600 IOWA DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE. 



desires to "reach the masses," to take up the broom and the pitchfork. 

 They make the home folks feel that education for a farmer's son or daughter 

 is a failure, a growing discontent springs up, and the proud possessors of 

 "high ideals" and "noble aspirations" drift away to the seething, restless 

 maelstrom of city life. 



There are many places in the cities that are clean, well paying positions, 

 and these can only be filled by men and women of sterling worth and char- 

 acter. The city consumes everything the country produces and is con- 

 stantly demanding of it its best brain and muscle. Let us hope that most 

 of our boys and girls belong to the last mentioned class. Rev. Geo. 

 McNutt makes this statement, which doubtless many of you remember: 

 ' ' Out of thirty-five clerks in one bank on Fifth Avenue, New York City, 

 thirty-three were boys from the farm." This is an unusual proportion, it 

 is true, but it serves to show how serious the conditions are. Probably the 

 percentage of girls in responsible positions is not so large, but it will aver- 

 age far higher than we would ordinarily estimate. 



Though some of these reasons just touched upon may be perfectly legiti- 

 mate excuses for the migration to the cities, still I think you will agree that 

 some of these things are fundamentally wrong and are capable of being 

 corrected. We would not wish to hold on the farm those who have a really 

 useful field of business in the city. " Amid life's quests, there is but worthy 

 one to do men good," and if this takes them away let us say God-speed , 

 the city needs good men and women, but let them not mistake the call. 



There is nothing which creates and retains an interest and an ambition 



to excel in an occupation as the sense of ownership. If there is an animal 



on the place which the boy especially likes, let him have it. Let the girl, 



also, have her share, and you have given your children one of the strongest 



incentives to stay with you and to help you. 



Whose fault is it if the boy or girl is brought up to believe himself or her- 

 self too good to do the work the father and mother have always done? Who 

 is to blame if they are continually hunting for easy employment at high 

 wages, when they have always been told they should have an easier life than 

 father and mother had? Who is responsible if they are shielded from all 

 disagreeable tasks at home and then are found incapable of filling positions 

 of hard work and great responsibility? The answer is so obvious that he 

 who runs may read. The home training largely brings this about, but the 

 public schools, colleges and universities can not be altogether exonerated, 

 and I say this though 1 am fully aware that I may be severely criticised for 

 doing so. Talk with some of the farmers here today whose sons and 

 daughters are victims of the so-called college culture, and see if my state- 

 ment is too radical. 



Is it impossible for a social life to be developed in the country? Surely, 

 in these modern times of telephones, rural mail delivery, and traction lines, 

 young people can arrange and carry oui the social functions of the com- 

 munity as satisfactorily on the farm as in town. There is always the inevita- 

 ble lyceum and school social, why can there not be literary clubs, musical 

 organizations, etc., in which the young people can learn as well as enjoy. 

 The taste for these things must be created where it is lacking and this should 

 be done in the home and the school. Brighten up the old house. Buy a few 

 good pictures, get some books and read with the young people. Good 



