THE TRAINING OF FARMERS 



I asked why they desired to move to 

 town. The answer was, to secure good 

 school facilities, to escape bad roads and 

 isolation, to have church privileges and to 

 be able to enjoy social advantages. In other 

 words, the country life of the region was 

 successful only on its business side, and a 

 satisfying rural society had not developed. 

 The town was the center of interest. The 

 country was not sufficient unto itself as a 

 permanent place of abode. 



The better country life 



What I mean by a better country life is 

 a rural civilization that meets the needs of 

 the twentieth century, and that is able to 

 hold the center of one's interest through- 

 out life. Primarily, it must be profitable 

 in money ; but it is not a good civilization 

 until it develops good social and educa- 

 tional institutions of its own, directly from 

 the resident or native forces, and until it 

 appeals both to youth and old age because 

 of its intrinsic attractiveness and advan- 

 tages. A civilization of this kind will be 

 the country life of tomorrow. 

 16 



