The Lehi sun. [volume] (Lehi, Utah) 1913-1949, 1921-09-29

army trucks, % automobiles of varied vlntages
and makes, a 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 entertaining Gen" w. d. SCOTS
modern caravan en- route from Brooklyn, N. T.
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 II is--it was not incor-
porated as city until 1837-has seen many
caravan headed west In the old days. But thew
were 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
w the prairie sod contend with grasshoppers and
drought and put up hfty-nfty battle with fate
for a home and living
Not so this caravan. II was travelling in COM
fort and at speed. II knew just where II go
ing. II was scheduled for kindly attentions along
the way and warm welcome. Its land Sc
cured. There was water for irrigation Houses
and warehouses were ready. Everything down to
the last detail had been arranged. Failure was
unthnkable Success seemed assured.
Shades OF Kit Carson Marcus Whitman and
Brigham Youngl What contrast the Lincoln
highway Of 1921 to the Santa Fe trail OF the
Thirties the Oregon trail Of the Fortles. the Nor
mon trail of the Fiftles, the pixies Peak 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
iiOre than half the entire population Is living In
"urban territory" That is to say that OF the popu
ation Of 106.6S310 S persons 619 per cent are liv
Ing In cities and 4S1 per cent In rural communities
Ia the census OF 1910 the corresponding percent
ages we're 463 and 637.
This is a condition that is regarded as neither
desirable 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 Corners II is not ready TO support
an indefinite number OF miscellaneous applicants.
Mother Nature is very far from being the benevo-
lent old soul she is pictured by the ctionists who
write farm prospectuses. She does not give her
bounties for nothing She demands full payment.
And she exacts full penalty for mistakes.
II Is the surest kind OF sure thing that the
country home that pays Its own 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 bilowing
grain delights his eye, the city man will under
stand why providence or nature or evolution pro
vlded him with eyebrows.
Moreover, there is a slOwness and elaboration
IN natires ways and methods that TO the city man,
used TO doing things upon the Instant VIII be little
less than maddening 1t is useless to rage against
the ordered processes lney NhlliOl pV
The city man must learn 10 walt for seed time
and harvest and TO possess his soul In patience.
So II is evident that there is balance to be
struck. The city Is one thing; the country Is an
other The city cannot be transplanted In the
country. And no one can strike this balance Tor
the wOuld-be Observation-Disclosures he must DO u
FOR himself.
In striking this balance, however there Is more
10 be taken into account than the dollars Ihere
ar. the beauties of nature. There is pure air.
undened by smoke and SCOT; place In the sun
with no skyscrapers overhead to shut out the Dlue
sky and the stars and the moon; honest thirst
flat makes nectar of the gods out OF water from
the well and buttermilk from the spring,house'
an appetite that would put soul under the r'Ds
OF Death sleep the like OF which no city man ever
knows.
From many viewpoints farming Is the highest
and best Of caIlings. Farming Is an honest Dusi'
ness The farmer Is no useless consumer no para
site. He Is a producer he contributes ulrecty
N the wealth OF the nation. He ID independent
and il beholden to no man for place or favor. lie
does not climb up by dragging others down. Land
a the fundamental natural resource from when
the nation draws It's life. And the farmer Is the
buivark Of the country.
Yes. back-tO-the-and Is the right thing for the
r,gbt man He will ind independence-mentai,