149° The Cornell Reading-Courses 



of good songs; better yet, telling what is to be done in the particular 

 home or community of the writer; best of all, telling what has been done. 

 All reports of work begun quicken our appreciation of Dr. T. N. Carver's 

 remarks made in opening his address before the Rural Community 

 Interests Convention in New York City last winter: 



" We all believe, of course, in religious work, Christian work. We all 

 sing, 'Work, for the night is coming.' It seems to me if we could make 

 that a little more pointed and instead of singing ' Work ' — everybody 

 wants to work, but does not know what to do first — say, ' Clean out 

 these fence comers, for the night is coming,' ' Build better bridges and 

 schoolhouses, for the night is coming, * we would get somewhere." " Sing 

 better songs, for the night is coming " has added itself. The following 

 extracts from letters that have been received recently seem a fulfillment 

 of Doctor Carver's injunction to us regarding this phase of rural com- 

 munity interests: 



Cuba, Allegany County 

 " We had a bonfire last night and we've mighty few songs left." 



Canton, Saint Lawrence County 



" There has been a general house cleaning with us and we were surprised to find 

 how much musical rubbish had collected. It won't occur again." 



Worcester, Otsego County 

 " Will you please send me a list of good victrola records, old and modern. I don't 

 want the children to play the others any more." 



Lockport, Niagara County 

 " I'm that one who was afraid of being known as an old fogy. The staff is burned 

 that I always knew ought to be." 



Manlius, Onondaga County 

 " I mean that my little daughter shall have as good home songs as I was raised on." 



WaUkill-on-Hudson, Ulster County 

 ' "I came away from Farmers* Week determined to use my influence for better music. 

 I have ' begun at home.' " 



Schuylerville, Saratoga County 



^ " I don't think I've heard that song Tomhigbee River since war days. Us G. A. R. 

 boys need seme good songs bad. I've been thinking up some old ones and we'd be 

 obliged to you if you'd help us get hold of them." 



Dansville, Livingston County 



" We want to get rid of our jig tune Sunday school book and try to put one in that 

 will live. What is good? " 



Riverhead, Long Island 



" Father used to forbid the ' rags ' on Sunday and now my brother and I are sifting 

 out the worst week-day ones. My father says what are left are good enough for Sunday." 



