The Washington herald., 1921-06-01
HAPPINESS DEPENDS
ON MENTAL ATTITUDE.

ON MENTAL ATTITUDE.
Farm life should be the most at
tractive life In the world" declared
Miss Emily Hoag. who Is engaged
in research work for the bureau of
farm management. for no life pre-
sents so many potentialities for
success and happiness. Physically.
mentally and spiritually this mode
or life offers much for those who
have eyes to see and ears to hear.
Health. knowledge. freedom--ali are
the farmers to a larger extent than
that which any other worker can
claim.
The more l study farm condi-
tions-r have observed them in sew
eral states now-the more I am con-
vinced that the mental attitude de-
termines whether farm life means
work resulting in happiness and
success or drudgery entailing fall
ure and misery. 1t Is very essen
tial. L believe, for farm people to
keep alive the spirit OF adventure
in their work-and there are so
many opportunities for that sort of
thing in the country where one has
such close contact with the vital
elements of life and SO much that
is new, fresh and changing.
LIFE ON FARM HUMAN.
Personal THING.
1T is particularly interesting and
satisfying to behold the Joy and en-
thusiasm of family that has
moved from the city to the country.
1t is a good example of the pleasure
and satisfaction that can come from
country life-the romance that can
be felt. To the members of this
family every animal must have a
name; that is. unless they exist In
ranch-like numbers. Thus life on
the farm is made a human, personal
thing. This attitude Is also found
among many families that have
been farmers for generations. and
wherever il exists there the atmos-
phere of the home. however humble
and lacking in material con-
veniences and adornment, is whole
some and joyous"
Miss Hoag, who is in Washington
for a few days to submit results of
her Investigations, chiefly among
farm women, which have been
made in several states. is very op-
timistic concerning the community
spirit that is developing among
farm people.
ISOLATION BECOMING
THING OF PAST.
About the only drawback to
farm life" continued Miss Hoag. "is
kind of isolation that is found in
many districts, or rather that has
been found. for with the county
clubs and the consolidation Of
schools and the elimination of dis
tance by automobiles. isolation is
becoming a word for which II will
soon be difficult to find a regional
illustration. West Virginia is a
splendid example of this sort of CO.
operation and progress"
While Miss Hoag's work has been
connected with the women of the
country, she says that the men have
been most interested and curious to
know what it is all about"
"I could never have gotten their
attention" remarked this enthusi-
astic supporter of farm life. ''if
had gone ostensibly to get some in
formation from them. But going as
l do, have been able to learn much
from them and to get their help and
cooperation. which of course we
must have to make farm life the
happy. successful life it should be.
Men are pretty nice. after all, and
certainly have place to hll in the
home. but women are the directing
spirit of the household, So they
must be aroused to their possibili-
ties and responsibilities.
AMERICANIZATIO WORK
PROVES BIG ASSET.
Miss Hoag finds that American
ization work Is proving OF value in
making of our foreign elements real
American citizens and keeping them
from being merely other nationali-
ties living in America with little
realization of the ideals and stand
ards of America.
"A few years ago." continued Miss
Hoag, Il made a survey of Viscon-
sin, where found many people liv-
ing there for the third and fourth
generation who could not speak our
language. They had their schools
in which the subjects were taught
in the tongue of an immigrant
grandfather or great-grandfather,
and little or no effort was made to
foster an understanding of the
country which was protecting
them"