INTRODUCTION 



SAGAMORE HILL, 

 OYSTER BAY, N. Y. 

 July 21st., 1910. 



I am glad that the report of the Commission on 

 Country Life is to be reprinted. I had hoped 

 that Congress would make an appropriation to 

 give the Commission official status and furnish 

 it the means to continue its admirable work. As 

 this was not done, I trust that so far as possible 

 the work will be continued by private and vol- 

 untary aid. The Commissioners have served 

 without compensation and they are entitled to 

 the heartiest thanks from all men intelligently 

 interested in the welfare of their country. 



The Commission was appointed because the 

 time has come when it is vital to the welfare of 

 the country seriously to consider the problems 

 of farm life. So far the farmer has not received 

 the attention that the city worker has received 

 and has not been able to express himself as the 

 city worker has done. The problems of farm life 

 have received very little consideration and the 

 result has been bad for those who dwell in the 

 open country, and therefore bad for the whole 



