The editor of this <*rpurtnent desires to keep in touch
with
the
active member« of Civic und Local Improvement Aeeociationa,
•nd every one interested in the improvement and the protection of rural
village life.
What ie being done in your town to encourage hoiu II industries and
for home employment ? What is doing ulong the line of street improve
ment and the beautifying of private lawns and public parks?
Are your local merchants receiving the support of the local trade?
Kxperience, plana and suggestions will be welcomed by the editor of
this department and eo far as possible given place in these columns.
THE INDEPENDENT TOWN.
THE A GR/CUL TUR A L HIGHSCHOOL
Make Each Rural Center Dependent Successful Examples Described by
Crosby of Department of Agricul
Upon itself and its Own Resources.
ture of Local improvement
There has lately developed a strong
Through Rural Education
sentiment looking to the improvement
It had been organized only three or
four weeks, and yet the interest man
ifested and the readiness with which
the boys and girls described the beef
type, the dairy type, and various
breeds of cattle, the mut on and wool
types of sheep, the principal breeds of
draft horses, and some of the Stand
ard-bred roadsters and trotters, were
indeed surprising. At the close of the
recitation the class was taken to a
barn in the village W ere vert. flue
roadsters were owned. The owner was
not at home, but the teacher had
standing permission to take t. horses
from the barn in order that the class
might examine them. A fine Ilamble-
tonian mare was led into the yard and
examined critically by the pupils and
criticised by them, the different points
being brought out by skillful question
ing on the part of the teac- .-.
Fom this place the class went to a
livery barn where a spl« tdid black
Percheron stallion was stabled for the
day. A member of the class had dis
covered the horse as he was >elng
driven in from another town 14 miles
away, and following the driver to the
barn had got permission for the class
to examine him. When the livery
barn was reached the driver brought
ljls stallion out into the street, put
him through his paces, and helped the
teacher In calling attention to his good
points and the contrasts between t e
draft type and the roadster type of
horses, and allowed us to take several
photographs. It was an instructive
lesson not only for the members
of the agricultural class, but for
the score or more of farmers
and townsmen who collected around
the livery stable. In much the
same way the local butcher Is the ln-
structor in the high school, Tiie class
studying the beef type of cattle, or
the mutton sheep, or the different
classes of swine Is taken to the butch
er shop and given a dc-ionstratlon
lesson on cuts and their relative Val
ues, which of the breeds are apt to
produce the better cuts, which the
better quality, ant so on.
Thus this little village high school,
though it pays only $2,230 a year in
of the home town—making each
In the new Year Book of the De
community, as much as possible, partment of Agriculture, just issued,
dependent upon itself and its own is a description by D. J. Crosby, of the
resources and those of its sur office of Experiment Stations, which
rounding country, and independ shows, in a number of Instances, what
ent of the great centres which are splendid results are being attained
constantly striving to secure a portion through the introduction of common
of the local wealth. Tiffs local self- sense agricultural studies in some of
sufficiency may be fostered by an in the country village schools, aud how
dividual and co-operative determi they directly affect and benefit their
nation to bring the town up to its home towns. There Is what appears
highest possible plane of comfort, gen to be, an almost ideal Pennsylvania
eral usefulness and beauty to its resi village high school, which the writer
dents. This may be described as a visited. He describes what he saw:
movement for civic improvement.
In Erie County, Pa., surrounded by
The accumulation of considerable a good general farming and dairy
wealth in many American villages and country, is the village of Waterford,
towns, during tbe last ten or twenty on tlie outskirts of which is the site of
years, the development of popular Fort le Boeuf, of French and India
education and tlie Increase of leisure, war fame. At Waterford tlie first
has given an opportunity for the per school in Erie County was establish. 1
formance of public duties, such as in 1800, and here as far back as 1822
had not seemed to exist to the young was erected a stone academy build
man or woman of the former gener ing, which is used to-day as the main
ation. who, in the effort to secure a part of the lilgh-scliool building. The
livelihood and establish a home had township of Waterford has a popula
given little thought to the duties of tion of 1.4C4) and about one half re
citizenship and social responsibilities. side In the borough of Waterf -d. T?»
It Is only within a comparatively borough has its own elementary
few years that, “nature study” lias school, but the high school is support
entered into any of the public-school ed and controlled jointly by the bor
work, or even manual training, while ough and township.
This high school, with its lbj-ee
there are many who yet think that
such institutions as gymnasiums, teachers and three courses of study
baths, playgrounds, nnd even vacation (language, scientific, and agricultural),
schools nnd free lectures are unneces lias an enrollment of 80 pupils, and 35
of these are in the agricultural course.
sary time-consumers for the young.
course includes agriculture, five
Nevertheless tlie general movement This
a week for four years. The
for a better education along rural lines hours
work of tlie first year Is devoted to a
nnd for backyard nnd street improve study
of plant life—germination, plant
ment. end the general betterment of
plant food, reproduction, prop
the village and town is rapidly in growth,
agation, transplanting, pruning, and
cronsing.
use of plants; the second year to a
As an instance of tiffs, even in such study of field, orchard, and garden
a large city ns St. Louis, girls and crops; the third year to domestic ani
boys are given practical Instruction In mals, dairying, and soil physics, a- I
gardening, through tlie Junior School tlie fourth year to tlie chemistry of
of Horticulture of tlie Missouri oils and of plant and animal life.
Botnnfcnl Gardens. The children nre Text books are used in the class
permitted to sell their own products- rooms; a small library of agricultural
n decided stimulus to tlieir e-orts reference books, reports and bulletins
—nnd In tills way many of them earn of tiffs Department and experiment
considerable pocket money for vncntlon stations, and agricultural papers con
time. This school has been In oper tributed by the publishers is in almost
ation for a number of years nnd Is of constant use, and lectures on agricul
great value to the citizens ns well ns tural subjects are given before tlie
to the children of the city, the latter class and before tlie whole school by
of whom would otherwise know practi the Instructor in agriculture, who is
cally nothing of nature ns country an agricultural college graduate. But
children know It.
tlie feature of instruction which
Even in Texas the school garden chiefly distinguishes this agricultural WATERFORD HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
and town Improvement idea lins made course from the ordinary high school
headway, although there has been course Is the prominence given to tlie salaries and only $370 for other ex
greater difficulty in obtaining popular laboratory work and tlie outdoor prac- penses, has a faculty made up of nu
approval and support, possibly, than In tieum. For the laboratory work there merous specialists and an equipment
any other section of tlie country, owing is no elaborate apparatus. The pupils in illustrative material such as few
to tlie fact, perhaps, that tlie Lone make much of their own apparatus, technical high schools could afford.
Star State has vast areas of unoc furnish their own reagent bottles, and, And the pupils are being trained In
cupied land, and to the fact that the moreover use them. In the plant-life the “elements of failure and success,"
influential majority lias been but a course the pupils study not elaborate not only on “all the farms of the
abort time removed from the cattle and carefully prepared drawings, but neighborhood," but in the village
shops and markets. This Is training
for efficiency. It is training for cul
ture. for breadth of view, and for
sympathy with all that goes to make
up the life of tlie community.
PERNICIO US PHIL OSOPH Y OF JOHN
J- INGALLS’ FAMOUS POEM.-
HOW HOME OPPORTUNI
TIES HAVE DEEN
OVERLOOKED.
Learn by Doing. Work Together.
Give every Man a Chanoe.
the slogan op the HOMECROFTERS IS
“Icara by Doing-Work Together—Give Every Mun a Chance."
Solution of (he Labor Question to be <• Every Child in u Gurden-Every Mother in u Homecroft, und Indi.
Found in the Development ot Home
viduul, Industrial Independence Tor E very Worker in u
Industries.
Many a beautiful thing is pernicious
Home of bis Own on the Lund.”
in its effect There is no telling how
many men have given up a good fight
ing chance and have literally laid
down in harness because they had ab
sorbed from John J. Ingalls’ poem
OPPORTUNITY the idea that they
had had their chance, and that for
them at least opportunity would not
return. Here is the poem:
“Master of human destinies am I,
Fame, love and fortune on my foot
steps wait.
Cities and fields I w’alk. I penetrate
Deserts and seas remote. And pass
ing by
Hovel and mart and palace, soon or
late
I knock unbidden once at every
gate.
If sleeping wake; if feasting rise
before
I turn away; ft is the hour of fate.
And those who follow me reach every
state
Mortals desire and conquer every
every foe
Save death; but those who doubt or
hesitate.
Condemned to failure, penury and
woe,
Seek me in vain, and uselessly lm
plore;
I answer not, and I return no more.”
A beautiful poem—yes, but pernic
ious as is the theory’ of fate or the
twin tenet of predestination. If oppor
tunity comes but once, where Is the
use of striving
id
President James of the University
of Illinois during the recent commence-
“ A little croft we owned a plot of corn,
A garden stored with peas and mint and thyma.
And flowers for posies, oft on Sunday morn,
tP'.ucked while the church bolls rang their oarllost chimes."
— wurdmora.
"The Citizen standing In the door«ay of his homo-contented on hl* threshold, his famHy
gathered about his hearthstone, while the evening of a well spent day closes In scenes and
Sun’s that are dearest he »tall save the Republic when the drum-tap la futile and the
taXks are eatausted."-//mry H . brady.
1
EDUCATION
OPPORTUNITY
--------------- -
s
HOMECROFTS
COOPERATION
1
THE FIRST BOOK X, HOMECROFTERS
HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED AND AMONG ITS CONTENTS ARE
THE FOLLOWING ARTICLES OF ABSORBING INTEREST
The Brotherhood of Man
Charity that is Everlasting
The Secret of Nippon’s Power
Lesson of a Great Calamity
The Sign of a Thought
Copies of “THE FIRST
con be obtained by sendlnC
name and address (carefully
crofter* Gild of the Talisman,
BOOK OF THE HOMECROFTERS**
twelve two-cent stamps with your
and plainly written) to to The Horrte-
I 43 Main St., Watertown, Mass.
This book is the first of a Series operation the Platform of the Talls-
that will Chronicle the Progress of the man. The following
'
- is taken
-
there
from:
HOMECROFT MOVEMENT
and inform all who wish to co-operate EDUCATION, EMPLOYMENT AND
with it how they may do so through
HOMES ON THE LAND.
tlie formation of local Homecrofters’
* That children shall be taught
Circles, Clubs or Gilds to promote gardening
and homecraft in the public
Town and Village Betterment, stimu schools, and that Homecraft and
late home civic pride and loyalty to Garden Training Schools shall be
home Institutions, industries and trade, established by county,
municipal,
improve methods and facilities of edu state, and national
.”__ 2 _________
governments, _
cation in tbe local public schools, and where every boy
and every man out
create new opportunities “At Home" of work who wants employment where
that will go far to check the drift of he can gain that knowledge, can learn
trade and population to the cities.
liow to make a home and till the soil
The first Gild of the Homecrofter* mid get his living straight from ths
has been established at Watertown, ground, and where every boy would
Massachusetts. The Gildhall, Shops be taught tliat his first aim In life
should lie to get a home of Ids own
and Gardens are located at 143 Main on
the land.
Street, where tbe Garden School is
BUILD
IIOMECROFTS AS NATION
now fully organized and over one
AL SAFEGUARDS.
hundred children are at work in the
That the New Zealand system of
Gardens. Tlie departments for train
ing in Homecraft and Village Indus Land Taxation and Land Purchase
tries are being installed. The Weavers and Subdivision, and Advances to Set
tlers Act, shall be adopted in this
are already at work at the looms.
It is not designed to build here an country, to the end that land shall lie
isolated institution, but to make a subdivided into small holdings In the
model which can be duplicated in any hands of those who will till it for a
livelihood, and labor find occupation
town or village in the country.
the creation of homecrafts, which
There is New Hope and Inspiration in
will be perpetual safeguards against
for every Worker who wants a Home the
political evils and social discontent
of his own on the Land in the resulting
the overgrowth of
CREED AND PLATFORM OF THE cities and from
the sufferings of unem
JUDGING A IIAMBLETONIAN MARE HOMECROFTERS’ which is as fol ployed wage-earners.
lows:
PROTECTION FOR THE AMER
raent exercises took occasion to refer
“Peace has her victories no less re
ICAN HOMECROFT.
to the philosophy of Ingalls’ famous nowned than war.”
poem. “It is false aud misleading.”
That Rural Settlement shall be
EDUCATION
said Mr. Janies. “It is not a single op-
encouraged and the principle of Pro
CO-OPERATION
portunity which comes to a man, it is
tection for the American Wageworker
OPPORTUNITY
a train. It is a never-ending proces
and bls Home applied directly to the
HOMECROFTS
sion, some small, some large, growing
Home by the Exemption from Taxa
We
believe
that
the
Patriotic
Slogan
perhaps more small and more Insignifi
tion of ail Improvements upon, and
of
tlie
Whole
People
of
this
Nation
cant as the years flow on, but ever
also of all personal property, not ex
and always opportunities too numer should be “Every Child in a Garden— ceeding $2,500 in value, used on and
Every
Mother
in
a
Homecroft
—
and
In-
ous. too great, and too large for us to
in connection with, every Homecroft
dhidual Industrial Independence for or Rural Homestead of not more than
utilize fully.”
Every
Worker
in
a
Home
of
his
Own
Tills Is good, healthful optimism.
ten acres in extent, which the owner
There never was a time when opportu on the Land,” and that until he owns occupies as a permanent home and
such
a
Home,
the
concentrated
purpose
nities of all shapes, sizes and colors
cultivates with his own labor and so
Homecroft und Cruft. '
boblied up on every corner as they do and chief inspiration to labor In the life provides therefrom all or part of tbe
The “homecraft" Idea, referrod to by to-day And they are not confined to of every wage worker should be his support for a family.
George H. Maxwell in his address be any particular country or locality. determination to “Get an Acre and
ENLARGEMENT OF AREA AVAIL
fore tlie Biennial Convention of the They are waiting everywhere. Under Live on it.”
ABLE FOR HOMEMAKING.
We believe that the Slums and
General Federation of Women's Clubs, the rapidly changing Industrial and
. That the National Government,
is closely allied to the “home arts and economical conditions they are spring Tenements and Congested Centers of
crafts" propaganda, in which so many. ing up in odd and out-of-the-wav- population In the Cities are a savagely as part of a comprehensive nation
In and out of the federation, nre inter places. Old settlements—old villages, deteriorating social, moral and polit al policy of Internal Improvements
ested. Tlie homecrofter, owning his moss-grown and for years silent as ical influence, aud that a great public for river control and regulation,
home and a little patch of ground—an the cemetery that clings to their movement should be organized, and and for the enlargement to the
acre or two. more or less—is of all skirts, are finding new youth in the tlie whole power of the nation and utmost possible extent of the
persons the one most likely to lie inter revival of occupations and simple in the states exerted for the betterment area of the country available for agri
ested in home crafts—little lines of dustries which twenty years ago were of all the conditions of Rural Life, and culture and Homes on the Land, and
manufacture, which, added to the pro deemed impossible. The abandoned to create and upbuild Centers of So for tbe protection of those Homes from
duce of his ground, may afford a sup farms of New England—The farms cial and Civic Life in Country and either flood or drouth, shall build not
port to his family, either constantly or that were left tenantless because it Suburban Towns and Villages, where only levees and revetments where
as a substitute for wage-earning em was thought that the only opportun Trade aud Industry can be so firmly needed, and drainage works for the
ployment when some great shop or ities for success were to ie found In anchored that they cannot be drawn reclamation of swamp and overflowed
factory may be suspended. Aided, the West—are receiving new leases of into the Commercial Maelstrom that lands, but shall also preserve existing
is now steadily sucking Industry and forests, reforest denuded areas, plant
perhaps, by a little gas engine or elec life.
Humanity into the Vortex of tbe new forests, and build the great reser
|i
tric motor, he may have a choice of an
voirs and other engineering works
infinite variety of crafts, in which he TENDULUM IS SWINGING BACK. Great Cities.
For a full half century the American
and his family may profitably engage.
We believe that every Citizen in necessary to safeguard against over
Here Is a combination which seems to people have lieen money-mad. Every this Country has an Inherent and flow and save for beneficial use the
offer relief from the demoralizing and thing has been sacrificed to the one Fundamental Right to an Education flood waters that now run to waste.
devitalizing conditions of our present Idea of accumulation. The dollar sign which will train him to Earn a Liv
OPPORTUMITIES AT HOME-
factory system: also a mode of multi became the sole badge of honor, and a ing. and, if need be, to get his living
plying the number of those citizens, man's success was measured not by straight from Mother Earth; and that tendency to draw the manufacturing
lndeiwndeut of l>oth landlord and em what lie made of himself, not by what he has tlie same right to the Opportun interests Into the great transportation
ployer. who are the backbone of lie accomplished for his fellows or the ity to have the Work to Do which will centers, the tide has flowed strongly
r|--
American democracy. Give us the world at large, but by the size of bis afford him that living, aud to earn not toward tbe city and tbe small town
4
homecrofter and the craftsman in one! pile.
only a cow “ortable livelihood, but has had a hard struggle to retain its
This standard of success has warp enough more to enable him to be a own.
Keep Polities Oat.
ed the imagination of the whole peo Homecrofter and to have a Home of
In this respect, however, the pendu
Every public-minded citizen should ple. The merchant and professional his Own. with ground around it lum
Is swinging back also. The con
make it known that he is absolutely man bend every energy to the pil sufficient to yield him and his family ditions surrounding the workmen in
opistsed to „
_____ , .
_____ ______
partisan,
political
control ing up of gold bricks. And the farmer, a Living from the Land as the reward the cities, tbe lack of home life and
► 'S
in the management of public parks, not to be outdone, lies awake nights for his own labor.
the presence of accumulated vice, have
roadside improvement, playgrounds thinking how he may get more land,
We believe that the Public Domain demonstrated to the satisfaction of
and like town betterments. Nothing lie has now more than he can till is the most precious heritage of the every one that w^will never reach our
CLAS8 IN LIVE STOCK JUDGING CATTLE AND PLANT LIFB
can bo more detrimental to such de but the land lust has seized him and people, and the surest safeguard the highest industrial success until the
nt Waterfon!. l*n., High School.
velopment than the interference of home comforts and a quiet life are sold nation has against Social Unrest. Dis average workman Is placed where be
politics. Tarty responsibility, as a in the market in order that the line turbance or Upheaval, and that the can have fresh air, a family, and a
range business. However, the morel ilia plants themselves with reference remedy for municipal mismanagement fence may be removed
Cause of Humanity and the Preserva home for that family. The small town,
centralized portion of society has takeu| to tlieir life history ttnd economic us.-s has been prove-1 a "delusion and a _This has been the condition for tion
of Social Stability and of our Free everything else being equal, Is the
the matter up, and It is stated
' ' that
“■ *
For the outdoor practieum the snare." Such methods have raised to n'!,n5’ years, and It requires careful Institutions
demand that the absorp place for industries. A man with a
the most public-spirited citizens of j school Is unfortunate In having In portant places bigoted, incompetent <’l*<'rvatlon to detect any change. But
tion of the public lands into specula home, and who spends his evening*
the towns and cities, together with the neither land nor domestic animals nor llflfl
«nniotlnicbi dishonest
JiahAnoot mow
Ct inti Tina
__ •_______ .
and sometimes
men, who, V...
by fl a reaction
has cat-
set In. The —
pendulum
Is tive private ownership, without settle with his family beautifying that
progressive teachers have made m*h<s>l fowls, aud yet It has a wealth of illus reason of their weaknesses or mis swinging back. A growing sentiment
ment. be forthwith stopped; and that home, Is not only a better citizen, but
gardens and rural education a success trative material all around it Every
have disgraced what In favor of a moderate success, a qnlet the nation should create opportunities he is worth Infinitely more to his em
during the past two seasons aud have good farm within a radius of 3 or 4 management.
should
be
honorable
and
respected
life
and
home
surroundings
is
appar
aroused such enthusiasm among the miles, nearly every barn anti poultry positions. Our citizens should Insist ent. With this comes a desire to get for Homecrofters by building irriga ployer than his brother laborer who
pupils, that Wherever It has been tried, yard in the village, the butcher shops, alwolutely that no political consider back to original principles; to abandon tion and drainage works to reclaim has no Interest other than that he
the school garden has become a fixture. ami the farm Implement stores furnish atlons be allowed to Interfer with the cities and seek the healthful life land as fast as It Is needed to give finds with his saloon companions and
every man who wants a Home on the in ward politics.
costly illustrative material and extend park affairs, and should visit wltb of the farm and the village.
When the reformers have settled the
vastly the teaching force of the high marked censure and disapproval all The growth of our cities has been Land a chance to get It.
Ix't your clilid plant hl« own gar | school.
farmers and owners of city officials who prostitute their trusts abnormal—the direct resnlt of ab We believe that, as a Nation, we industrial labor questions they will not
den. gather bis own kurvest of frult good live The
should be less absorbed with Making be calling for less hours of work, but
stock either bring theb uni- for mere political gain.
and flowers. lenru throtigh hls own male to the
normal transportation conditions. “To Money, and should pay more heed to a distribution of tbe hours of work.
door of the school house
small exi>erivncv aomethlng of the I 1 to
him
that
hath
shall
be
given,
and
to
raising up and training Men who will Six hours in the factory or the mine
by the class In agricul
Influence of the snn. dew nnd raln. ture be or studied
him that hath not even that which he lie I.aw-Abiding Citizens; that the wel and the balance at home working on
Fresh Air Playgrounds.
allow the class to go to tbetr
and galn thereby a retm»te presrnti-' barns
hath
shall
be
taken
away."
has
been
American cities are fnr behind
fare of our Workers is of more con an acre of* ground may be made *
fields for this purpose. It
ment of the reclproenl energles of is said and
be a rare thing for a good European cities In making provision the working policy of modern com- sequence than the mere accumulation solution of the whole question between
na iure nnd a reverent feellng for the horse to to come
tneretal
transportation
companies.
for
public
parks,
especially
In
pro
of Wealth: and that Stability of Na labor and capital. Any man with •
to the village and get
dlvlne llfe nnd law expressed in away without being
viding for the instruction and amuse The small town has been sacrificed to tional Character and of Social and home and one acre of tbe earth s sur
examined
bv
tlie
nature. Tlie ctiild ls a plant, a vege-
school class |n animal husbandry ment of children in them. In modern the dty This was the natural result Business Conditions Is of greater im face that he can call his own, ana
fable, and must live out of dtstrs. or high
Tn centers where portance to the people of this country with employment at fair wages during
The
writer was fortunate In being municipal equipment in Europe. much of competition
nearly so. a» conditlons will permlt"! the guest
of the school one dav last provision is made for the Instruction nntnerons railroads meet, low rail's as a whole than any other one ques five or six hours of the day. need ney _
Froebe) reallzed tbat henlth was the October
In having an opportunity and amusement of children, and in are given to both tbe In-going and out tion that Is now before them: and we ft nr want for himself or bls
_
basis ambtest of all our energles nnd to listen ami
to some of the recitations In most modernised European cities large going freight, but where there is but believe that the only way to Preserve Under such conditions bls family ra
tbat thia was oue of tlie momtng i agriculture.
A class of 14 boys and sums of money have been expended In one mad. the traffic Is taxed all that It «nch Stability, and to Permanently be reared and educated and live unmw
stara of tbe new hygfene.
p 0 girls were studying
animal Induttry. procuring open s|atces for th in in dis will bear. This condition has bad a Maintain our National Prosperity, is the advantages of * wholesome *
tricts of congested population.
j to carry Into Immediate effect and atmosphere»
|ggg
1
< <
¡Ll/'- M
z , ■ _ t-J