WHY PERSONS TAKE TO FARMING 



tion the relatively small earning power 

 and then declare that they will follow the 

 business in spite of that handicap. Nearly 

 every one of them gives higher ideals of 

 living as the propelling motive, and these 

 ideals crystallize about two points the 

 love of nature, and the desire of a free 

 independent life. 



Moreover, these are responses of strong 

 conviction. They evidence pride of calling, 

 and not one of them is apologetic. They 

 are hopeful ; they all have a forward look. 

 They are surprisingly unselfish. Not one 

 of them asks for power. They show that 

 even in this epoch of hurried city-building, 

 the love of the open country and of plain 

 quiet living still remains as a real and vital 

 force. 



I was impressed, in the replies of those 

 who are to leave the farm, with the em- 

 phasis placed on lack of money, hard work, 

 and small social opportunity : they had not 

 had a vision of the new country life ; I am 

 impressed in these replies with the recur- 

 rence of such ideals as love for the work 

 that one is doing, education, study, per- 

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