e of mankind is the
experience of common social joy. The best recreation is acquaintance and
conversation. The farmer's son spends many hours in silence. He wants
someone to help him to talk, and to talk unto some purpose.

The Fourth of July is celebrated in Rock Creek, an Illinois community,
by a "wild animal show." Instead of explosives, which are discouraged,
the boys of the community bring together in small cages their animal
pets. The boys are encouraged to make small carts for the transportation
of their pets, and the crowning event of the day is the procession of
these carts, in an open place, before the great dinner, at which the
countryside sits down together.

Recreation in the country, above all, should revolve about something to
eat. The farmer's business is to feed the world, and country people
love, above all things, the social joy of eating. Farmers' wives are the
best cooks and the country household perpetuates its culinary
traditions. Especially does a permanent farm population enrich its
household tradition with delicious recipes and beautiful customs of the
table. Thanksgiving Day should be the great celebration of the round
year in the country. What a comment upon the country community it is
that so few communities in the country meet together, in response to the
President's proclamation of thanksgiving, to express gratitude unto the
bountiful Father of all.

The country church should minister to country people in some effective
gathering of all the countryside. A most fruitful method now in use is a
corn judging contest for the boys.

In the Middle West the Corn Clubs for boys have had an extraordinary
value, and in the South, also, the Farmer's Co-operative Demonstration
Work has made use of the boys in the country community for demonstrating
progressive methods on the farm. Thanksgiving Day can be prepared for in
the preceding spring, and the boys and girls who have managed a garden,
or half acre, through the summer can make their showing at that time.
Such a competitive showing in the country, in the production of the
staple crop, is sure to bring together the whole countryside.

The local history of the country community is a fruitful source of
recreation. Farmers look to the past, and even the new people in the
country are keen to hear the story of the old settlers and of the early
pioneers. Nothing is of greater value in developing and refreshing
country life than to enrich it by celebra