68 THE LURE OF THE LAND 



games. There should be a playground where he could 

 take a part in sport. There should be a library where 

 he could read the current journals and literature, as 

 well as the permanent records in books. The farmers' 

 clubs should provide a " movie " for each community. 

 In fact, the farm laborer should be treated as a human 

 being, and not as a neglected agricultural implement. 



In so far as that is concerned, I must say that the 

 good farmer, as a rule, is far more careful of his mow- 

 ing machine and his disc plow than he is of the welfare 

 of his farm laborer. The farm laborer lives in insani- 

 tary quarters, the bath is a luxury unknown to him. 

 In my part of the county there is no old swimming hole. 

 It is many miles to the Shenandoah or to Goose Creek. 

 He sleeps in beds that are not at all attractive to those 

 accustomed to cleanliness. He eats hastily and often 

 poorly cooked foods, and then he flies to the only source 

 of joy he knows, alcohol. 



All of this terrible condition must be changed. It 

 cannot be done in a day nor a week; it can only be 

 done gradually. The boy whose destiny is to labor 

 must be taught its dignity. He must realize that he is 

 a human being and is to be cared for as other human 

 beings. He must be provided with decent quarters and 

 proper amusements, and then his life will not be simply 

 labor and intoxication. No wonder that all those who 

 can get away from farm labor seek to do so. There are 

 left only those without ambition or talent. 



A new purpose must be imparted to the laborer, and 

 a new prospect of life and enjoyment spread out before 

 him. It is not so much an increase of wages as it is a 

 revision of environment. We should all endeavor to 

 bring about that day when, looking into the face of the 

 farm laborer, we see health, intelligence, enthusiasm. 



