The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1921-09-30


and makes score 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. D. Scots
modern caravan, route from Brooklyn, N. "
to Buh Idaho.
.srimes 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 moor
porated as a city until 1837-has seen many a
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 home and living.
Not so this caravan. 1t was travelling In COM
fort and at speed. II knew just where It was go
Ing II was scheduled for kindly attentions along
the way and warm welcome. Its land was Sc
cured. There was 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 Youngi What a contrast the Lincoln
highway of 1921 to the Santa Fe trail of the
Thirties, the Oregon trail of the Forties, the Nor
mon trail of the Fifties the pixies 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 accumulated since 1910.
Now, for the first time In the country's history,
more than half the entire population Is living In
'urban territory" That is to say that of the popu-
iation OF 10S persons b19 per cent are liv-
ing In cities and Ash per cent In rural communities
In the census of 1910 the corresponding percent.
ages were 4e.3 and bS7.
4 This is a condition that is regarded as neither
desirable nor entirely safe. Therefore many are
the projects to get city jewellers back to the soil
Back TO the soil An American slogan for Amer
leans Yet the country does not extend general
invitation TO all 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 hctionists 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 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 billowing
grain delights his eye, the city man will under
stand why providence nature or evolution pro-
ylded him with eyebrows
Moreover there Is 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 maddenng. Ii Is useless to rage against
the ordered prOceSsesi they cannon DC nurrieu.
The city man must learn to wait 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 for
| the would-be back-to-the-lander; he must do II
| for himself.
In striking this balance however, there Is more
10 be taken into account than the dollars. There
/ are the beauties OF nature. There Is pure air
| undefiled by smoke aud scott place In the sun
with no skyscrapers overhead to shut out the blue
| sky and the stars and the moon honest thirst
that 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 RIB.
of Death sleep the like of which no city man ever
| knows.
From many viewpoints farming is the highes
/ and best of callings. Farming is an honest busi
] ness The farmer Is no useless consumer no para
site. He Ia q producer; he contributes directl!
i TO the wealth Of the nation. He is Independent
and is beholden to man for place or favor. HI
4 does not climb up by dragging others down. Ian,
IL the fundamental natural resource from whiel
the nation draws Its life. And the farmer Is tia
| bulwark OF the country.
Yes: back-to-the-land Is the right thing for TIA
right man. He win find OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES