CHAPTER X

_THE FARMER AND HIS WIFE AS LEADERS OF THE YOUNG_

No less urgent and divine is the call for spiritual aid and leadership in the rural districts to-day than was that which came to the apostle Paul of old in form of a vision and a voice crying, "Come over into Macedonia and help us." In the open country field, far removed from church or social center, is the demand for leaders and directors especially great. Men engage for a lifetime in an enthusiastic endeavor to amass wealth and to build up great business concerns. But the man or woman who heeds the call to go forth into the country districts and save the bodies and souls of the young--that person will not only experience exceeding great joy and enthusiasm in his work, but he will thereby lay up for himself in the memories of the redeemed a precious treasury of golden deeds.

Country parents as a rule are not in a position to do the best things even for their own children, much less to go out as leaders of the young at large. They are sometimes lacking in the necessary means, more frequently too busy, and most frequently not sufficiently informed as to be fully awake to the meanings and possibilities of any such undertaking. However, in nearly every country neighborhood there is a man or woman, or both, who possess many of the big opportunities for enlisting in the service of the young. Those who have no small children of their own to care for would naturally be freest to get away from the present home duties. Then, some parents having children of their own not infrequently catch the inspiration and heed the call. At any rate, it is entirely fair and reasonable to assume that some one of the neighborhood could do it were there the disposition.

As a means of arousing any such persons to attempt to do some constructive work among country boys and girls, the following detailed suggestions are offered. Those who feel at all called to undertake this service may be assured that the interest grows more intense with time and effort put forth, and that the joy of accomplishing something in behalf of the young people of one's own vicinity is perhaps unsurpassed by that of any other type of human endeavor. In the discussions to follow we assume that some farmer and his wife have heeded this divine call.

PREPARATION FOR THE SERVICE

Since very few are sufficiently versatile to undertake any and every kind of social work, perhaps the first step is that of choosing a definite line of action. And let the choice be in the direction of the chooser's leading social interest. As a means of preparation for efficient work a brief course of training is to be much commended. It may be found practicable to slip away from home during the winter months and take a farmers' short course in one of the agricultural colleges. Or, one may find the peculiar instruction and inspiration needed by attending a convention or conference of the ablest leaders representative of the work. One of the rural-life conferences now frequently held might be found ideal. Go prepared to take notes, to ask questions, and especially to obtain a large number of literary references.

The use of helpful literature is most important at this stage. A magazine which admirably covers this particular field is _Rural Manhood_, published by the Association Press, New York City. Then, secure the report of the Country Life Commission, and a number of the latest works of a similar nature, some of which are listed below. Write to the Department of Agriculture at Washington for their bulletin on the organization of boys' and girls' clubs. Also from the extension department of the agricultural college may be obtained for the asking all available literature of this same general class.

Now, make a careful survey of the neighborhood, or the larger field, with a view to finding out the specific conditions in relation to the chosen line of service. Make lists of names and ages of the boys and girls, including all other data of a helpful nature. Proceed with the thought that the work to be undertaken is not to be merely a means of entertainment, but of education for the young.

WORK PERSISTENTLY FOR SOCIAL UNITY

In his most instructive volume "The Rural Church and Community Achievement," President Butterfield says: "We are in great need in this country of an institution or institutions which have for their definite objective the study of the conditions and problems of farm home-life; not merely the matter of home management, or home keeping, but the fundamental relationships of the family to the development of a better community life in the rural regions." Now, let the newly enlisted social worker assume that he is to undertake something by way of bringing about a fuller integration and unity of the people of the neighborhood.

Every new worker in the social field needs a word of warning against the rebukes and discouragements with which he may at first meet. To say the best, the neighborhood will doubtless be indifferent in regard to the newly proposed organization. But let the social worker go on persistently, unmindful of any such hindrance, even though scarcely a person in the neighborhood seems ready to join in the movement. In the typical case of valuable constructive work of this sort, it will be found at first that the masses are practically all opposed to the plan. However, as fast as it wins its way through unrelenting effort and unswerving devotion, the doubters and opposers will come over to its support. And after the movement has established itself reasonably well and achieved something worth while, the same people who once stood out will then fall enthusiastically into line and help with the undertaking.

It will be impossible, of course, to point out definitely to the local, self-appointed leader just what plan of social endeavor to follow. Since there is such a great variety of conditions, it seems advisable here to make a somewhat extended list of possible lines of work in the rural districts.

CORN-RAISING AND BREAD-BAKING CLUBS

Perhaps among the easiest organizations to effect among the young people of any farm district are the clubs or contests in juvenile farm work and home economics. The beginning of such a purpose will consist of getting into communication with the extension department of the state agricultural college. After obtaining their literature and learning their methods of procedure, call the boys and girls together, asking their parents to come along. It may be found practicable to call a general meeting of the entire neighborhood, inviting old and young possibly to a basket dinner, and there to lay before them the plans of the organizations. While the contest in corn-raising or bread-baking has proved a marked success where tried, if possible arrange matters so that every earnest endeavor on the part of the young shall receive a suitable reward, not merely the winners of the first and second prizes.

It is usually an easy matter to secure funds for paying the way of the boys to the state-wide farmers' institute or the boys' institute usually held at the agricultural college during the holiday season. Provide that every boy who reaches a certain standard--say, that of raising so many bushels of corn on an acre of land--shall go at the expense of the fund. Likewise, organize the girls into a bread-baking club or something of the sort. Prizes may be offered for the best bread, but all the girls whose home-making work meets a certain fixed standard of requirement should have promise of a suitable reward. Perhaps they too may be sent without expense to themselves to a state conference on home economics. In case of these trips to the state meetings it will be necessary to appoint responsible chaperons for the boys and girls.

OTHER FORMS OF CONTESTS

It may be found advisable to start a good-roads contest among the boys of the home township, offering an attractive prize to the one who shows the best results at the end of a given period and a per diem payment of money to every boy who faithfully takes care of his half mile or quarter mile of public road.

Then, there may be instituted on a small scale stock shows and poultry shows in the hands of the boys of the neighborhood. To this the girls too may come with any such thing as display specimens of their home sewing and fancy work, house plants, and the like. In fact, these exhibitions may gradually develop into a sort of neighborhood or township fair for the special benefit of the young. To this display may be brought, not only the items named immediately above, but the larger variety of things mentioned in the chapter on the Rural Y.M.C.A.

THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE SCHOOL SITUATION

Rural leaders will nearly always find many opportunities for improving the local school situation. But let the organizer keep unfailingly in view the high aims of all this rural work; namely, the awakening of a deeper interest in the affairs that normally belong to the neighborhood life, and the fuller measure of joy and contentment to result from every such achievement. So, there may be undertaken the redirection of the work of the country school. For example, bring forces to bear upon it that will result in the introduction of the study of elementary agriculture and the simple elements of home keeping and home sanitation therein. Work for a better class of teachers and a higher salary payment. Endeavor to have the length of the school term extended and the school attendance made more regular. Institute a series of red-letter days for the school during the year. It may be practicable to have a "parents' day," an occasion on which all will be invited to come out and join the pupils in a noonday lunch and learn more about the progress and the needs of the school. Provide a half-day for free and open discussion of school matters and if possible organize among the patrons a sort of "boosters' club."

Another form of endeavor in behalf of the schools is that of striving for improvement of the high school facilities of the neighborhood. Perhaps there is not a high school within riding distance of the homes. Cannot one be instituted, say, for the township? Or, what can be done to improve the present neighborhood relations to the high school that may be already within reach? Is there a prohibitive tuition fee? Does the high school now in existence actually serve through its courses the best interests of young people who come in from the neighborhood? Again, perhaps it would be feasible to organize the grown boys and girls who have dropped out of the country school into a neighborhood group and provide a daily conveyance for taking them to and from the town high school By this means, many may be induced to go to school who are idling away the valuable winter months.

During the last decade, what has been the trend of the young men and women who have gone from the home district to high school or college? Have any of the best of them returned to the farm? Or, have these institutions been a means of sending them away as permanent city dwellers? Does this thing need to continue? Cannot some movement be instituted for bringing about a radical change? So long as the country boys and girls attend the town high schools and there be required to take the old-fashioned classical courses--which have always served to introduce their minds to the city life and to the professional callings--the country districts will continue to be depleted of their best brains and energy.

HOME AND SCHOOL PLAY PROBLEMS

Start a movement in the interest of better provided play opportunities for the children of the neighborhood. The possibilities of enriching and extending the young life through the avenue of better play are just beginning to be understood. We have always accepted the theory that young children must have some time to play, but we have given little or no heed to the matter of providing for their play such apparatus as might furnish scientific contributions to the development of their characters.

Make a brief inquiry throughout the neighborhood and you will perhaps find that not a single farm home has apparently given this matter any definite attention. Now, what playthings may easily be provided in such homes? After having determined that matter, begin a campaign of education of the rural parents. First, write to the Playground Association of America in New York City and ask for a list of their literature on play. From this source you will obtain pamphlets and larger volumes giving specific suggestions for installing rural play apparatus, and details as to dimensions, prices, and the like. Now, you are ready for work. Appeal to a centrally located family for their coöperation in establishing a model. Induce them to provide for their children a full set of the apparatus, seeing to it that the expense is kept down to the minimum. Nearly all of the materials of construction are lying about the ordinary farm home and need only to be assembled and put into place. Once you have established your model home playground, then invite your neighbors in to see it, perhaps making a sort of picnic or holiday occasion out of the affair. At any rate, you may be sure that the parents of the neighborhood will begin at once to copy the models and many will even improve upon them.

Along with your efforts there may be necessary a campaign of instruction and admonition in relation to the play of the children. Many parents may be working their small boys and girls too hard and allowing not enough time for play. In this respect your persistent effort will in time show excellent results.

Let us suppose that the farm home selected for the model playthings has at least one small boy and one small girl therein. Then, the following might be set up:--

A swing, a seesaw, a sliding board or pole, a pair of rings, a trapeze, and a horizontal bar. Have all under shade if possible. Provide also a small play wagon and a cart or two, with a sand box for the small child.

Inspect the district school in reference to play facilities and you may find nothing other than the bare ground with perhaps a baseball diamond. Here, then, is a rare opportunity for constructive work. Organize in your own way a boosters' club and provide play apparatus. In Chapter VIII you will find full details as to the equipment best suited for the purpose. Provide in every case that the expense be minimized. Nearly all of the apparatus may be constructed free of cost by interested persons in the home neighborhood or in the near-by village.

A NEIGHBORHOOD LIBRARY

Another very enticing line of endeavor for the rural leader is that of establishing the country library. Some one in the neighborhood has a big house, one room or more of which may conveniently be set apart for the purpose. Induce the owners of this house to clear up a room and remodel it, if need be, and make their home a sort of intellectual center for the district. Of course the schoolhouse or rural church may be available for the purpose, but the farm home will be better for a great many reasons, among them being the possibility of having the library open at all hours of the day so that books may be exchanged on the occasion of one's passing the place. Now, go after the well-to-do residents of the district and gather a fund for the library. Paint in glowing terms the visions you have of this thing when it has been set on foot. Declare your purpose as that of helping and uplifting the community life. Show the "close-fisted" resident that the establishment of a neighborhood library will attract desirable settlers into the district and improve prices of land and produce.

After having obtained a small fund, consult the best authorities for advice in selecting the books. By all means avoid cheap stories and trash of every other sort. Since your work is in behalf of the young, obtain a few attractive and instructive picture books. There can probably be obtained a book which treats and illustrates fully the bird life of the local state, giving a brief description and pictures in their natural color. Young people may be very much attracted by authentic books of the nature-study class, including those descriptive of wild animals and of hunting and exploring tales. Consult the lists given under the chapter on the literature in the country home for additional titles and suggestions.

If it be found difficult or impracticable to purchase books for the neighborhood library, then, the next best thing will be the traveling library. Communicate with the state library association and learn definitely what may be obtained from that source. Then, proceed to bring the best available volumes into the neighborhood. In the selection of the library do not forget the local interest. Secure every attractive volume that will help to make the boys and girls acquainted with the best meanings of their own community life and more interested in staying by the home affairs and building them up. Not the least among the valuable elements of the neighborhood library will be the periodicals, in the selection of which expert advice is recommended.

HOLIDAYS AND RECREATION FOR THE YOUNG

In an ably written article published in _Rural Manhood_ of January, 1910, John R. Boardman, International County Work Secretary, says: "A new gospel of the recreation life needs to be proclaimed in the country. Rural America must be compelled to play. It has to a degree toiled itself into deformity, disease, depravity, and depression. Its long hours of drudgery, its jealousy of every moment of daylight, its scorn of leisure and of pleasure must give way to shorter hours of labor, occasional periods of complete relaxation and whole-hearted participation in wholesome plays, festivals, picnics, games, and other recreative amusements. Better health, greater satisfaction, and a richer life wait on the wise development of this recreative ideal."

A brief survey of the neighborhood will doubtless show the lack of general method in dealing with the farm boys' and girls' holidays and vacations during the long summer months. Here, then, is apparent another field for constructive leadership. In proceeding to change the present situation, it may be well to gather a considerable list of authoritative statements like the one just quoted. Farm parents gradually fall into the habit of over-working their half-grown children. Now, if we can institute a custom of weekly half holidays for the young people of the neighborhood, a splendid work will be done in behalf of a higher community life.

Begin work by selecting an attractive central location, and plan that the young, and the older ones, too, may come to this place one afternoon every week, or at least two afternoons every month, and have a good time generally. Games may be played, local clubs may meet in the shade of the trees, the sewing society and other groups of women having their interests served. The farmers' clubs may have opportunity for helpful exchange of ideas, while the little children may play and romp about the premises. Invite all to come early in the afternoon and bring an evening lunch to be enjoyed in common. Thus, you may give the young people who regard their everyday work as drudgery, such interest and inspiration as to tone up their lives noticeably for every hour of the long days of toil.

MANY OVER-WORK THEIR CHILDREN

In connection with your efforts in behalf of the holiday or weekly picnic, take up carefully the matter of the proper amount of work for the farm boys and girls of any given age. You will find such willingness on the part of parents to do the right thing by their children and a proportionate amount of ignorance as to what ought to be done. Therefore, you may be able to carry on most profitably to all a campaign of instruction in regard to such thing. You will, of course, first make out as best you can with the aid of all available literature, an ideal schedule of hours of work and play and recreation suitable for the boys and girls of the different ages.

At the holiday picnic it may be found advisable to organize the boys into a club of their own and the girls, likewise, for the promotion of their several and mutual interests. Inspire all with your earnestness and enthusiasm and lead them to consider the latent possibilities of the neighborhood, of how it might be transformed into a place of great worth and attractiveness. At the same country picnic, look to the practicability of organizing into a club the tired mothers of the district. They are many. You will know them by their careworn looks. Create a sentiment in behalf of more frequent outings and more recreation for these women. Help them obtain literature relative to their own affairs, to exchange ideas and plans in behalf of their own betterment. Show them especially the possibility of quitting the work at stated times even though that work be less than half finished, and getting away from the tedium thereof--all in the interest of longer life for themselves and better service for their homes and families. Almost any sort of club which these mothers can be induced to attend will achieve the purpose desired.

FEDERATION FOR COUNTRY LIFE PROGRESS

Federations for country-life progress are now arising in many parts of the country. One of the first was organized in New England, under the leadership of President Butterfield. The Illinois movement may be described, as an example.

The Illinois State Federation for Country Life Progress is composed of nearly half a hundred subordinate organizations. Their platform of ten principles given below sets forth a number of most important and practical purposes, as follows:--

1. Local country community building.

2. The federation of all the rural forces of the state of Illinois in one big united effort for the betterment of country life.

3. The development of institutional programs of action for all rural social agencies. This means a program of work for the school, another for the church, another for the farmers' institute, and so on.

4. The stimulation of farmer leadership in the country community.

5. The increase and improvement of professional leadership among country teachers, ministers, and all others who serve the rural community in offices of educational direction.

6. The perpetuation among all the people of country communities of a definite community ideal, and the concentrated effort of the whole community in concrete tasks looking toward the realization of this ideal.

7. The recognition of the country school as the immediate initiator of progress in the average rural community of Illinois.

8. The study and investigation of country life facts and conditions.

9. The holding of annual country life conferences.

10. The protection of this federation and of all country life from any form of exploitation.

THE VOCATIONS OF BOYS AND GIRLS

A most commendable work for the rural social leader would be that of showing the possibilities of guiding country boys and girls more scientifically in the direction of their coming vocational life. Too often, there may be found a mistaken farmer who is attempting to force his boy to take up the farm life when as a matter of fact the boy is in no sense fitted for such vocation and should be trained for a distinctly different line of work. Then, on another occasion, you will meet a man who is farming simply because he has to do it, and who is over-anxious that his boy be guided in the direction of something else. The point especially to be emphasized here is that the parent cannot choose arbitrarily a vocation for his child. The native interests of the latter must be consulted again and again, while the child is growing up, and in the end the young person must decide the matter for himself.

The world is full of wrecks of human character who are such largely because of the single fault of their never having been trained scientifically in a vocational way. So advance as best you can the idea that parents must be most patient in awaiting the development of the various instincts and desires in their growing children, and for the final decision of the latter in respect to a calling. It should be made clear that many of the best and ablest men in the world floundered about not a little in deciding upon the final choice.

This very important matter of choosing a vocation for the young man and the young woman will be taken up in Chapters XVIII and XIX of this book.

OTHER LOCAL POSSIBILITIES

It will be understood that the possibilities of church and Sunday school work in a rural neighborhood are not intentionally slighted. Little is said in regard to them here simply because of the fact that there is a country-wide organization with well-directed local branches and with a flood of excellent literature constantly at work in building up the church and Sunday school life. The reader may be reminded, however, that this field still presents many excellent opportunities for serving the highest interests of the home community.

The matter of purely social gatherings for the boys and girls is important. It will perhaps be found that they are running to cheap, degrading dances, either in the home neighborhood or in a near-by town. If the rural leader can break this thing up and substitute a literary club, a better form of social intercourse, or any other gathering, for the cheap dance and its resultant debauch, the effort will certainly be most commendable. It is not as a rule advisable to condemn and denounce these cheap affairs, but rather to begin at once a movement in the interest of the better substitute. Just as soon as the latter begins to take form, the young people will naturally discontinue their degrading affairs. Chapter XIII of this book will offer a more extended discussion of the social problems of country youth.

THE BOY-SCOUT MOVEMENT

There is much to commend the boy-scout movement as a country organization. It must be thought of as an educative institution. In discussing its best meanings and possibilities, Professor E. L. Holton, of the Kansas State Agricultural College, says: "Education as used here means habits of health, of work, of thrift, of observation, and of research. It is habit that determines the health of an individual and the sanitary conditions of a community; the social and moral level of the worker and the quality of his work; the returns from the farm and the ideals of the farmer; a man's bank account and his insight into the secrets of his environment. Habit has its physical basis in the flesh, the blood, and the nerve cells. There must be actual first-hand experience and leadership hitched up with text-book knowledge in educating the boy. The old elemental instincts of adventure, pugnacity, gang life, and following leadership must be taken into account and made to work out into life-compelling desires."

Before attempting the organization of the local Boy Scouts, one is advised first to send to the national organization and that of the state, if there be any, for literature and directions. The only caution which it seems necessary to give here is that there be connected with the conduct of the organization some serious problems and requirements and that it be not given over exclusively to merely doing wild and daring "stunts" and "hiking" about the country.

RURAL BOY-SCOUTS IN KANSAS

As an example of what is being done by way of organizing the rural boy scout movement, the Kansas plan under the direction of Professor E. L. Holton is here given:--

The Agricultural College Council is organizing companies of Rural-Life Boy Scouts in all parts of Kansas. The aim of the Council is "a company in every community." There are 160,000 boys in Kansas eligible to membership. It seeks to encourage boys to learn the secrets of the prairies, the streams and the forests, and be able to read nature as well as books; to have a growing bank account, and to do some type of work better than it has been done by anyone else.

During the month of July or August there is to be a five to ten days' Rural-Life Camp of Instruction in each county, which is to be attended by all companies of the county. This camp of instruction will be under the direction and management of the County Council. The program will consist of:--

1. Games and athletic contests.

2. Contest in judging farm crops and stock.

3. Naming birds, wild animals, fish, flowers, trees, shrubs, etc.

4. Reporting on the savings bank accounts.

5. Contests in any other line of work carried on in the county.

6. Talks on rural life subjects.

The duties of the individual scout are as follows:--

For the Third Class--

1. Know by sight and call ten common birds.

2. Know by sight and track ten wild animals.

3. Know by sight five common game fish.

4. Know in the fields ten wild flowers.

5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline ten common trees or shrubs.

6. Know the sixteen points of the compass.

7. Know the elementary rules for the prevention of typhoid fever.

8. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific methods not less than one-half acre of some farm or garden crop. (The town boy may substitute a town lot.)

9. Own and care for according to the latest scientific methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This includes poultry.) Value not less than $10.

10. Maintain a bank account of not less than $15.

11. Shall strive to graduate from the common schools.

For the Second Class--

1. Know by sight and call twenty common birds.

2. Know by sight and track twenty wild animals.

3. Know by sight seven common game fish.

4. Know in the fields twenty wild flowers.

5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline twenty common trees and shrubs.

6. Know the elementary rules for the prevention of tuberculosis.

7. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific methods not less than one acre of some farm or garden crop. (The town boy may substitute town lots.)

8. Own and care for according to the latest scientific methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This includes poultry.) Value not less than $20.

9. Maintain a bank account of not less than $20.

10. Read the books of the Young People's Reading Circle for the eighth and ninth grades.

For the First Class--

1. Know by sight and call fifty common birds of Kansas.

2. Know by sight and track all wild animals of Kansas.

3. Know by sight all the common game fish of Kansas.

4. Know in the fields twenty-five wild flowers.

5. Know by leaf, bark, and general outline all common trees and shrubs of Kansas.

6. Know by sight twenty-five common weeds.

7. Plant and cultivate according to the latest scientific methods not less than two acres of farm crops. (The town boy may substitute town lots.)

8. Own and care for according to the latest scientific methods some type of pure bred domestic animal. (This includes poultry.) Value not less than $25.

9. Maintain a bank account of not less than $25.

10. Shall read at least two of a list of books on rural life.

The motto is: "Know the secrets of the open country."

REFERENCES

See Rural Leadership Number of _Rural Manhood_, June, 1910.

Play for the Country Boy. Clark W. Hetherington. _Rural Manhood_, May, 1911.

The Y.M.C.A. Socializing the Country. Farman S. Vance. _The Independent_, April 15, 1911.

Holiday Plays. Marguerite Merington. Duffield & Co. Suitable for rural leaders.

The County and Local Fair. L. H. Bailey. _The Country-Life Movement_, 1911. This article contains many practical and stimulating suggestions for making a successful county fair, on a new basis.

Farmers' Institutes for Young People. Circular No. 99 of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Free.) This circular gives a large fund of details of all sorts of clubs and movements.

Kindergarten at Home. V. M. Hillyer. Baker-Taylor Company. N.Y. Contains much constructive work.

The Young Farmer's Practical Library. Edited by Ernest Ingersoll and published by Sturgis-Walton Company, N.Y. (75 cents each.) Contains some excellent matter. The following volumes are included:

From Kitchen to Garret. Virginia T. Van de Water. Neighborhood Entertainments. Renée B. Stern. The Farm Mechanic. L. W. Chase. Home Waterworks. Carleton J. Lynde. The Satisfaction of Country Life. Dr. James W. Robertson. Roads, Paths and Bridges. L. W. Page. Health on the Farm. Dr. L. F. Harris. Farm Machinery. J. B. Davidson. Electricity on the Farm.

County Superintendent J. F. Haines, Noblesville, Indiana, has a fund of helpful data on agricultural fairs by young people.

The Extension of Industrial and Agricultural Education. (Pamphlet.) Extension Department, University of Wisconsin, Madison.

Children's Singing Games Old and New. Mari Ruef Hofer. A. Flanagan Company. Chicago. Miss Hofer is an authority of national reputation on the subject of play and games.