The Mena weekly star., 1921-05-26
Keeping the Boys on the
 Farm
| w. MIDDLETON.
Js " 1'IAA111 Vocational Agricultural Instructor Hatfield, Arkansas.

Hatfield, Arkansas.
 The entire civilized world is inter- ested in the great question of keeping the boys on the farm. Our states man and leaders everywhere have sounded the warning that unless the boy can be made to see that farming is one of the highest callings and to act accordingly, our nation faces economic bankruptcy. But none are so vitally concerned over this ques- tion as the farmers themselves. For, if the boy leaves the farm, who will take his place? If "the old home stead" does not have enough attrac- ton to hold one who has spent his childhood under it's roof it certainly cannot interest the boy that is city bred.
 Farm boys can easily be divided in- to four classes.
 1. Those who have ambition plus ability and opportunity to become pro- fessional and public men.
 2. Those who have both the de- sire and opportunity to become useful as farmers.
 3. Those who do not have the "pep,n or push" to be anything worth while either on the farm or else where and,
 4. Those who have energy, ambi- tion and ability to be real men and would be good farmers if there were any chance.
 The first and second classes are at present the economic, polite and re- ligious backbone of our nation; the third class is social problem, rather than economic; the fourth class is where we must place our attention, for it is from this class that we must replenish our agricultural forces.
 Why is it that so many boys want to leave the farm and go to the city? Who is to blame for it? And is there any remedy? The first ques- tion is easily answered. after viewing some of the conditions under which many boys live. There is nothing so tragic as the life of an ambitious boy, who, cooped up on a little rundown farm, with no books, no newspapers, no recreation; his home merely place to eat and sleep, hearing noth- ing but hard luck stories, and dire predictions concerning the future. Who can blame boy for leaving such an environment
 know you will say that poor peo- pie "have to do the best they can" But, are you doing the best you can If you are, your boy will more than likely be satisfied at home. But the chances are a hundred to one that you are not doing anything like your best. You have at least as many op- portunities as Robinson Crusoe had, yet the Improvements that he, alone and unaided, placed upon an unin- habited island would look like small town compared to some of the farm homes you see on every hand.
 There is not one in every ten boys but who would delight in helping im- prove the home And there is nothing that will consume his surplus energy and give. an outlet for, his inventive powers like building barns, chicken houses, cellars, and making useful furniture.
 But remember. fathers, this will call for some energy and initiative on your part. Do not be afraid to under take an important job with the boy as full partner. Do not make ser want out of him, either. I said "a partner" Do not allow him to merely carry the tools or material, but ar- range to do some of that yourself and give the boy chance to do some of the important work. This will con vince him that you are depending on him. And there is nothing that wins his cooperation quicker than this. Do not compel him to look after the stock, feed and harness them and then act as tho you were afraid for , him to drive them. He may be a bet ter driver than you are Do not fear to be pal of your boys. It will not lower your dignity, but will be worth lot to him if you are right sort ! Give him something to call his very own, and allow him to do as he pleases with it. He will not make many more mistakes in it's manage ment than you would, and will do just as much work for you aside from talk ing care of his own stuff. Do not continually tell the boy that he will ! never pay for his raising" a thing that a self-respecting boy despises to hear. Who paid for your raising?
 Another thing that is driving these : boys from the farm is the class ot schools that are being maintained ir many of the rural districts. There IS no excuse for the country school l being one inch behind the schools of the towns and cities. However. this condition of things will continue as long as men vote low school tax There are hundreds of men in this county that pay more money for to. baeco and snuff than for both schools and books. And we still have fev men that vote no tax at all Thank the Lord such animals are gettine scarce.
 Show your boy that you are his friend; that you are expecting great things of him. Try to make him al that you had ought to have been. A boy will think a long time before leaving a father that does these things. It takes very little persuasion to get boy away from the other kind All boys love friends and womb .ather be real pals with their fathers than anyone else on earth.
 BEFORE THE CHRISTIAN ERA
 The bagpipe appears on sculptures made in 1000 B. c.
 :: :: .:
 The first known use of hair oil wa m EgvDt ahout 200 p v