Jasper County Democrat, Volume 17, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 November 1914 — KEEPING THEM ON THE FARM. [ARTICLE]

KEEPING THEM ON THE FARM.

They say every cloud has a silver lining, though some look exceedingly dark. And this applies to farm life as much as to any other avocation. The great complaint of the farmer of today is the difficulty experienced in securing and retaining competent help. It is a cry that extends from ocean to ocean, and is looked upon by many as a problem without a solution. But there IS a solution —a very •simple one. MAKE FARM LIFE ATTRACTIVE TO THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN. . Possibly you think this is a difficult thing to do. But IS IT DIFFICULT? Or is it IMAGINATION? Have you, Mr. Farmer, ever tried lo make the lives of your sons and your daughters and your help so a!t•ractive they would lose all desite for seeking their fortunes in the big (Cities?

I have in mind one simple and easy method of driving away the deadly -tnnui which engulfs many young people of the farm. Encourage the young people to get together for social enjoyment as often as possible, at least once a «eek during the-winter months. The young, people of a countrytide might organize a ‘Get Together tub and hold weekly meetings, and these weekly meetings might be utilized for mental development as well as for social purposes. The country school house might e requisitioned for Ihe holding of '■n occasional debate on some .subject in which the entire community is interested. The young people could select these subjects themselves, and -he elder statesmen” could encour- ■ ge the movement by attending and 'urnishing the personnel of the jury. If the subject and the speakers of me evening were selected a week or two in advance the young men

would have ample opportunity for digging out the information necessary for an intelligent discussion of the subject, and by the time the debators on both sides concluded their remarks the ‘ eldec statesmen’ would have ‘something to think auout/’ They would have pertlnen. angles to the situation presented for their consideration which had never before entered their minds, for it is a well known-fact that when YOUNGr AMERICA really becomes interested in an undertaking he moves with such amazing swiftness he rapidly leaves the breeze behind. Of course speaking publicly on a given subject would be more or less awkward to most young men at first, but it would require but a short time for them to become familiar *ith debate and then they would “warm up” to their tasks.

And this study and these public discussions would develop their intellects and broaden their minds as nothing else could do, and the intellectual and practical expansion resulting from such a course would revolutionize the countryside within a few years. And then the club could have its iegular meetings purely for social enjoyment, for the relaxation of mind and body from the strain of daily toil, and these meetings where the sexes intermingle in friendly converse and games would add additional charm and attractiveness to membership within the circle. For toe social side of, these weekly meetings of the young men and the young women and the fathers and the mothers would give to the rural districts an air and atmosphere of gaiety which would forever banish that dreaded spectre, the ‘Call of the City.” Taken all together, a "Get Together (Tub” would be about the most popular feature of rural life, and would serve to keep many thousands of young nien on the farms who are now rushing off to the big cities and to individual oblivion. A ‘Get Together Club” means a broader intellect, a contented mind, and ? fatter pooketbook. For to a very considerable extent the nation is dependent upbn—is at the feet-—of the young man on the farm. - -Contributed.