THE LURE OF THE LAND 7 



or for a well educated and brilliant girl to marry a 

 farmer, not because such things should not be, but be- 

 cause the expectation of success and happiness in life 

 is not at the present time in any particular way asso- 

 ciated with country life. Nor am I foolish enough to 

 suppose that the cities are going to be depopulated. 

 Much as that is to be desired, it is not likely to hap- 

 pen. On the other hand, we must calmly look forward 

 to an increasing density of the urban population and 

 a smaller percentage left in the country. While I try 

 to look at the matter from a philosophical point of view, 

 I realize the almost hopeless effort of trying to depopu- 

 late the city. I shall have something particular to say 

 upon that point further on. My purpose, therefore, 

 is not to change the existing order of things, but to try 

 to make the best of it. 



Much is to be expected from changes in the studies 

 of our country schools. The ideas of country life im- 

 parted to the school children in the city should be no 

 longer colored nor painted. The truth should always be 

 told. It is well to imbue the city child with a love of ru- 

 ral life, but it would be wrong to imbue him with a love 

 of this kind and to leave him in ignorance of the hard 

 conditions which it imposes. I have had many appli- 

 cations from city boys to spend their summers with me 

 on the farm, and have had a little experience of that 

 kind. How quickly the glamour of the country wears 

 away from the city boy when he goes out to work in the 

 fields! The hard labor of the hot day soon removes 

 the last vestige of enthusiasm, and it takes a boy of 

 fine spirit and splendid mettle to stick to his job. 



Again, the wickedness on the part of promoters in 

 seeking to sell to city people suburban properties should 

 be pointed out. As I read their advertisements I can- 



