Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1921-10-14

army trucks 20 automobiles OF varied VlnJageS
and makes q score or more Of bungalow trailers,"
men and women in khaki children of all ages,
family washing Tapping on lines, fires going the
smell of bacon and coffee, family breakfast groups,
and big sign that set forth that the Chicago
Motor club was entertaining Gen." w. ID. Scotts
modern caravan, route from Brooklyn, N. X,
to Bull, Idaho.
times change and we with them" sagely re- =
marked an ancient philosopher. They do, indeed,
though probably we change less than do the times
For Chicago, young as 1t is-it was not incOr-
porated as city until 1937-has seen many
caravan headed west In the old days. But they
were caravans Of prairie schooners," drawn by
oxen or mules. And the men and women were go
ing forth to face the unknown, fight Indians turn
up the prairie sod, contend with grasshoppers and
drought and put up fifty-hfty battle with fate
for a home and a living.
Not SO this caravan. 1t travelling in COM
fort and at speed 1t knew just where it was go
ing It was scheduled for kindly attentions along
the way and warm welcome. It's hand was se-
cured. There was water for irrigation. Houses
and warehouses were ready. Everything down to
the last detail had been arranged Failure was
unthinkRble Success seemed assured.
Shades Of Kit Carson Marcus whitman and
Brigham Youngi What contrast the Lincoln
highway Of 1921 to the Santa Fe trail of the
Thirfies the Oregon trail of the Forties, the Nor
mon trail Of the Fifties, the pixies Peak Bust
of the Sixtiesi
The figures Of the census of 1920 show that the
trend Of the population from the country to the
city has become greatly accentuated since 1910.
Now. for the first time In the eountry's history,
I1Ore than half the entire population is living In
urban territory" That is to say that of the pOpu
lation Of 1O5 1888 108 persons 519 per cent liv
ing In cities and 481 per cent In rural communities
In the census of 1910 the corresponding percent
ages we're 46.8 and 53.7.
This is a condition that is regarded as neither
desirable entirely safe Therefore many are
the projects to get city dweers back to the soil.
Back to the soil An American slogan for Amer
icans Yet the country does not extend general
Invitation to all 1t Is not ready to support
an indefinite number of miscellaneous applicants.
Neither Nature is very far from being the benevo-
lent old soul she is pictured by the hctionsts who
write farm prospectuses. She does not give her
ibounties for nothing. She demands full payment
And she exaets full penalty for mistakes.
It Is the surest kind of a sure thing that the
country home that pays Its own way means hard
work for somebody. There will be blisters, back
aches and sore muscles that will have to be worked
from soreness into strength Ere the bilowing
grain delights his eye, the city man will under
stand why providence or nature or evolution pro
ylded him with eyebrows.
Moreover there is d slowness 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 It is useless to rage against
the Ordered processes they cannot be hurried.
The city man must learn to wait for seed time
:
So 1t is evident that there is q balance to be
struck. The city is one thing; the country Ia an
other The city. cannot be transplanted In the
country. And no one can strike this balance for
the wOuldbe back-to-the-lander; he must do It
for himself
In striking this balance, however there Is more
to be taken into account than the dollars. There
ore the beauties Of nature There is pure air,
undehled by smoke and SCOT; place in the sun,
with no skyscrapers overhead to shut out the blue
shy and the stars and the moon; honest thirst
that makes nectar of the gods out of water from
the well and buttermilk from the springhouse
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 an honest bust
meas the farmer is no useless consumer, no para
site He is q producer; he contributes directly
10 me wealth of the nation He Is independent
and ia beholden to no man for place or favor. He
doe not climb up by dragging others down. Land
n Is fundamental natural resource from which
tha nation draws its life. And the farmer is the
bmixaxk Of the country
Yaas back-bofhe- land is the right thing for the
,daht rnmn. He win and Independence mental,