Latent Wealth of the Country 83 



DECADENCE OF RURAL LIFE 



The open country in the Middle Western states 

 has for some time been the breeding place for sterling 

 manhood and ideal womanhood, and the recruiting 

 ground wherefrom have been drawn many men and 

 women to undertake the management of the larger 

 enterprises of the country. The enforced self 

 denial and discipline of work ; the continued practice 

 of quiet reflection; the comparative freedom from 

 the evil and degrading influences peculiar to much of 

 the child life in the cities ; and many other character- 

 building experiences could be set down on the favor- 

 able side of rural child-rearing in the past. But this 

 situation is rapidly changing. The ten-year period 

 just closing has witnessed a decadence of country life, 

 the rural population actually showing a decrease. 

 Large numbers of the best families have moved to the 

 cities and towns, and their places on the farm have 

 been taken by irresponsible laborers and transient 

 renters. 



Yes, the wealth of the rural community is still 

 there, lying more or less dormant, and all the other 

 means of a splendid civilization are there. But in 

 the usual instance there is no one to assume the 

 leadership in bringing about the reconstruction of 

 the rural life. Now that he has accumulated such 

 an abundance of material things, the typical farmer 

 needs to be shown how to deal more fairly and 



