CHAPTER IV. 



SOCIAL CAUSES OF UNEEST. 



A better rural life must indeed be based on rural 

 economic prosperity. But the problem is not funda- 

 mentally an economic one. Dr. Josiah Strong, " whose 

 inspiring and thorough social studies opened to men 

 this field of observation," has ever urged this. The 

 problem of production has been solved, he considers, 

 Let us suppose, he adds, the problem of distribution 

 (that is, the adjustment of wealth, not the transport of 

 products) also solved, so that there should be ample 

 provision assured for the physical wants of every human 

 being for all time to come. Would people, he then asks, 

 would people, delivered from the fear of poverty, be 

 more satisfied with life, more devoted to each other? 

 This question he answers by asking another: Has 

 this beatific, altruistic change taken place in our 

 wealthy class who are freed from thought of reach of 

 want? James Russell Lowell in his last address to 

 college students bade them never forget the reason for 

 which coll -t : u Xot that you may get something 



by vliieu !> earn your bread, but that every mouthful 

 of bread may be more sweet to your taste." The rural 

 problem is very largely one of such appreciation of life. 



The problem of production is far from being solved. 

 In Canada we have wheat in abundance, and therefore 

 bread, though bread alone, of our necessary food, keeps 

 low in price. But we have not the fruit nor flesh nor 



123 



