CHAPTER I 

 THE STUDY OF RURAL LIFE 



The American farm problem, particularly its 

 sociological aspect, has not as yet had the atten- 

 tion that it deserves from students . Much less 

 have the questions that concern rural social 

 advancement found the popular mind; in 

 truth, the general city public has not been deeply 

 interested in the farmer. 



But there seem to be recent indications that 

 the sentiment is changing. The heated dis- 

 cussions in New England about Mr. Hartt's 

 interesting clinic over a decadent hill-town, the 

 suggestive fast-day proclamation of Governor 

 Rollins of New Hampshire a few years ago, the 

 marvelous development of agricultural educa- 

 tion, the renewed study of the rural school, the 

 wide-spread and growing delight in country life, 

 have all aroused an interest in and presage a 

 new attention to rural conditions. This is well. 

 The sociologist can hardly afford to omit the 

 rural classes from the scope of his study, espe- 

 cially if he desires to investigate the practical 

 phases of his subject. Moreover, no one with 



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