The Challenge of the Country: A Study of Country Life Opportunity

10. – How do you estimate the chance a trained country lawyer has to-day for Christian influence and service?

11. – Among the various professions connected with modern agriculture, which offers the best opportunity for the investment of a life in worth-while service?

12. – What do you think of the County Work secretaryship as a chance for real rural leadership and community building?

13. – Compare the proportion of women teachers in the United States and in the rest of the world. What does this indicate?

14. – Discuss the opportunities in the country for trained nurses and physicians.

15. – What is the modern opportunity for women in rural religious leadership, and what sort of a woman could succeed as a country pastor?

16. – What do you think of the opening for village librarians and “neighborhood house” workers?

17. – In what details do country homes need expert leadership in household economics and domestic science?

18. – Compare the demonstration centers of rural culture which you have known with the illustration described in this chapter.

19. – What do you think of the work of the County Work secretary of the Young Women’s Christian Association?

20. – What other opportunities for service in rural communities come to college women in country homes?

APPENDIXA Classified BibliographySuggested collateral readings for further study in connection with the topics treated in each chapter of this bookI. The Rural ProblemIts Development and Present Urgency

Bailey, L. H., pp. 31-43 in “The Country Life Movement.”

Butterfield, K. L., “The Rural Problem,” chapter 1 in “The Country Church and the Rural Problem.”

Butterfield, K. L., “Problems of Progress,” chapter 2 in “Chapters in Rural Progress.”

Anderson, W. L., “The Rural Partnership with Cities,” chapter 2, in “The Country Town.”

Anderson, W. L., “The Extent of Rural Depletion,” chapter 3, in same.

Anderson, W. L., “Local Degeneracy,” chapter 5, in same.

Roads, Charles, “Rural Christendom,” chapters 3, 4 and 5.

Gillette, J. M., “Conditions and Needs of Country Life,” pp. 3-11 in “Country Life.”46

Hartman, E. T., “Village Problems and Characteristics,” pp. 234-243 in same.[46]

Hibbard, B. H., “Farm Tenancy in the United States,” pp. 29-39 in same.[46]

Cance, A. E., “Immigrant Rural Communities,” pp. 69-80 in same.[46]

Plunkett, Sir Horace, “The Rural Life Problem in the United States.” chapters 3-4.

II. Country Life OptimismRural Resources and the Country Life Movement

Bailey, L. H., “Why Boys Leave the Farm” and “Why Persons Take to Farming,” pp. 89-136 in “The Training of Farmers.”

Bailey, L. H., “Country and City,” chapter 2 in “The Outlook to Nature.”

Butterfield, K. L., “The Solution of the Rural Problem,” chapter 2 in “The Country Church and the Rural Problem.”

Anderson, W. L., chapters 4, 6, 8, 11 and 12, in “The Country Town.”

Carver, T. N., “Shall Rural People Set Their Own Standards?” pp. 370-4 in “Principles of Rural Economics.”

Roads, Charles, “Present Relations of City and Country” and “A Great Future for Rural Districts,” chapters 2 and 7 in “Rural Christendom.”

Ogden, H., “Vital Statistics of Rural Life,” chapter 1 in “Rural Hygiene.”

Plunkett, Sir H., chapter 7 in “The Rural Life Problem of the United States.”

Roosevelt, T., “Rural Life,” in “The Outlook” for Aug. 27, 1910.

True, A. C., “The U. S. Dept. of Agriculture,” pp. 100-109 in “Country Life.”

Bailey, L. H., “The College of Agriculture and the State,” pp. 219-263 in “The Training of Farmers.”

Powell, E. P., “How to Live in the Country.”

Washington, B. T., “How Denmark Has Taught Itself Prosperity and Happiness,” in “The World’s Work” for June, 1911.

III. The New Rural CivilizationFactors That are Making a New World in the Country

Kern, O. J., “The New Country Life,” chapter 1 in “Among Country Schools.”

Roads, Charles, “A Great Future for Country Districts,” chapter 7, in “Rural Christendom.”

Anderson, W. L., “New Factors,” chapter 13 in “The Country Town.”

Carver, T. N., “The Factors of Agricultural Production,” chapter 3 in “Principles of Rural Economics,” (also important paragraphs in chapter 2).

Langford, W., “What the Motor Vehicle is Doing for the Farmer,” in “Scientific American,” for Jan. 15, 1910.

Van Norman, H. E., “Rural Conveniences,” pp. 163-7 in Mar. 1912 issue of the “Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.”

Dixon, S. G., “The Rural Home,” pp. 168-174 in same.

Parker, Harold, “The Good Roads Movement,” pp. 51-7 in same.

Hamilton, John, “Influence Exerted by Agricultural Fairs,” pp. 200-10 in same.

Bailey, L. H., “Cyclopedia of American Agriculture,” many fine articles in Volume IV on social conditions.

IV. Triumphs of Scientific AgricultureThe Oldest of the Arts Becomes a New Profession

Carver, T. N., “Historical Sketch of Modern Agriculture,” chapter 2 in “Principles of Rural Economics.”

Carver, T. N., “The Factors of Agricultural Production,” chapter 3 in the same.

Butterfield, K. L., “The New Farmer,” chapter 4 in “Chapters in Rural Progress.”

Bailey, L. H., “The Agricultural Shift,” chapter 1 in “The State and the Farmer.”

Davenport, Eugene, “Scientific Farming,” pp. 45-50 in “Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,” March, 1912.

Hays, W. M., “Farm Development,” especially “Irrigation,” chapter 10.

Moorehead, F. G., “Efficiency on the Farm,” in “Technical World,” Aug., 1911.

Plunkett, Sir Horace, chapter 6 in “The Rural Life Problem of the United States.”

V. Rural Opportunities for Social ReconstructionCountry Life Deficiencies, and the New Cooperation

Bailey, L. H., “Community Life in the Open Country,” pp. 97-133 in “The Country Life Movement.”

Bailey, L. H., “Redirecting of Rural Institutions,” pp. 111-135 in “The State and the Farmer.”

Carver, T. N., “Principles of Rural Economics,” chapter 6 on “Problems of Rural Social Life,” and part of chapter 4.

Wilson, W. H., “Rural Decay and Repair” and “Cooperation and Federation,” also “Rural Morality and Recreation,” chapters 1, 4 and 5 in “The Church in the Open Country.”

Butterfield, K. L., “Federation for Rural Progress,” chapter 17 in “Chapters in Rural Progress,” also chapter 10 in same, on “The Grange.”

Eyerly, E. R., “Cooperative Movements Among Farmers,” pp. 58-68, in March 1912 issue of “The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science.”

Scudder, M. T., “Rural Recreation a Socializing Factor,” pp. 175-190 in the same.

Johnson, G. E., “Education by Plays and Games,” especially chapters 1 and 2.

Stern, R. B., “Neighborhood Entertainments.”

Bancroft, “Games for the Playground, Home, School and Gymnasium.”

Heatherington, C. W., “Play for the Country Boy,” in “Rural Manhood” for May, 1911.

VI. Education for Country LifeHow Efficient Rural Citizenship is Developed

Foght, H. W., “The American Rural School,” entire; especially chapter 15 on “Consolidation of Schools.”

Kern, O. J., “The Rights of the Country Child,” chapter 2 in “Among Country Schools.”

Butterfield, K. L., “The Rural School and the Community,” chapter 9 in “Chapters in Rural Progress.”

Zellar, J. W., “Education in the Country for the Country,” in the 1910 Report of the National Education Association.

Bailey, L. H., “The School of the Future,” chapter 3 in “The Outlook to Nature”; also “The Nature Study Idea.”

Bailey, L. H., “The Developing of Applicable Education,” pp. 135-172 in “The State and the Farmer.”

Wilson, W. H., “Schools for Country Life,” chapter 3 in “Church in the Open Country.”

Foght, H. W., “The Library and Rural Communities,” chapter 13, in “The American Rural School.”

Miller, L. K., “Children’s Gardens.”

“Rural Manhood,” rural education number, Sept., 1912.

Gold, G. D., “The Psychology of the Country Boy,” in “Rural Manhood” for April, 1911, and April, 1912.

VII. Rural Christian ForcesThe Community-Serving Church and Its Allies

Anderson, W. L., “The Preservation of the Church” and “The Church as a Social Center,” chapters 16 and 17 in “The Country Town.”

Butterfield, K. L., “The Task of the Country Church” and “Difficulties and Suggestions,” chapters 3 and 4 in “The Country Church and the Rural Problem.”

Fiske, G. W., “The Function of the Country Church,” chapter 5 in “The Rural Church and Community Betterment.”

Wilson, W. H., “Church and Community,” chapter 2 in “The Church in the Open Country.”

Wells, G. F., “The Rural Church,” pp. 131-9 in March, 1912, “Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science.”

Wells, G. F., “The Country Church and Social Service,” in Nov. 1910 issue of “The Gospel of the Kingdom.”

Roads, Charles, “Rural Christendom.”

Ashenhurst, J. O., “The Day of the Country Church.”

Beard, A. F., “The Story of John Frederick Oberlin.”

Tipple, E. S., “Some Famous Country Parishes.”

Roberts, A. E. and Israel, Henry, “The Rural Work of the Y. M. C. A.,” pp. 140-8 in March, 1912, “Annals of American Academy of Political and Social Science.”

VIII. Country Life LeadershipThe Challenge to College Men and Women

Butterfield, K. L., “The Call of the Country Parish,” chapter 5 in “The Country Church and the Rural Problem.”

Foght, H. W., “The Rural School Teacher,” pp. 69-115 in “The American Rural School.”

Educational Review, October issue 1910, on “Ways in Which the Higher Institutions May Serve Rural Communities.”

Roberts, A. E., “Leadership,” pp. 133-143 in “The Country Church and Rural Welfare.”

Bailey, L. H., “Woman’s Contribution to the Country Life Movement,” pp. 85-96 in “The Country Life Movement.”

Butterfield, K. L., “Opportunities for Farm Women,” chapter 11 in “Chapters in Rural Progress.”

Woolley, M. E., “The College Woman as a Home Maker,” article in “The Ladies’ Home Journal,” Oct. 1, 1910.

Bailey, Butterfield, et al., “Report of the Country Life Commission.”

Israel, Henry, “The Basis of Appeal for County Work,” in “Rural Manhood” for January, 1912.

Fiske, G. W., “Religious Teaching in the Country,” in “Rural Manhood” for March, 1911.

Pontius, J. W., “College Men and Rural Evangelism,” in “Rural Manhood” for February, 1912.

1

This loss however was in the early half of the decade, as the state census shows.

2

For the year ending March 31, 1910, 103,798 immigrants from the United States settled in western Canada, while only 59,790 came from Great Britain and Ireland. The wealth of the immigrants settling in western Canada during the five years previous to that date was estimated as follows. British, cash, $37,546,000; effects, $18,773,000. From United States, cash, $157,260,000; effects, $110,982,000. —The Toronto Globe, July 27, 1912.

3

“The Country Town,” p. 76.

4

Principles of Sociology, Giddings, p. 348.

5

“The Church in the Open Country,” p. 9.

6

The Survey, March 2, 1912. “The Nams; the Feeble-minded as Country Dwellers.” Charles B. Davenport. Ph.D.

7

8

The writer wishes to make it quite clear that he is thinking, in this discussion, merely of the boys and girls who ought to stay on the farm. Unquestionably many of them must and should go to the city. This book pleads merely for a fair share of the farm boys and girls to stay in the country, – those best fitted to maintain country life and rural institutions. Country life must be made so attractive and so worth-while that it will be to the advantage of more of the finest young people to invest their lives there. Every effort should be made to prevent a boy’s going from the farm to the city, provided he is likely to make only a meager success in the city or possibly a failure.

9

Yet in a class of 115 college men at the Lake Geneva Student conference in June, 1912, a surprising number stated that they had suffered a similar experience as boys at home, though usually at times when the farm work was particularly pressing. One claimed that he had driven a riding cultivator by moonlight at 2 A. M.

10

Quoted by M. Jules Meline (Premier of France) in “The Return to the Land.”

11

“The Rural Life Problem of the United States,” p. 47.

12

By Edwin Osgood Grover, the son of a country minister.

13

Some allowance should be made for the possibility of students enrolling from a small city who actually live on a suburban farm.

14

“The Country Town,” p. 185.

15

“Rural Christendom.” Roads. p. 84.

16

H. W. Quaintance. in Cyc. of Am. Agric. IV; p. 109.

17

Publication of the Amer. Econ. Assn. V; pp. 817-821.

18

The financial results of these improvements in farm machinery will not at all surprise us. It follows as a matter of course that machinery has greatly reduced the cost of production. A leading agricultural engineer at Washington is authority for this comparison. In 1830 a bushel of wheat represented over three hours of labor; while in 1896 only ten minutes; making a saving in the labor cost of producing wheat equal to the difference between 17 3-4 and 33 1-2 cents. In 1850 it required 4 1-2 hours labor to produce a bushel of corn; while in 1894 it was reduced to 41 minutes. Likewise the labor represented in a ton of baled hay has been reduced from 35 1-2 hours in 1860 to 11 1-2 in 1894; reducing the labor cost of a ton of hay from $3 to $1.29.

19

George Manikowske, Mooreton, N. D.

20

See Genesis 3:17-19.

21

Report of the U. S. Sec. of Agric. for 1910. p. 11.

22

“Brains that Make Billions.” W. M. Hays, in Saturday Evening Post, Aug. 29, 1908.

23

However, let us not jump to the conclusion that general farming to-day is highly profitable. Inflation of farm values in many sections has resulted in serious over-capitalization. The general farmers making big dividends bought their farms some years ago, or inherited them.

24

Cyc. of Am. Agri., Vol. IV.

25

Doubtless this single fact would account for the loss in population in many townships. There are just as many families as ever but a lower birthrate.

26

“The Church of the Open Country,” p. 79.

27

Rural Manhood, Vol. I, p. 22.

28

“Rural Recreation, a Socializing Factor.” Annals of the Am. Acad. of Pol. and Soc. Sci., March, 1912; p. 189.

29

“Rural Recreation, a Socializing Factor,” p. 190.

30

Annals of the Am. Acad. of Pol. and Soc. Sci., March, 1912, p. 61.

31

Of course country children should also be taught much about city life; city children should be taught about country life, and in the main the standard curriculum will be the same. The point to be made here is the exceedingly important one that rural schools must be made to fit the boys and girls for happy and efficient life in rural communities. This is the specific task of the country school.

32

“The American Rural School,” p. 323.

33

“The Country Town,” p. 299.

34

In several of the stronger denominations, and, in general, east of the Allegheny Mountains, the proportion is much higher.

35

Yet an earnest young college student in an Indiana college asked my advice recently on this significant personal problem. He is anxious to consecrate his life to the ministry of the country church, but his particular sect does not believe it right to pay salaries to their ministers; so he asked advice as to whether he should earn his living by farming or school teaching, – while giving his services as pastor and preacher! Quite possibly in such a church a salary of $1000 might actually handicap a pastor’s influence; but mainly with the conservative older people.

36

For an authoritative statement of the County Work program and principles written by International Secretaries Roberts and Israel, see “Annals of the Amer. Acad. of Polit. and Soc. Sci.” for March, 1912, pp. 140-8.

37

“The Country Church and the Rural Problem,” p. 146.

38

“The Annals of the Am. Acad. of Pol. and Soc. Sci.,” March, 1912, p. 177.

39

“Country Life,” p. 155.

40

“The Country Church and the Rural Problem,” p. 131.

41

Forty-six out of 166 medical colleges have been closed in very recent years and the entrance requirements of many others raised, with a strong tendency to make a college course prerequisite.

42

Also a few of the third generation. For eighty years Oberlin has offered women, equally with men, its privileges of higher education; and in 1908 conferred the honorary degree of doctor of divinity upon a distinguished woman-minister, an alumna both in arts and theology a half century before.

43

Disciples, Congregational, Methodist Episcopal, Unitarian, Baptist, Universalist, Free Baptist, Free Methodist, Evangelical Association, Christian Brethren, Methodist Protestant, Christian, Evangelical Lutheran, Seventh Day Baptist, Wesleyan Methodist, Dunkard, United Brethren, Methodist Episcopal South, Presbyterian and African Methodist Episcopal.

44

Ninety-five and two-tenths per cent. of the 300,000 rural homes in Ohio last year had no bathtub.

45

From “The Religion Worth Having,” Thomas Nixon Carver, p. 137.

46

Issue of the “Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science,” March, 1912.