Rep07^t of Missouri Farmers' Week. 197 



This rubbing elbows with other boys and sizing himself up by 

 his friends and putting his strength and skill against his playmates 

 has a great deal to do with his after life, and we would do well to 

 think more about this phase of his character. 



But the problem of giving the country boy a chance, a good 

 chance in physical training, is a difficult one to solve, because 

 "physical training" itself means that these physical activities of the 

 boy must be properly supervised and directed. 



Bodily exercise, athletic games or play of any sort without cor- 

 rect supervision is worse than none. In fact, the playground au- 

 thorities say in their magazines, "First get some one who knows 

 what ought to be done, one who knows how to direct 

 the exercises, and this will clear up many problems." Now, 

 it is not easy in the rural districts to get leaders for boys, 

 but nothing can be done without leaders. This is one of the most 

 important times to think of getting young men (who have been 

 away to college and know something about athletics) to take up a 

 group or class of boys and keep them busy. Public interest must 

 be aroused, and this can be done in many ways. Women's societies 

 in some large cities were the first to approach the subject of play- 

 grounds. Newspapers all over the country are recognizing the boy 

 problem. Sunday schools and churches are ready to listen and 

 scheme in order to keep their boys with them. School boards will 

 co-operate in a movement of this kind. The Young Men's Christian 

 Association will put in a county secretary who will make it his busi- 

 ness to work with boys if the county will support him. 



Our boys and girls of today cannot grow up to be the citizens 

 which we are striving to make them without true leadership which 

 encourages participation in those activities which tend to strengthen 

 the mental, physical and moral side of their development. 



THE BABIES' HEALTH CONTEST. 



(Mrs. Flora Hartley Greene, Columbia, Mo., State Chairman of the Health Contest for 



Babies.) 



The department of "Care and Culture of Children" made its 

 first appearance this year in our Home Makers' Conference. One 

 large room in the Gordon Hotel building was set aside for this work. 

 In it was arranged a display of: 1, Clothing for children from in- 

 fancy to adolescence; 2, specimen meals giving properly balanced 

 rations with necessary amount to furnish. needed calories for chil- 

 dren aged two, eight and fourteen years; 3, constructive toys and 

 playthings; 4, sixty books that every child could read with profit; 



