RURAL FORCES 



together. The Argentinian had served his 

 government as consul to Canada. He 

 related that he had recently written an offi- 

 cial letter in which he had occasion to refer 

 to the people of Canada and to those of 

 this country. He explained that in allud- 

 ing to the former he could say the Cana- 

 dians, but the latter he could not call Amer- 

 icans, since his people were also Americans. 

 After due consideration he referred to us as 

 "the Yankees." "But," turning to his 

 hearer, he said, with great emphasis. "I do 

 not look upon the people of the United 

 States as a nation, but as a new civilization." 

 In other words, our nation is not simply one 

 of fertile farms, enormous mines, great for- 

 ests, unparalleled railroad systems, palatial 

 stores, or wealthy cities, but he saw that we 

 are a people of different economic, political, 

 educational, social, moral and religious 

 ideals. 



There are in every rural neighborhood 



certain forces whose objects are to increase 



the educational advantages, the social 



opportunities and the moral aspirations of 



271 



