Sex and Youthful Society 199 



So, again, it may be contended that there is a happy 

 mean between the over- work and the absence of social 

 experience so common in the farming communities 

 and the lack of work and the extreme social excite- 

 ment that so often obtains in the life of the city child. 



A SOCIAL RENAISSANCE IN THE COUNTRY 



There is becoming more and more apparent the 

 necessity of not only a revival of the social life in the 

 country, but also the demand for its reconstruction. 

 It is especially to be desired that the reorganization 

 be effected under the guidance of sound principles of 

 psychology and sociology. That is, it must be based 

 on the fundamental fact of the sex instinct so promi- 

 nent during the adolescent period, and the further 

 fact of the imperative demand at this time for a large 

 amount of social intercourse. How differently this 

 point of view persistently held will shape the matter 

 as compared with the older ideal of merely "giving 

 the young folks a good time"! Yes, the social life 

 of adolescent boys and girls has its source in the sex 

 instinct then so predominant. It is not therefore 

 to be viewed as a piece of superficial sentimentality, 

 but rather as a profound law of nature. 



As suggested by two or three of the preceding 

 chapters, there may be organized a social center in 

 the church, or other such centers may develop inde- 

 pendently through the leadership of some mature 

 persons. But instances of this class of effective 



