Report of Missouri Farmers* Week. 195 



Crawford, published by A. S'. Barnes & Company of New York, 

 and the "Folk Dance Book," by E. Ward Crampton, published by the 

 same company, give a great number of simple and more complex 

 dances, with the music for each, which are suitable for children of 

 all ages. 



THE PROBLEM OF THE BOY IN THE COUNTRY. 



(O. F. Field, Instructor in Physical Education, University of Missouri.) 



Certainly this is a subject worthy of our consideration, for if 

 the country boy had the opportunity in body-building exercise that 

 our average city lad has at his very door we would all want to 

 move to the country to raise our children. With the space avail- 

 able for all kinds of games and contests, and with the great amount 

 of fresh air and sunshine, it would mean that our boy raised on the 

 farm would outshadow the city boy many times, looking at it from 

 a physical standpoint. 



As the problem stands now, the country boy has the right to 

 demand that more opportunity be given him for the all-round de- 

 velopment of his physique. 



I want to take this subject up from a number of standpoints 

 and will not spend any further time discussing the disadvantages of 

 country life, but rather the possibilities, which are much more 

 numerous and very much more pleasing to talk about. 



We are all interested in the health of our children, so first let 

 us take up this subject from the health point of view. "Play is 

 necessary to good health." This certainly has proven to be true 

 in the city, and is bound to be recognized before many years in the 

 rural districts. 



Between the ages of five and twelve the boy's heart increases 

 twelve times in size, while the arteries which carry the blood from 

 this organ to all parts of the body increase only three times in size. 

 This physiological condition causes an enormous pressure, which 

 we often hear spoken of as "boy energy." For example, this might 

 be likened to a small steam engine, but instead of steam it is energy 

 which is being generated. This energy must have an outlet. A 

 little boy who had lived with his sick grandmother for some time 

 said, "Grandma, if you should die I would jump up and bust," 

 meaning by this that he could not longer hold his energy. Often- 

 times we forget that a boy cannot keep still for any length of time ; 

 he simply must play. He must relieve this pressure and play is 

 his method. 



