64 THE FARMER AND THE NEW DAY 



fundamental cause of financial profit; a sound rural 

 civilization must also have as secure foundation intel- 

 ligence, morality, ideals of personal and community 

 life. 



The " economic motive " that is, the desire for 

 gain is very powerful with us all, but it is not the 

 only motive. Love of home and children, patriotism, 

 religious faith, all have their part in stirring men to 

 their utmost endeavor. The high-minded farmer 

 never works merely for profit; he wishes a reasonable 

 income in order that he may educate his family as well 

 as himself into a satisfying kind of life. He will de- 

 liberately choose for his home, of two communities of 

 equally fertile soil, the one that gives better promise of 

 good schools and churches and neighborhood life. 



Nor is a good farm life wholly dependent upon 

 profit, certainly not upon large profits. The beautiful 

 family life, the honesty and honor, the loyalty and the 

 religious faith of Robert Burns' cotter have been re- 

 peated in all essential respects in tens of thousands of 

 rural homes that enjoyed only a meager income, not 

 only among the rugged Scotch farmers but wherever 

 the ideals of true religion have prevailed. 



While it is true that some of the community improve- 

 ments we most desire can come only as a result of ma- 

 terial prosperity, this is often but an excuse for failure 

 to improve. One strong active alert country church 

 would not cost a community as much as a half-dozen 

 small struggling competing churchlets. Books and pe- 

 riodicals, the habits of reading and of study, keenness 

 of minds open to new ideas, the desire to try new ways, 



these things don't wait for money indeed they are 

 the conditions of financial gain, rather than its results 



more of that in a moment. 



