Keeping the Boys on the Farm 131 



prospect of a possible land or other property inherit- 

 ance. So at last there is being raised the very im- 

 portant questions, What is the matter with the 

 country boy ? and What can be done to help him ? 

 Knowledge of the fact that more than one-half of 

 the boys of the United States are living in farm 

 homes makes the problem of their individual sal- 

 vation assume momentous proportions. 



There can be no reasonable thought of holding 

 all the boys on the farm. Many of them are best 

 fitted by nature to go elsewhere and find suitable 

 employment, but there is every good reason for 

 preventing the great exodus of immature youths 

 who run off to the cities, not knowing what they are 

 to face and without any well-defined purpose. Yes, 

 the great concerns of the towns and cities must con- 

 tinue to call many of the brainiest young men from 

 the rural districts. In fact, the country may with 

 every good reason be considered the proper breeding 

 ground for the virile minds destined to control the 

 great affairs of nation, state, and municipality. 

 But every reasonable effort must be put forth to 

 keep the boy in his country home until his character 

 is relatively matured and his plans for a future 

 career are fairly well defined. 



PURPOSES OF THE COUNTY Y.M.C.A. 



Doubtless the first chief purpose of the county 

 association is that of building up the boy's character 



