Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1921-09-29

army trucks % automobiles of varied vintages
and makes, a score more of bungalow trailers
men and women in khaki, children of all ages,
family washing Tapping lines fires going, the
smell of bacon and Coffee family breakfast groups,
and a big sign that set forth that the Chicago
Motor club was entertaining Gen." w. D. SCOTS
modern caravan, route from Brooklyn N l.,
to Bull, Idaho.
"Tmes change and with them,' sagey re.
marked ancient philosopher. They do, indeed,
though probably we change less than do the times.
For Chicago, young it is-it was not lncor-
porated as city until 1S37-has seen many a
caravan headed west in the old days. But they
were caravans of prairie schooners," drawn by
mules. And the men and women were go
ing forth to face the unknown, fight Indians, turn
uE the prairie sod, contend with grasshoppers and
drought and put up a ffty-ffty battle with fate
for home and living.
Not this caravan. 1t was travelling In COM
fort and at speed. 1t knew just where it go
ing. II was scheduled for kindly attentions along
the way and welcome. Its land was Sc
cured There was water for irrigation. Houses
and warehouses were ready. Everything down to
the last detail had been arranged. Failure was
unthinkable. Success seemed assured.
Shades of Kit Carson Marcus Whitman and
Brigham Young! What contrast the Lincoln
highway of 1921 to the Santa Fe trail of the
Thirtes the Oregon trail of the Forties, the Nor
mon trail of the Fiftes the "Pikes Peak or Bust
of the Sixties!
trend of the population from the country to the
city has become greatly accentuated since 1910
Now for the first time In the country'S history
than half the entire population Is living IN
"urban territory" That is say that Of the popu
lation of 1056S3 10S persons 519 per cent are ltv
ing in cities and 481 per cent in rural communities
In the census of 1910 the corresponding percent
ages were 1853 and 53.7
This is condition that is regarded neither
desirable nor entirely safe. Therefore many are
the projects to get city dwellers back to the SOIL
Back to the soil! An American slogan for Amer
leans! Yet the country does not extend general
invitation to all corners. 1t is not ready to support
an indefinite number of miscellaneous applicants.
Mother Nature is very far from being the benevo-
lent old soul she is pictured by the fctionists who
write farm prospectuses She does not give her
bounties for nothing. She demands full payment.
And she exacts full penalty for mistakes.
1t is the surest kind of thing that the
country home that pays its own way means hard
work for somebody. There will be bsters back
aches and sore muscles that will have to be worked
from soreness into strength. Ere the billowing
grain delights his eye the city man will under
stand why providence or nature or evolution pro-
vded him with eyebrows.
Moreover there is sowness and elaboration
in natures ways and methods that to the city man,
used to doing things upon the instant, will be little
less than maddening 1t Is useless to rage against
the ordered processes; they cannot be hurried
and harvest and to possess his soul in patience
So it is evident that there is a balance to be
struck The city is, one thing; the country Is an
other The city cannot be transplanted In the
country And no strike this balance fol
the would-be back-to-the-lanier; he must do i
for himself.
In striking this balance, however, there is NOR
to be taken into account than the dollars There
are the beauties of nature. There is pure air
undefled by smoke and SCOT; place in the sun
with no skyscrapers overhead to shut out the plu
sky and the stars and the moon; honest thirs
that makes nectar of the gods cut of water fror
the we'll and buttermilk from the spring-house
all appetite that would put a soul under the RID
of Death; sleep the like Of which no city man eve
knows.
From many viewpoints farming is the highes
and best Of callings. Farming is an honest bus
ness. The farmer is 20 useless consumer, no para
site. He is producer; he contributes directl
to the wealth of tie nation. He is independer
and is beholden to no man for place or favor.
does not climb up by dragging others down. Ian
is the Fundamental, natural resource from whc
The nation draws fits life. And the farmer is tn
bulwarl OF the country
Yes back -to-theand is the right thing for tn
right man. He will find independence menta