594 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 



many evil results. We hear much about the evil of Sunday base ball, for 

 instance, but hovv^ many have stopped to think that the reason the boys 

 play on Sunday is because they ai-e not given any other time in v/hich to 

 play. It may be that some parents are willing to let their boys have a 

 day off occasionally but this will not help matters much unless there is an 

 understanding amongst the farmers of the entire community so as to give 

 the boys a chance to organize. It is perfectly right, as I see it, that farm 

 boys should play ball. It is equally right that the farmers' girls should 

 play "basket ball if they choose. I do not understand that it is the game 

 that is objectionable. There are perhaps a few people who contend that 

 the farm boy or girl is not in need of such games as they get sufficient ex- 

 ercise at their work, but this I think is too short-sighted a view to be 

 worthy of consideration. It is the farmers' own fault if their boys play 

 Sunday base ball. First because perhaps they haven't taught them to 

 be God fearing, God obedient and God loving enough to resist from doing 

 that which God has commanded them not to do even if there does seem 

 to be some excuse for so doing. Secondly because they are not given the 

 proper time in which to play. Give the boys a chance to play ball on week 

 days occasionally and Sunday base ball will cease as it certainly is a dis- 

 grace to any Christian community. 



Many of j'ou have read the article on work and play for the farm boy 

 in Wallace's Farmer for Dec. 24. It describes the work of the Y. M. C. A. 

 in some rural districts. Its work is of a religious, educational, social 

 and physical character. A part of the educational work is along agricul- 

 tural lines. The religious work is carried on by means of bible classes, 

 some for old and some for young men and are in the charge of trained 

 leaders. This training is also done by the association. The association 

 also furnishes a leader called the secretary for each. 



His salary is paid by the county at large. These men are college boys 

 who have originally come from "the farms. This association realizes the 

 need of recreation for the farm boy and takes steps to provide it. What 

 is true of the farm boys in this respect is equally true of farm girls. There 

 are so many ways in which the young folks can get recreation and mental 

 improvement if only the farmers will realize the need of it and work to- 

 gether so as to allow the necessary as well as proper time for it. The old 

 fashioned spelling school even might be made to furnish much amuse- 

 ment and benefit. It seems to me that no rural community should be 

 Avithout some sort of a literary society where social and educational fa- 

 cilities should be combined. Works of history, travel and current events 

 should make very interesting matter for such an organization. What the 

 rural communities are in need of is leaders. It is to be hoped that in the 

 near future farm conditions will become so attractive that many of the 

 young men and women who are fortunate enough to get college training 

 will return to the farm instead of settling in town and cities as is now the 

 custom. 



In this way the now lacking leadership will be provided. 



I do not think there is much danger of this matter of recreation being 

 overdone if the parents will work in with the young folks, as they will then 

 have a chance to not only keep it in control, but also to influence the young 



