336 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



more attractions for the young than has the home, then either the 

 home-maker or the home-keeper, or both, have not fully realized 

 the value of a life. If the home has not instilled into the youthful 

 mind that kindly remembrance, that grows larger as the years 

 accumulate, and lives in the thought of it being the dearest and best 

 spot on earth, then it has not reached the higher and highest prin- 

 ciple of home life. 



Wealth alone cannot acquire it. It will assist in making the 

 comforts and conveniences. Beautiful structure, fine location, at- 

 tractive surroundings, will not alone bring the results. Something 

 more is needed to build a good home. No home, that is not a happy 

 one, is a good one. 



I knew a little boy in school, coming from well-to-do-people. It 

 was cruel winter. The little fellow was poorly clad. While he 

 stood shivering at the stove, his teacher asked why his father did 

 not buy him better clothing. The little fellow said, "Papa needs 

 the money to put in bank." Sometimes the real comforts of life are 

 neglected. Too frequently we do not do as well as we know. Prac- 

 tice becomes easy because of habit. Occasionally we forget. 



It is our duty then to assist in making better homes. To secure 

 more of the modern conveniences and comforts; to look care 

 fully after the health of the farmer's family. Much is said concern- 

 ing the labor problem. We must adapt ourselves to the circum- 

 stances and condition. Better houses, equipped with more of the 

 modern cenveniences will, in part, solve the labor problem, because 

 it will lighten labor and shorten hours. When this is done part of 

 the difficulty in securing help will be removed. Part of the so- 

 called drudgery will be displaced by more systematic work, the result 

 of higher thinking. Thought must come to the rescue here as in 

 all things else. So much has been said concerning the school that 

 perhaps nothing new can be offered. In some respects we have 

 been progressing; in others we have not kept up with the proces- 

 sion. Many disinterested persons still regulate the affairs of the 

 school; as a rule they represent their constituents. In most in- 

 stances the officers are very much like the people who elect them. 

 Some school officers remind me of the Egyptian mummies, whose 

 bodies are in the present — their souls are in the past. Our manner 

 of selecting teachers has changed but little. We still employ young 

 men and young women, who remain with us until qualified to teach, 

 then genius goes where the money flows and we employ another. 

 Our schools make experiment stations for town and city; prepar- 

 ing teachers rather than educating the children. Can we, interested 

 in rural life as we should be, afford it? Can we expect good results 

 from such a system? How long shall it continue? Who shall work 

 a change? All along the line there are individuals pleading for 



