230 RURAL LIFE IN CANADA 



a three months' term, May to August. Fully two- 

 thirds of Denmark's rural youth pass through them. 

 Many attend for but a single term. To observers it is 

 marvellous that so much could be accomplished by so 

 short a residence. The impulse, however, is vital. So 

 potent has been their influence that a majority of the 

 present Cabinet Ministers of Denmark have passed 

 through their course. The Premier has been a teacher 

 and director in them. There are also Government high 

 schools and agricultural schools thoroughly equipped 

 and manned, drawing their inspiration and ideal from 

 these Folk Schools. 



Bishop Gruntvig used patriotism as one of his agen- 

 cies, writing upon national history, editing and teach- 

 ing the national songs and literature with such success 

 that a cult sprang up which in over-zeal tabooed all for- 

 eign books, until a reaction set in to avoid isolation from 

 the stream of world-literature. Meanwhile patriotism 

 was intensely aroused. Why should not we in Canada 

 make more of our literature ? 



Sing me a song of the great Dominion, 



Soul-felt words for a patriot's ear! 

 Ring out boldly the well-turned measure, 



Voicing your notes that a world may hear! 

 Here is no starveling, heaven-forsaken, 



Shrinking aside where the nations throng; 

 Proud as the proudest moves she among them, 



Well is she worthy a noble song! 

 Sing me the joy of her fertile prairies 



League upon league of the golden grain, 

 Comfort, housed in the smiling homestead, 



Plenty, throned on the lumbering wain!* 



* Robert Reid, in Rand's " Treasury of Canadian Verse." 



