1522 
December 30, 1022 
Pastoral Parson and His Country Folks 
By Rev. George B. Gilbert 
lhe RURAL NEW-YORKER 
At Home. —Well, here we are home at 
last after quite a trip. We were gone 
just four weeks to a day. Glad to go 
and glad to get home—that’s just about 
the way it is on sueb a trip. We went 
from here down near New York, and 
while Mrs. Parson visited with friends 
the l'arson attended the fifth annual con¬ 
ference of the American Country Life 
Association, at Teachers’ College. They 
certainly had the best men iu the coun¬ 
try in this line, and the Parson got much 
good from them. A good deal was said 
about country schools, as of course there 
ought to be at such a meeting. Iu speak¬ 
ing of the unequal advantages of country 
and city children, it was shown how that 
school buildings range all the way from 
a poor shack of a one-room school built 
105 years ago to a schoolhonse out in 
Minnesota that cost SI,000.000 and had 
a painting over the door that cost $10,- 
000. Less than $25 a year is spent on 
the country child, while an average of 
$40 is spent on the city child, Of 100 
country schoolbouses 85 are heated by 
unjacketed stoves, 00 are not properly 
lighted, and 84 out of every 100 have no 
playgrounds whatsoever. The matter of 
consolidation was not touched on so very 
much, hut it was shown that the one- 
room school was an abiding problem, for 
at least two out of every five were so 
situated that the children could never be 
carried elsewhere: they would always re¬ 
main one-room schools. 
Tite Teacher.—A good deal was said 
about the teacher hi the small school. 
Her life was often hard, as she was dif¬ 
ferent from the social group in which 
she found herself. Her whole life had 
been led in the tow n or village, or even 
city, with everything going on and every¬ 
thing to go to. .'When the Parson asked 
a child how her teacher was getting on. 
’way down county, she answered: “Well, 
she didn’t cry today.” It appeared she 
had cried every day and 'most all clay. 
Soon after this she left the school for 
good. Vermont requires, as a pari of 
her "standard.” that the country lonelier 
spend at least two week-ends a month in 
the district where she teaches, to get 
acquainted more with the people and 
learn to sympathize with them. Four- 
fifths of the rural teachers are "quite un¬ 
dertrained.” In the city the teacher aver¬ 
ages to stay nine years in a place. How 
long does the teacher stay iu the hack 
country school? One man argued very 
strongly and sanely that it was up to 
the Government to put money in the 
country schools. Lack of education is a 
national menace wherever it is found, 
and the boys from the country districts 
spread our all over the nation, lie had 
a chart showing where the hoys and girls 
had gone from a certain rural county. 
Red lines went from this county all over 
the United States, ns from the center of 
a spider’s web. At a banquet of 100 bus¬ 
iness and professional men in Chicago a 
short while ago it was found that 80 of 
them came from the country. If the 
city is going continually to draw iis best 
blood from the country let it help edu¬ 
cate the country. In 1910 40 per cent 
of all the people of Chicago were couutry- 
bred. 
Co-operation’.— One of the very best 
things at this meeting was the talk on 
co-operative marketing by Mr. Snpiro oi 
California. lie certainly knew what he 
was talking about. He is the man who 
did so much toward organizing the hur¬ 
ley tobacco growers in Kentucky and re¬ 
gions round about. This man also has 
been organizing the tobacco growers here 
in Connecticut. He went Into the prin¬ 
ciples of co-operative marketing, and i! 
does seem as though now they were get¬ 
ting this work ou a permanent basis. 
The dried fruit people of California used 
to get eight cents our of rhe consumer’s 
dollar; now they get from 42 to 48 cents. 
The little bi-monthly paper. Home Lunds, 
has the best and clearest statement of 
the whole co-operative movement iu this 
country that the Parson has ever* seen in 
its editions of August and October. 
A Modernized Mile Ham.— w e 
stopped at a place in Bucks County, Pn„ 
and visited at a most interesting house. 
It was rhe location of an old gristmill— 
a very beautiful location where people 
had often come to picnic. A rich man 
from Philadelphia had come out and put 
some $85,000 Into the place. While he 
made the house nil over and fixed it up 
in great shape, his main feature was the 
electricity he could generate with the 
water power, lie repaired the pit and 
the wheel and put in a generat.n—a very 
fine expensive one—and connected up the 
house. He certainly electrified the place 
all right, and left nil the things on the 
place when he sold out. There was an 
electric washing machine, of course, and 
an electric dishwasher, and a great big 
fine electric range for cooking and bak¬ 
ing. and besides this lie put in a fine- 
looking electric refrigerator, and not only 
that, hut he put in all the equipment to 
heat the whole house with electricity. 
Whether all this was ever used at all did 
not seem to be known, as the man's wife 
died about the time it was finished, and 
he sold out after a time. These people 
now living there did not use rhe stove or 
refrigerator or electric heat ns yet. \> hue 
tin* waterwheel was sai>l not to he in the 
best condition, even if it were there would 
seem to be room for doubt as to its ability 
to supply all this equipment with enough 
current. One thing was certainly great 
—you didn’t have to keep remembering 
to pull off the light when the water was 
turned on in the mill. On went every 
light in the house, from cellar to attic, 
till the water was turned off again at 
bedtime. Might just as well have them 
all on as one—price just the same. 
Arro Regulations. — It certainly 
would bother anyone traveling through 
the country to know what to do with his 
car in the city. Newark changed from 
having the cars head-in at an angle to 
parking parallel the day we were there. 
In Trenton it is called "ranking” a car, 
and there are a great many safety zones 
—whether safe for the cars or for pedes¬ 
trians is not (old. Iu this city they 
seemed quite inclined to tell you where 
you could pul your car instead of always 
telling you where you can’t put it. as 
most cities do, till you decide to push on 
again. We did not go by car. hut of 
course we were interested in all these 
things. In (Washington not only did 
every street seem to have a rule of its 
own. but some had different rules for 
each side of the same street. Many 
streets had cars parallel on one side and 
nosed iu at an angle on the other side; 
just as many trolley cars iu Washington 
have short cross scats oil one side and a 
long seat runniug clear through on the 
other, of course there are a great num¬ 
ber of time limits for parking, and how¬ 
ever can they enforce the law? It was 
said that if the police ever got all the 
people that over-exceeded the time limit 
ihoy could not possibly get in or near 
the police station. One friend where we 
visited said that at different times she 
had had seven tags put on her car to 
appear at the station. She had always 
torn them off and thrown tlietr. away, 
and had heard nothing more from them. 
In some cases, in front of big office build¬ 
ings. they have some oue at the window 
keeping a weather eye out. and if they 
see a policeman come along and take 
down the numbers and the time of day 
as soon as lie is passed they all rush out 
and move their cars up and down a bit 
or across the street, and when the officer 
comes along again the cars are gone. 
(some Lfck.—T hey told about a fel¬ 
low down in Maryland who certainly did 
have some piece of luck. lie started out 
for Fredericksburg and ran into a garage 
to have her fixed up a hit. On finding 
that it would take longer than he ex¬ 
pected (whenever didn’t it?) a friend who 
also happened to he in rhe garage offered 
to let him take his car for the trip, and 
by the time lie was back he could get iiis 
own car. No sooner started than, being 
in a hurry, he passed a man on ihc wrong 
side. The party proved to be an officer, 
and lie was haled to court. For this of¬ 
fense lie was lined $10, "By the way, 
you have your license?" said the judge. 
"Of course, of course.” and put his hand 
into his pocket. But it was not there; 
it was a different coat. So that was $10 
more, "of course that's your own car?” 
said the judge. “Well, no. it wasn't, hut 
it was all right; his friend let him lake 
it." "Have you a written permission to 
drive it?" "Why. of course not; his 
friend lei hitu take it." So that was $10 
more. “By the way." said the judge, 
"this is getting more and more interest¬ 
ing. Wo will look up and see if the 
markers are the right ones for that car." 
They looked it up, and behold, they were 
not ! His friend had put on the markers 
from another car. The toial fines and 
costs amounted to $00. and he had to 
pay it. 
Ford Brakes. —-Whoever knew a Ford 
on which the brakes were any good? 
They told about a man down in Jersey 
who had so much trouble with his Ford 
brakes that at last he decided to go with¬ 
out. He had a smallish log hitched to 
the car with a rope. This he carried 
along on the mudguards when on the level 
or uphill, and when he came to a steep 
down hill he just pushed it off and let it 
drag behind, 
Went Slow Enough. —Another story 
was told about a little town down in 
North Carolina. The Parson does not 
vouch for its truth, but the story was 
good. This town set a trap for tourists, 
and was catching them right and left for 
speeding when it happened a long pro¬ 
cession of autos came along escorting Ty 
Cobb through that vicinity, the gentleman 
in question being in the front car. When 
they got to the first edge of the borough 
alFof the men got out of Ty's car and 
pushed it on foot the whole length of 
the town. Tv walking in front. D cre¬ 
ated no little excitement and a mighty 
lot of chagrin for that town. There have 
been no more traps set since. While 
speaking of stories, (he Parson is going 
to tell one more. He is an Episcopalian 
himself—and tries to be a good one—hut 
he could appreciate this story. A man 
said hr used to go to church, hut lie had 
stopped. “And what church did you go 
to?*' was asked. “1 went to the Episco¬ 
pal church, hut I have to give it up. D 
took too long to read the minutes of the 
previous meeting." 
Home by Boat. —We stayed a full 
week in Washington, and from there 
went to Hampton and took ill the big 
aviation grounds there. Here we picked 
roses iu full bloom on December 0. We 
went to Newport News and took boat to 
Norfolk, and from there in another boat 
to New York, The sea was calm and 
wc had a nice trip till we approached 
liie harbor, when it began to snow. By 
the time we got here in Connecticut it was 
Certainly cold enough. How little time 
it takes to go from roses to bitter cold 
and snow ! 
Camp Grounds. —Wc took especial no¬ 
tice of camp grounds on the way. as 
some time we may all take a trip with a 
oar down that way. Washington has a 
good place down by the Potomac on the 
speedway, but it looks very Lot—not a 
bit of shade anywhere. Richmond has 
a fine place to camp, with an abundance 
of shade and a house with washtubs and 
other conveniences for doing washings. 
There did not seem to he any store near¬ 
by at which you could buy things, There 
was a regular auto house there built over 
a speed-wagon chassis. II was the com 
pletest outfit you could imagine. It 
seemed to have every conceivable conven¬ 
ience. The man driving the car. sitting 
at the wheel in a big easy armchair, with 
a feather pillow at his hack. One side 
nf this body opened up. and there were 
shelves like a regular store. These were 
filled with things to sell, mostly novelties 
for Christmas trade. Thus the party in 
the car expect to pay their way all 
through the South, and eventually to 
California and back again to New York. 
Perhaps some.who read this will see the 
outfit. The Parson would he glad to 
hear how Ihese people get along The 
sides of (he huge body were covered with 
aluminum sheeting. He offered to make 
the Parson a similar body for only 
$4.0(H)! , _ 
Home Again.—A nd when we reached 
This young man may he said to he a genuine R. N.-Y. product, lie is Eugene Assip. 
and he is 14 months old. His mother was a trusted employe of Tuts R. N.-Y., and 
"Gene” has evidently inherited her sunny disposition and her ability to make friends. 
What an agent for the paper he will make some do \ ! He is a tine advertisement 
now. He is sitting in tin* backyard garden, in New Jersey, where they raise flags 
and flowers. We hope that some day lie will own 1.000 acres—and always salute the flag. 
home, quite late at night, every oue was 
up—waiting Shelley came in town and 
met us with the Ford, and we certainly 
had a real reception—so many things to 
talk about. Everything >ecmed to be in 
flue shape, and (here had been no trouble 
at all while we were gone. Flossie had 
never missed having kindlings ready and 
had got up every morning and built the 
kitchen fire. George's barn was so clean 
and picked up lhat you hardly dared to 
go into it. He had whitewashed the 
stable iu great shape, and it was a big 
job. too. 8belley had looked after the 
wood. They all had money left out of 
what we had given them when we went 
away. George had sold the geese down 
to four, as he had been told, but he could 
only get 25 cent a pound, alive, which 
was really pretty cheap. They were not 
very fat. and probably ought to have 
been fed tip on a mash for a few weeks. 
We brought home a few things to the chil¬ 
dren. Sister had a handkerchief box 
with inelosures. To both George and 
Flossie rhe Parson brought little 
wrenches to carry iu their pockets for 
the hikes. lie got them in Richmond. 
To Shelley we brought a music case to 
carry the orchestra music in. For Christ¬ 
mas the Parson has bought Shelley one 
of these nice nickel plated, thin, light. 
5-iuch slip-joint pliers. They are so 
handy around a car. We may get Ta a 
tricycle if not too expensive; he would 
enjoy it so much. Shelley has been off 
in the woods today after greens, and be¬ 
fore we realize it the Christmas season 
is upon us. 
No Roost.—“And there was no room 
for Him in the inn.” The Christ-child 
was rejected iu the house of Ilis friends. 
His own tribe would not have Him. Is 
there any room for Him in our lives? 
For He is always coming and standing 
without the door. When sorrow comes 
lie comes with it. to help us hear it as 
quietly and unassumingly as lie came on 
that. Christinas night so long ago. His 
joy is oor lot, and He comes with that 
also to help us not to let it turn our 
heads and mu away with us, but 8) 
purify it and sanctify it. Some people 
seem to feel that the Christ is gone uw.r. 
from His people, ami they are looking 
forward and perhaps dreading His com¬ 
ing. But the Parson takes ir that the 
Christ enters our lives as a "Presence" 
wanting to be always with us. The 
church—the great company of follow¬ 
ers—is not as a "widow." hut as He 
Himself said, "a bride.” If we make 
"room" to take Him in. He abides as a 
perpetual “Presence," a perpetual Grace 
and Blessing. 
Though Unseen. —Some one has sail 
that Englishmen and Americans cannot 
enjoy themselves in the actual presence 
of suffering. This is worth some¬ 
thing. but Christmas calls us this 
year especially to help the suffering we 
cannot see % At the table on the boar 
coming to New York there sat an elderly 
couple with a young girl about 10 years 
old. What a sort of far-away, wistful 
look she had. Yet she was a fine girl, 
and must have been a wonderfully pretty 
baby with those.big blue eyes. We fell 
to talking with the old folks. The girl’s 
father and mother had starved to death 
in Europe! Our little Ta sat right across 
from her. What if he had to lie left thar 
way? li quite broke the Parson up as 
he thought about it. Y'es, we must re¬ 
member those we cannot see this Christ¬ 
mas. 
Many Do Remember. —And many 
there are lhat do remember. Today the 
Parson got a check in the mail for $25 
such a help in his Christmas work, an i 
also two boxes came by express from a 
church where he had spoken, and yester¬ 
day another box of tilings came by post, 
and tills afternoon IT men arrived here, 
representing a Bible call in a town 40 
miles away, bringing such a lot of cloth¬ 
ing and other things to take down coun¬ 
try. It promises to be the happiest 
Christmas the Parson has ever had iu 
his work. 
Apples for Poultry 
Like many other farmers in my com¬ 
munity, T have more apple? than I know 
what to do with, and yet not enough to 
ship to the city. I have been advised by 
some people to feed the chickens with 
them, and have been cautioned against it 
by olliers. N. P. 
A fair quantity of apples will not hurt 
the hens. We do not advise feeding them 
as freely as you would cabbage or beets, 
for the apple is acid, and might injure 
some of the birds. A fair quantity, how¬ 
ever, not keeping them before the birds 
all the time, will do no harm. Apples 
may also be fed to cows, taking the place 
of silage. We should begin with a small 
quantity, say half a peck, increasing the 
quautity as the cows become accustomed 
to them. Of course when too many ap¬ 
ples are fed there will surely be trouble 
with cows, but if you begin in a small 
wa.v and gradually increase the amount 
you will find the apples help. If you do 
not have apples enough of your own ami 
the neighbors all have a few. why can 
you not combine and make up a carload 
or part of a carload of good fruit and 
ship to one of the large markets? A 
combination shipment of that kind might 
lie profitable. 
