Is more
10 he taken into account than the dollars. There
Bru Tie beauties of nature. There IL pure air
un"iiled hy smok. and 500, IA place In the SUM-
With no sk4 Scrapers overhead 80 shut out the blue
sky and the stars and the moou honest thirst
HAT makes nectar Of the gods out Of wnter from
the we'll AMI huttermilk from the spring house:
an appetite that would put soul under the ribs
of Death sleep the like of which no city man ever
knows
From many viewpoints farming is the highest
and best Of callings Farming Is nm honest bus
usSS. The farmer Is useless consumer no nara
site. lie is producer: he contributes directly
10 IN" wealth of the nation lie is indepen,,ent
and Is behoiden so no mHn for place or favor lie
does n"t climb up by dragging others down Land
is the fundamental natural resource from which
the nation draws it's life And the farmer ia the
bnlwark of the country.
Yes; hackto-the-land Is the right thing for ,ha
right man. He will find independence-rnep,nl