THE RURAL-LIEE ENGINEER.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 261, 2 April 1914, Page 4

THE RURAL-LIEE ENGINEER.

The Y.M.i.'.A. has many good things to its credit, but its work in New Zealand Una been on somewhat restricted lines and has, therefore, failed to secure the full results of its activities. In a, large measure its work for young men has been confined to the cities, but in Hits United States n most notable attempt ii being being made to bring cheer and giiud fellowship to the scattered villages. David l'\ St. Clair describes the outstanding features of the campaign in the American I'eview of Reviews. Already the movement has attracted 25,000 boys mid young moil in the country associations, and it is estimated that the work directly or indirectly affects the lives of 3,000,000 people in the rural districts. The secretary of the association is styled llie "rural life engineer," and it ia no exaggeration to claim that thoir effort* have securely laid the foundations of "the greatest human conservation and reclamation work ever undertaken." It is one of the most encouraging forms of personal service, which has succeeded in over-riding many of the injuries inliicted by sectarian divisions. The writer says: The spirit of this resident or local personal leadership is voluntary service. It is planned to inspire all athletic meets with this spirit. To help the other fellow is the keynote of the relay races among the schoolboys of a county. It ia made to prevail in the organisation of the baseball leagues and their tournaments. It predominates in the corn and tomato club contests of the boy« and girls. Registered seed and aniic.vl prizes, instead of cash prizes, are awarded. Commercialism is taken out of sport and it is made truly democratic ami character J building. Corn-growing in (his spirit is character-growing. A boy, in getting the scrub out of his corn, or out of his calf or out of his pig. is training the scrub out of his character. The same spitit is injected into the churches and Sunday-schools. The denioninatioas are drawn together in union meetings in scores of ways. One of the most remarkable facts of this whole movement is that the chinch and the Bible seem to be going baud in hand with tl'.e public school, the agricultural societies, the county fairs, relay race-, ball tournaments, country-side festivals, und picnics. In some communities the schools are, permeated with the new religious spirit. The shook arc, of course, being captured through the association's great talent for athletics, notwithstanding the fact that no prizes are ever given in contests. The movement was initiated by "Uncle" Robert Wicdeiisall, and U served by a journal named the Rural Manhood, under Liu: oditoioliip of Mr. Henry Israel. The results of this ell'ort are likely to far '.'caching and it is already abolishing sectarian ■ .icrcnccs ami welding together the country churches for praelical -■o-opcration; giving back to Hie riirj communities their rightful place and power in government: nullifying the coii'itrv-lifc demagogue and the pretended friend of the farmer: improving tti» institution of marriage by the farm and school festivals and the new science i.f play; abolishing the country sweatshop, to which the city sweatshop is not to be compared; and heading oil' an ulti-

mate economic rural peasantry by growing character in corn.