CAN WE MAKE IT PAY? 257 



free from continual nerve strain and get close to 

 the dirt. We are willing to do outdoor work and 

 we don't suppose that country living consists merely 

 in cultivating pinks and roses. A new sort of teach- 

 ing is coming into our schools and we are not fit for 

 it. We don't know anything about industrial train- 

 ing and we are willing to give way to those who 

 do. We believe in this new sort of learning and 

 think the boys and girls ought to have it. We want 

 to learn how to grow things. We have about two 

 thousand dollars apiece. That will take care of us 

 until we have had some experience, will it not? 

 Now tell us where you think we should go? 

 Honest, we are not over fifty-five, either of us, in 

 good health, homely, and not a bit afraid of using 

 our hands." 



To this letter I replied, " Very good. You have 

 capital enough to buy twenty acres of land in Michi- 

 gan, Florida, or California; to put up a seven hun- 

 dred dollar house and a two hundred dollar barn, 

 with hotbeds and other attachments. You can plant 

 enough fruit trees to start with ; then keep hens and 

 if you are in the right place you can keep a couple 

 of boarders. Build your house so that it can be 

 enlarged for more occupants, if the future demands 

 it. I should advise you, on the whole, to go to a 

 warmer climate where you can work all winter." 



Quite a bunch of letters is illustrated by this one; 

 " I have worn myself out with shop work. I want 

 outdoor life, and the doctor insists on my having 



