The Mankato free press., 1921-12-30
interesting Program Given
Out At Springfield
VARIETY OF SUBJECTS
Enthusiasm Was Quite Marked ;
Community Get Together;
Farmers Assisted @
Especial to The Free Press ]

uTuleQ SHOW auu NOiluOs SOiu dAu
wind, the people of Brown county
and this community went to the Agri-
cultural Short Course and commun-
ity meet last Thursday and Friday.
The Municipal Christmas tree and
program put on by the American Le-
gion Thursday proceeding the evening
Shert Course session helped draw an
immense number of people from a
considerable distance.
The Short Course was great sue
cess from every angle, and there is
no question but that it will have p
great influence in future civic and
agricultural activities. An event
similar to the one just completed
should be made an ANIMAL affair. We
all feel better for having had the
Short Course session helped draw an
trueisms expounded will live on long
after the Course is forgotten.
Mayor A. F. RuenitZ, executive
chairman of the short course, again
demonstrated that he can deliver 100
percent plus. Thursday evening the
crowd demanded that he sing
Smiles" unassisted, and the mayor
gave a very fine rendition of the
number, winding up the last line
iations. Under his able leadership
and the work of every member of the
ten committees, as well as the assis-
tance of the general public, the event
was the greatest of any that has ever
been put on here. Attendance at all
meetings was excellent. the opera
house being packed to capacity at
evening sessions and the rope making
and knot demonstration at $3.50 Fri
tendance. There was something do
ing for everybody everv minute of the
course.
Exhibits of Corn.
Almost 200 exhibits of corn, small
grains, dressed poultry, candy, home
made soaps, vegetables and baked
goods was feature of intense inter-
est attractively housed at ,Lehrer's
Hall. Several splendid exhibits were
also made by local business men of
household appliances, hardware, cleo
tricaI specialties, cream separators,
and other articles too numerous to
mention. Through the kindness Of
Superintendent Van Cleve, the school
building was used for school sessions
almost continuously Friday. The
American Legion Hall IN the Creamery
Building provided comfortable meet
ing place for tle women's sessions
each afternoon.
High lights !. Of the Short Course
may be stated briefly as follows.
Community building and improve
ment, including such potent factors
as improved farming methods, better
livestock, better schools. better homes
and a higher and happier scale Of
human relationship. More. progress
sive methods In educational work
were outlined and the beauty of the
plans suggested was that they are al
ready being carried out in some
states. The instruction alCng agricul-
tural lines was Of the highest and
most practical nature and in fact
evrey phase of the meetings was met
with enthusiastic response and
thoughtful consideration by the audi
ences.
Professor P. G. Holden, field direc-
tor of the Agricultural Extension de-
partment OF the International Harves-
ter company. was ably assisted by r.
r. Robertson and Miss Zella Wigent.
Fremont Schmidt presided at the
Thursday afternoon meeting and
Mayor Ruenitz at the ether mems
and general sessions. Mrs. C. H.
Asch, chairman of the women's COM
mittee, presided at the special ses-
sions for women. The Short Course
was sponsored by business men of
this community and the Farm Bureau
under the leadership of County Agent
Willis Lawson of Sleepy Eye.
Community Talk BY Holden.
In speaking on the topic Com
munities Are Made of Folks" Pro-
lessor Holden said: TOO many of
our communities are built by acci-
dent. No definite plan is laid out or
followed. We follow the calf paths
Of our fathers and grandfathers. Are
you building your community with a
,sc,~ ~ xynTI vi
of what you want Springfield Com
munity to be in 1850 and are you
working together toward that goal? l
would suggest that some business
men or organization offer prize or
several prizes, for essays or articles
on the subject mentioned. A citi-
zen of Springfield has offered 500 for
prizes for this purpose.
Communities that are self center
ed are stagnant communities. Com
munities that have no vision will
perish. Selfishness has no place III
motives behind community work. We
must learn to do things for our COM
munfty as we do them for our fami-
Hes and our homes. Communities
are made of folks, not OF farms and
houses and factories and wealth."
The thought was brought out and
developed that town people cannot
make a great community alone
neither can country people make a
community unassisted. II takes the
united effort of both town and coun-
try folks. I'VE ought to be proud OF
our homes, churches. schools and
our community-and work for their
betterment. The idea was forcibly
expressed that It is one for all and
all for one-co- operation and service
is the keynote" Professor Holden
predicted that the next century will
be known as the century of commun-
ity idea put into effective and sue
cessful practice. Professor Holden's
subjects Friday were Corn" and in
the evening, Better country schools" !"
Demonstrations BY Robertson.
Mr.. Robertson, who is a horticul-
furfst, demonstrated the pallouser" a
lantern made out of syrup can and
candle, also head dress or duster
made out of a colored handkerchief.
Both the Professor and Mr.. Robert
son demonstrated the making of yari-
GUS sizes and kinds of rope from bin
der twine by the use Of simple rope
machine that any boy. can make. 1t
was demonstrated that binder twine
at approximately 15c per pound can
be turned into rope. that purchased
In the usual way would cost at least
twice that amount. Mr.. Robertson