SOCIAL CAUSES OF UNREST 133 



social purposes. Men felt that they were gaining what 

 they lived for, and so when some weeks of comparative 

 leisure came at different seasons of the year, a house- 

 hold would go to spend the greater part of a happy day 

 with another household in social enjoyment. Neither 

 of these sources of social activities is found with us at 

 present. The newer and better agriculture is richer by 

 far in potentialities of social satisfaction through col- 

 laboration than was the earlier primitive form. But 

 these potentialities are not yet being taken advantage 

 of as they might and should be. The use of machines 

 made it possible for men to labor more alone. The ad- 

 vance in modes of agriculture has opened men's eyes to 

 a vision of things to be achieved, but attainment has 

 not come, and every moment and every energy are de- 

 voted to the progress or the prosperity so ardently de- 

 sired, while the needs of the social life are forgotten in 

 eager pursuit of the material goal. 



Yet there are instances everywhere to be found fore- 

 shadowing the coming good. I have mentioned a gath- 

 ering of seventeen farmers on silo-filling day, none of 

 whom used tobacco. Yet the group to which they be- 

 long has maintained a Pipe-club, and jolly good times 

 have been enjoyed at its meetings. They are remodel- 

 ling their barns, employing modern adaptations oi 

 cement and improved water systems. For the installa- 

 tion of these improvements co-operatively they formed 

 a Pipe-and-Wrench Club. An annual business meeting 

 was necessary, and of the first a social function as well 

 was made, with wives and daughters present, and after- 

 dinner toasts. The meetings of the club then became 

 monthly affairs, with papers read, discussions, and 

 music. It is along some such lines as these that a better 



