COUNTRY CHILDREN AND CITY CHILDREN 



35 



these influential city leaders had come from country 

 homes. They were born on farms in the open country or 

 in rural villages of 2500 population or less." 



From such statements it appears that in spite of the 

 drawbacks of our rural life the farm home is the best place 

 for child rearing. The crude materials for awakening the 

 best efforts of a child are there. The open sky, the sing- 

 ing birds, the bursting buds, the babbling brook, are con- 



TABLET AT UNION STATION, WASHINGTON. 



stantly making an appeal for a wide outlook on nature. 

 The many-sidedness of farm activities plowing, dairying, 

 harvesting, threshing, and marketing form an ideal 

 combination. The farm boy has opportunity denied to 

 his city cousin to develop quiet resolution, thoughtful- 

 ness, and love of nature. With good reason, over the 

 entrance to the great Union Station at Washington there 

 has been carved the following inscription : 



THE FARM: BEST HOME OF THE FAMILY: 

 MAIN SOURCE OF NATIONAL WEALTH: 

 FOUNDATION OF CIVILIZED SOCIETY: 

 THE NATURAL PROVIDENCE. 



