" BACK TO THE FARM! " 149 



much as a hundred dollars a month, it is a promise of 

 opulence. In addition to this, he has the city lights, 

 the city streets, the city amusements, and the stimulus 

 of companions, all of which appeal to a boy, and all of 

 which are natural desires. 



MAKE FARM LIFE ATTRACTIVE. 



The simple fact remains, however, that life in the 

 country is the normal life. The man who does not 

 touch the fresh-turned sod, make his way through the 

 forest, follow the plow in the field, or gather the cattle 

 at night, it seems to me, is missing the charm of ex- 

 istence. The glories of country life have hitherto ex- 

 isted only in song and story; but at present there are 

 movements in various parts of the world to make it 

 attractive. There are numerous magazines and news- 

 papers devoted to rural life, and not only papers which 

 teach practical agriculture, the care of registered stock, 

 the growing of fowls, etc., but newspapers and periodi- 

 cals devoted to the pleasures of the country and the in- 

 spiration of country life. Communities are forming, 

 with clubs and associations, which offer to the persons 

 living in the country many of the advantages of life in 

 the city. Country life is becoming less isolated and 

 more communal. People are beginning to understand 

 that it is not well to build the house and the barn in the 

 middle of a large farm, but rather on the corner ad- 

 joining a neighbor's house and barn. In fact, every 

 four farmers might form a little community of them- 

 selves by building their farm-houses in adjoining cor- 

 ners. In this way, even if the weather were stormy, 

 there could be society in the evening, and the neighbors 

 could come together and discuss affairs of common in- 

 terest. 



