The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1921-09-30


army trucks % automobiles of varied vintages
and Makes more of bungalow trailers,
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 entertaining Gen" w. ID. SCOTS
modern caravan en- route from Brooklyn, N. y
Buh Idaho.
Times change and with them, sagely re-
marked ancient philosopher. They do, indeed
though probably we change less than do the times
For Chicago, young as IT is--it was not moor
porated as a city until 1S37-has seen many
headed west in the old days. But they
caravans of prairie schooners drawn by
oxen or mules. And the men and women were 60
ing forth to face the unknown. fight Indians turn
III, the prairie sod, contend with grasshoppers and
drought and put up ffty-fifty battle with fate
for home and Il living.
Not so this caravan. 1t was travelling in
fort and at speed. 1t knew Just where it WAS go
ing. II was scheduled for kindly attentions along
the way and a warm welcome. Its land was Sc
cured. There 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 a contrast the Lincoln
Highway of 1921 to the Santa Fe trail of the
Turtles, the Oregon trail of the Forties, the Nor
trail of the Flfties the "Pikes Peak or Bust
of the Sixties!
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 country's history.
than half the entire population is living in
''urban territory. That is to that of the popu-
iation of 1056S3 10S persons 51.9 per cent are lv
Ing In cities and 4S1 per cent in rural communities
In the census of 1910 the corresponding percent
ages 46.3 and 53.T.
This is a 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 a general
invitation to all 1t is not ready to support
indefinite number of miscellaneous applicants
- Mother Nature is very far from being the beneyo-
lent old soul she is pictured by the fctonists 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 a sure thing that the
country home that pays its way means hard
work for somebody. There will be blisters. back
aches and 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-
vided him with eyebrows.
Moreover there Is a slowness and deiiberation
la natures ways and methods that to the city man.
used doing things upon the instant, will be little
less than maddening 1t is useless to rage against
the ordered processes they cannot be hurried
The city man must learn to wait for seed time
and harvest and to posstss his soul In patience
So it is evident that there is a balance to be
other. The city cannot be transplanted In the
country. And no strike this balance for
the would-be back-to- -the-lander; he must do it
for himself
III striking this balance, however. there is more
co be taken into account than the dollars. Ihere
arc the beauties of nature. There is pure ar
untlcfed by smoke and soot place in the sun
with no skyscrapers overhead to shut out the blue
Sky and the stars and the moon honest thirst
thai makes nectar of the gods out of water from
the well and buttermilk from the spring house;
ali 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 busi-
ness The farmer is no useless consumer no para
site He is a producer; he contributes directly
70 the wealth of the nation. He Is independent
and Is beholden to man for place or favor He
does not climb up by dragging others down. Land
ia the fundamental natural resource from which
the nation draws its life. And the farmer is the
bulwark of the country.
Yes hack-to-the-and Is the right thing for the
right mar. He will find independence-menta,