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THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHIN GTON, D. O, MAY WEEP NO MO’, MAH LADY BY JONATHAN BROOKS. IFFERENCE o { opinion makes horse races. At the same time it occasionally melodrama, com- { ¥ gedy, that reduces | the race to the proportions of a b product. Old Bushrod Gallatin, in his prime, never looked further than the horse race. That he saw real, heart- breaking struggles in speed IS a tra- dition now In the Ohlo River counties along the edge of the Blue Gri Legends tell of the many instances in_which his opintons triumphed. He raced for pleasure and to im-| prove the breed. Both of these diver- | slons he could afford because he had amassed a fortune in land. If he took @ fancy to import from Virginia a fine, hig which to outdo there could be no c A gen tleman, in those days, did not mix his | sport and his business any more than he mixed his drink But with his son, Nimrod, it w another story. Bushrod left his son | the estate, and with it a little red horse affectionately med Bub. This Uttle red horse, given his nonde script name because as a yearling he appeared swch a hapless, forlorn runt, proved to be a veritable glant on the turf. Iron-hearted, he threw his small frame into every battle as | an utter sacrifice to the opinlon of | his maste Nimrod, this opinion be ing that Bub could outrun and o game any thoroughhred. Nimrod Galiatin gambled far and wide, and heavily, on the speed and | stamina of his little red horse. Some- | times he won, sometimes he lost, as i with gambling. When Nim- | ¢ and untimely death n realization that he | her's lifetime | , he left only a fraction of | was Kentucklans, | sened by ke idered his jauas h-spirited sorrel stallion with | a8 plac This fractic incumbered, so that a stern | son, Jesse, and his | Jessamine lovely, inete task ¢ daughter Jessamine @ark-haired g from Greeribr school work unf decamped, taking of half a doz other little red - of old Bub. In Maryland he fi rtnership with another hors he wrote his invalid that he was s ing to Ti but he did n race the join his name while his partne: d as a § 1y had tc soft-voiced, returned | neral, her | ished, because J with | | sther, Jess have gone off and left u protested “I reckon mother replied note he left. And you can yourself that he has taken horses with him.” “I've been through said Je: mine in dismi only one little colt left, a little red baby. He can't be a year old. And, then, old Ebenezer is puttering around.” Jessamine, with the darky’s help, entling the little red col ““%{‘mi Yls coit was broke,” chuckled the old darky. “He goin’ two yveahs old, this winteh. An' jus’ lak his daddy, Bubbles, and his little old gran'daddy, Bub.” i We're through with racing horses,” sald Jessamine positively. “Even you ought to be able to see that.” 3 Jessamine told her mother about it afterward. “Here's the best-natured little thing you ever saw!" she exclaimed. It as the first time he ever bad a saddle on, end he pald no attention to it at @ll. Just scems to be bubbling over with good nature—oh, mother, there's his name!” “Where, child?” her mother asked rily, “Bubbling, son of Bubbles, grand- son of Bub himself!” and Jessamine Jaughed over her inspiration. Mrs. Gallatin wore down to @ shadow through the hard, monotonous Winter. The last feebls resistance of- fered to circumstances, when Jesse latin deserted, sapped all her strength. She died in March. Jessa- mine, usually of a sunny disposition, found her burdens more than she could bear. “Bbenezer. darky the day after the funeral going down to Lou'v'l for a visit. want you to stay and look after the rely Jessamine he h Minie as, * her| “I've shown u the ec for | all the the stables There's wi in and run this farm the way it ought to be run.” * % ok % INCE she had not written to say he was coming, Jessamine sur- ised a school friend by telephoning to announce her arrival in Louisville. Marian Trimble, after Jessamine ar- rived at her home and told her trou- bles, took her to see her grandfather, Colonel Jeff Trimble. “My deah girl,” he said, “I was a friend of yo' grandfather, as fine a gentleman as it was evah my good fo'tune to meet. I'll be glad to ad- wise you if I can. Yo' fathah placed that mo'tgage when land values were inflated,” he continued. “It will be ba'd to renew the loan, so we must A Tingling Story of the Turf. to cbtain anothah, on better terms. With the proceeds of the new loan we can wipe out the old one, using what n be made from this yeah's crops. I'll ask a friend of mine in yo' country to look ovah yo' land and advise what is best fo' this yeah. Fu’thehmo', I'll advance a temporary loan to finance yo plantin'—" o “You'll do nothing of the kind,” in- terposed Jessamine. “I came merely to ask for advice, not for mone; Jessamine, encouraged by the col- onel's advice and assistance, cut short her stay and hastened back home. Arrived at her front door, she turned bitterly homesick and heart. sick for an instant, the reason being a ering old veice casily identified benezer's, singing: "h’ young folica roll on th' little cabin o', All happy “F'r the luva Mike, boy, cut out that wecpin’, will you?" a strange, rough voice demanded. Jessamine started in surprise. “Never been in Kentucky before in my life, but y'll have me bawlin' in a minute.” _“ED!" called Jessamine, opening the front door. “Ebenezer?’ 7 Old Ebenezer, shufing painfully through the house, greeted her warm- 1y in his surprise. “I had to hurry, Eb,"” she explained. “There’s work to do, for it's late now to be starting the crops. But"—and she lowered her voice—"who was that Oh, e , ma'am,” explained gerly seeking her ap- . “That's Mistah Buddy Kuhns, a jockey fo' Mistah Jesse. Done got sick, and was th'owed off'n his hoss, and all. Mistah Jesse tol' him if he got back In these pa'ts 'at we'd take ca' of him. So I tuk him in. Yes, ma'am. Yes'm, tha's who 'tis.” Next morning Col. Trimble's friend rived, and with her aid inspected farm, riding horseback over every re of it. In the afternoon she rode into town with him, arranged for the use of some farm machinery, d three men, visited the bank, hen rode home again. Little Buddy Kearns regained his dually and asked to be permitted to stay and help with tho work. Jessamine turned over to him b and the horses, including borrowed and newly purchased arm work, as well as little bling. Ebenezer, * % * (QNE bright July morning Jessamine galloped Bubbling on the road to town. Her bobbed black hair blowing in the breeze, her face burned brown an undefled Kentucky sun, she presented a picture. A smile to re- veal her snow-white teeth would have set off the even brown complexion, but, being a serious-minded business woman of 21, intent on an errand, she had nothing over which to smile. Only the bright sparkling of her vivid black eyes, betokening the rug- ged health of her strong, slim body, relieved the smooth tan. “Minie, Minie!” she heard a girl's voice calling from a big touring car. Relning down the eager Bubbling, she turned back through the dust. “Is this my roomie, bookworm, and belle of the ball?” demanded Marian Trimble. “Or some Creole bell a-hunt- ing of a lover?” “A masterplece in brown, by that old master, Nature,” explained the gallant old Col. Trimble, stepping out of his car and lifting his hat. “Only a poor workin' woman, in a workin' woman’s clothes,” laughed Jessamine. ‘And_this is the little red hoss ed Col. Trimble, eyeing the colt. ;‘M\' deah, have you got him in train- n'ie indeed,” No, replied Jessamine scornfully. 0 racing for Bubbling! But he gets a lot of exercise. I ride him all over the farm, through plowed flelds, and to town and back all the time. But he does look a little bit drawn, doesn't he? I'll—do you suppose that rascal Buddy Kearns is putting him on short rations? She told the story of her brother's jockey. The old colonel looked thoughtful. “But there’s no use holding a con- ventlon out here in the hot sun,” said Jessamine. “Let's go back home, and I'll see that you all are made com- fortable after your trip.” “Don’t you have business in town?” asked Marian. “Leave the colt here, and we'll run you in and back in a ‘Well, T reaily ought to go,” Jessa- mine agreed. “My errand will take only a few minutes, but it ought to be done today. I'll just send Bub- bling back home by himself.” She jumped down from the running board of the car, headed the colt about, and slapped him on the flank. 0 home, Bubbling,” she sald. Bubbling loped off down the road toward home. “Will he go?” demanded Col. Trim- ble, horrified. “I never saw a race hoss treated so confidentially befo’.” * % K K 'HE Trimbles, grandfather and daughter, spent three days with Jessamine. O1d Col. Trimble was loud in his pralse of Jessamine's manage- ment. But he enthused most over the little THE CALIFORNIAN ¢ * * SMASHED HARD AGAINST BUB- FROM HIS SEAT. [ BLINGS SHOULDER. THE IMPACT JARRED THE BOY red horse, Bubbling. Several times he held conferences with the bow- legged Buddy Kearns. After an early morning ramble around the farm, he seemed very much excited. “Saw that little red colt out in the flelds,” he exclaimed, “chasin’ rabbits, just like his old gran‘dad used to do Seems full of spirit. A shame he's not in trainin’ fo' the races.” And finally, before leaving for home, he told why he was so much interested. “A great international three-yeah- old race is to be run at the Downs this Fall" he said. “The best colt in France is coming, and the fastest three-yeah-old that England has pro- duced this season will be heah. America’s finest colt is to be selected, and a three-conuh race is to be run. International sweepstakes, fo' a sum of $50,000. Now, then, if it should happen that yo' colt Bubblin'— “But, Col. Trimble, he doesn't know anything about racing,” pro- tested Jessamine. “He's oniy my riding horse. Besides, there must be v number of colts——'" That, my deah, is just the trouble.” interrupted Col. Trimble. “Ken s best colts have been sold in ast this yeah. But none of them, 10’ any of the colts at home in the Blue Grass, stand8 out above the | rest. In fact, it is an off yeah, and we seem 10 have no colt capable of holdin’ his own with the French and English. Now then, if some ownah appeahs with a colt able to outrun and outgame the rest, and hold his own in the sweepstakes, he stands to make a fo'tune.” “Oh, mo! exclaimed “Horses are not worth so much “My deah, if yo' Bubblin’ sh'd hap- pen to be the coit,” insisted Col. Trimble, speaking slowly, “yo' could buy bac Erandfathah’s ground, NIt the mo'gage and, rest comfo'table the remaindah of yo' days. At least,” he concluded, ‘“until such time as some fo'tunate and sensible young gentleman sh'd come along an—" He wound up with a bow to substi- | tute for the words he had intended. The friends departed. Jessamine had Bubbling saddled and, as Col Trimble and his granddaughter en tered their car, she galloped down the driveway and out upon the road There, glving the colt his head. she let him run a half-mile at his best. C Trimble, amazed, stepped on the and followed her, ‘an eve upon the peedometer. He gasped surprise and then a twinkle came into his eye With a girl riding, and on a rough y road, no trainin’, and—" but stopped muttering to himself as Jessamine refned down the little red horse and whirled out to the side of the road. “Good-bye, waved. Jessamine. good-bye,” Jessamine TU}: twinkle in old Col eyes must have laste E . time. His surprise cryst into action, tco, for within the week a mes. senger came out from town in a fliv- ver to inform Jessamine that Louis- ville was calling her by long-distance. To save time, she clamored into the machine and rode back with the mes- senger. The call proved to be from Marian. “Gran’dad is shipping men,” sald Marian. “Two of them, on ‘approval. Ome's a millionaire, Rexford Dawson, the New York capk: talist, manufacturer, politician and sport. The other is his some you some need country air manded Jessamine. N need a horse, and gran’- father is trying to sell them Bub- bling.” Jessamine, dismayed at the thought of parting from her best friend, hur- ried home, urging the driver of the flivver to make speed. Sure enough, there were two young men, Ebenezer, Buddy, and her friend Bubbling, the little red horse, son of Bubbles, grandson of Bub, and great- grandson of the flery sorrel stallion from Virginia. One of the visitors, a tall, slender voung chap in a loud checked suit, was examining Bub- bling's legs ard feet. Him she iden- tified at once as Mr. Dawson, and re- sentment leaped to her tongue. The other newcomer, a quiet-looking, blond and blue-eyed man of apparent- ly 25 years, stood to one side, listen- ing to old Ebenezer, who, absently holding a halter strap, was talking steadily. The quiet young man turned in sur- prise, and quickly took off his straw hat. “Good afternoon,” he sald in a pleasant voice. ‘‘Miss latin?" “It seems to me,” said Jessamine quickly, “that your employer there is mighty famillar with other people's property. Take your hands off that horse, sir,” she commanded, raising her voice. “No offense, Miss Gallatin,” said the blond young man, looking at her quizzically. “I'm Willle Garfong, Mr. Dawson's racing secretary,” he added, bowing slightly, turned to the other, man. son,” he said, “let me introduce you to Miss Gallatin. Mr. Rexford Daw- son, Miss Gallatin. Oh, Mr. Dawson, if you please, Miss Gallatin prefers that you do not examine the colt.” ‘The slim young man in the loud check suit, surprised, turned away from Bubbling, looked at Garfong, and raised his hat to Jessamine. “Mr. Dawson's friend, Col. Trim- ble of Louisville,” explained Garfong, “thought that you would not object to our looking at the colt. He sug- gested we call, and asked us to pre- sent his compliments.” Jessamine replied that she had no objection to talking about Bubbling, but added she had no intention of selling him. Then she instructed Ebenezer and Buddy to put the colt de- | claimed impulsively. in the stable, and invited Mr. Dawson Mr. Garfong into the house. t is late In the day,” she sald to Garfong. “You have had a long day, and we are too far from any decént accommodations to let you start away from here this evening. So, if you will, I wish you would ask your employer, for me, to have din- ner with us, and spend the night.” “Thank you very much, Miss Galla- tin,” replied Garfong. “I'm sure he will be pleased. But perhaps it is too much trouble—-" “No, no,” Jessamine insisted. “You must be tired, too tired to drive far- ther tonight, and the roads are none too good. Besides, we see so few people. But 1 wish you would ask Mr. wson for mi Jessamine’s disiike for the slick-haired, chap in the check suit had crystallized to the point where she was resolved to have nothing whatever to do with him. She told herself she understood, now, why millionaires are unpopular. And yet the man had not said a dozen words. JE ny * % kK :SAMINE undertook, determined- 1y, to disabuse Garfong's mind of idea that he and Dawson could Bubbling away from Gallatin even for $25,0002" fong quietly t would take queried 50,000!" she ex- ‘And T think T would be making sale, even then.” Mr. Dawson might even be willing to pay that much. If you will ex- cuse me a moment, Il talk to a poor “No, no, don’t go,” sald Jessamine, King from entering into a busl. deal for possession of her chum. morning, perhaps—" ly,” Gurfong agreed. ve no intention to rush you.” “And while we're on the subjec can't stand Mr. Dawson. You won't understand, of course, but—if we have to have any negotiations I'd much to deal with you. Why does ave to be written all Garfong said defensively, o would defend his em: is not such a bad sort, lly know him.” ah, th' dahkies ah gay: The co'n top's ripe, an’ th’ mead- ows ah in bloom ~ g at the top of | woke Jessamine i And when he reached she suddenly found her course open before her. Why should he weep or worry? The sacrifice of Bubbling meant the salvaging of her future and the saving of the family home and land. “Weep no mo’, mah lady Oh, weep no mo' today g old Ebenezer. “But suppose I have scared them out with my talk of $50,000,” thou Jessamine, as she dressed for break- fast. Y may even go away with- out renewing the offer of $25,000, and goodness knows I'll take that, if I have to.” Immediately after breakfast Daw- son withdrew and Garfong broached the subject of the colt. ““We are rather pressed for time,” he said, “and we must not fmpose on your hospitality too much. Mr. Daw- son wants to buy the colt, and is wil g to pay $25,000. He is deeply in- terested in thoroughbred racing, more especially because he wishes to up- hold the honor of America in the greac international sweepstakes. The owner the British colt that is coming over- seas is a friend of Mr. Dawson’s. He too, is a sportsman, and they have engaged in a great deal of friendly banter, Mr. Dawson promising to pro- cure a colt to whip the world’s best, including his friend's horse. For that reason, if your colt is the colt, Mr. Dawson would not even balk at pay- ing $50,000, which you ask.” “But 1 didn't ask it,” Jessamine bargained, shrewdly, wondering in- wardly where she acquired the knack. Old Bushrod Gallatin would have chuckled could he have heard her. “That's right, the blond young man conceded. “But to get at the point of the matter. Mr. Dawson makes you a sporting proposition. Bubbling has not raced. We will pay you $25,000 right now and take our own gamble. Or we will take the colt and educate him for the track. Four weeks from now there is to be held, at Latonia, the trial to select Amer- ica’s representative in the great race. If Bubbling wins the race, we pay you $50,000. If not- e “Do I get my colt back?” Jessamine. “Absolutely, and we stand the ex- penses, in e way.” ‘Thanks,” said Jessamine weakly, now that the deal was consummated and she stood definitely to lose her friend in case he proved out. “You've bought a horse.” And wondered where she learned that expression. Again old Bushrod would have chuckled. “‘Beautiful!” exclaimed Garfong in- voluntarily. beg your pardon?” flushed. “What I mean to say is that Ken- tucky does raise thorobreds—I mean, ah, no offense, Miss Gallatin,” stam- mered Garfong, losing his usual com- posure for the moment. intended merely to compliment you on the businesslike and sporting way In which you handled this thing.” * k% % ESSAMINE, lonely even in the press of work attendant upon harvest time, went to Louisville be- fore the Latonia race, and then after a visit journeyed with Marfan and old Col. Trimble to Cincinnati. At the track they missed Mr. Daw- asked Jessamine slender. son and Garfong, but Col. Trimble | led the way to the clubhouse. There, sheltered somewhat from the throngs gathering to see the international (ryout, Jessamine saw her fortune bal- anced upon horseflesh. Twelve colts faced the barrier for the mile-and-a-half struggle to choose America's representative against France and Britain. All of them, save only little Bubbling himself, were heroes of more than a single race. Three fine colts from the metropeli- tan tracks, four from the best stables of old Maryland, another from chill Canada, one from far California, and two other Blue Grass prides composed the field. All had been schooled and tried in racing. Little Buddy Kearns wheeled the willing red colt up to face the barrier, and Bubbling stood awaiting the boy's will. They were in the eleventh posi- tion out from the inner rail, with only a single colt, the Californian, outside them. The Californian fretted and danced, impatient to be off. Bubbling wondered, in his quiet way, what could be the matter with his neighbor. Up flew the barrier. Up flung a dozen colts, lifted and guided by a dozen palrs of skilled hands, and out they plunged, Bubbling with the rest, under Buddy's urging. And then— calamity! The Californian, wheeling just as the barrler sprung, whirled and smashed hard against Bubbling's shoulder. The little red colt sprawled and scrambled, jerked himself aright, and swung the right way of the track, only, in utter bewilderment, to find that Buddy Kearns was gone! The impact jarred the boy from his seat, and Buddy rolled in the dust. Poor, bewlldered Bubbling knew only one thing to do in this, his first race. He ran. Instinct drove him after the field, sweeping in a cloud of dust along the inner rafl. A few jumps brought him up into the cloud of dust and clods. No good. Dirt gets in the eyes and face. The fence in- side prevented escape from the rain- ing lumps of earth. Bubbling there- fore swung outside and galloped on. “But 1 don't see Bubbling.” ex clatmed Jessamine, all excitement in the clubhouse. “To bad, too bad, my deah,” mur- mured old Col. Trimble. ‘“He was bumped, and the boy lost his seat. Poor Bubbling is coming on without a rider.” “Then he can't win; he can't win Jessamine declared triumphantly. And he's my colt, after all” She relaxed and, even amid the ex- | citement growing among the crowds | as the great field came thundering down the stretch for the first time, began planning more of the friendl: quiet rambles she and the little red | colt had enjoyed. Only an exclama- tion from old Col. Trimble recalled her attention. “By heaven,” cried the old colonel, “heah he comes, my deah! He's run- nin’ up to the leadahs!" “He is, he is!" echoed Jessamine, jumping to her feet. % x ¥ NCE free of the catapulting clods, and the blinding dust, Bubbling galloped, freely and easily, down the middle of the track. Was this a game, such as he used to play with the other colts, back in the fields of Gallatin place? A game wherein they circled the flelds, inside the fences, fighting with each other to be first and free of the heels of the others? Or was it? Why was there so much noise? How many horses could so many people call to feed and water? Turning his head to the right, he viewed the excited, crowded stands calmly. The people could not get out at him, that was certain. The high white fences protected him. But in- voluntarily he swung over a little closer to the racing band along the inner rail. And on he galloped. Coming down to the clubhouse turn, he was up {n fourth position, only slightly behind the three running bunched on the rail. “Bubbling, Bubbling, beat them! screamed Jessamine, thrilling with pride and forgetting that if he won she lost him. But Bubbling here showed that the game was new to him, for instead of leaning to the turn, he ran wide into the track before he saw the curving outside fence looming ahead of him 3, 1925—PART o. “TAKE YOUR HANDS 07 F 7’1'JIAT HQR*Y T 1s he did so, he tow Then, losing grov scrambled back down the slop the inner rail, a for those leaders. in the flelds had ever Why should these strangers Around the turn they jockeys on the three leaders mounts to a cautious, easy speed. ing along until the time came for the | final run down the stretch At the last turn the fleld came up to close the gap betwe itself. the three leaders and t red colt. Bub- bling held place alongsice the three, running the longest route on the outside. Midway around the t Eastern colt essayed to pass ! on the outside. Bubblin the heat of the stru tra effort, and Eastern colt fell closer to the Bubbling ed. These knew where the drew away. back and pu “Why shouldn’t he kn His father, his fath Bub, and his father before him! Into the stretch the colts came. The three leaders began their last efforts arest Bubbling s a Marylana colt, a fine, beautiful bay with a long ground-devouring stride. His be called upon him, and he lashed out to be first home. In a stride he had drawn away from the other two—but not from Bubbling. The e urging also called Bubbling. The little red colt ran stride for stride with the bigger, longer-limbed bay. Together they drew away from the other two. But what was this? coming up to join battle? York eorrel, scion of an imported, aristocratic French family, thundered up beside them, outside Bubbling. For an instant he rushed his head to the fore, but Bubbling, swinging his solemn red fore-top to his right, rec- ognized his new opponent. Deserting the Maryland bay, he let out speed tc run now with the French colt. Half way to the wire the tremendous throng, breaking restraint, crashed into an uproar—most of it in behalf of the brave little red colt striving to do what his fallen jockey could not help him do. That noise? All that shouting and screaming, whistling and crying? Bubbling’s heritage carried him back | to the days of Bub, Blue Grass pride, | battling with invaders from near and far, with tail, long-coated, high-hatted Kentuckians shouting encouragement. The same thing here. Unworried, un- hurried in his stride, he gradually lengthened his reach. Flattened out, head down and tail streaming behind him like a red flag in the wind, Bub- ling outran the newcomer, even as old Bushrod saw his little red Bub outrun all challengers. The French colt’s jockey, anxious actually to de- feat the red colt, sat down and hand- | | | i rode home as vigorously as he knew ow, lifting and, sw tg help in Ip a laboring, The fighting spirit of his s ing in him, his great heart pounding | ever harder and harder, Bubbling gave forth a last defiant effort a * HEN the French colt pr inner'’s circle, lendid recep turning h! V exciten the throngs until tt unifc med old his 1d excitement, scuff through the among the horses sped E dry and w dust | nose. body Bubbling knev Then old Ebenezer, defying all cus tom, elbowing aside those who got in his W and singing > t the the winner's circle beside th colt, removed his hat, and ning a toothless grin up at the ju. and the stands. The crowd, Kent fans all for the moment, thrilled wit pride and cl the echoes rang and rebou hills i mine, lifted to her fe ol. T gave one look collapsed again in her cha until her eyes burned. After a long time the tumult died down and the numbers were posted. “But they ing him ashamed. “No, n ah,” replied C; k - ble tend Bubbling carried no weight, and by the rules the judges cannot place him. The French colt wins. But you know, and I know, and all these people heah know whose hoss heah is best. I only yo' gran'fathah, my old frie: rod—*" But sentiment here ov came the colonel “Then it's all right, and T don't lose my colt,” exclaimed Jessamine, smil- ing through her Later, on the to keep their appointment with Mr. Dawson and secretary, Col. Trimble spoke not pl samine sobbed, un. ¥ My deah, vo' gran'fathah nevah deny his little red hoss, the oppo’tunity to win quoth the colonel. “E the honor and fo'tune of his fa was at stake. Sho'ly yo' cannot fail to let little red Bubblin’ go out to Jessamine, price ere and sorry on Jessa~ prise 1d spoken red hor (Co Young Army of 500,000 Takes Field BY WILLIAM S. ODLIN. OVING slowly from South to North, Spring is arriving, carrying a varied message. To the people at large it means, primarily, lifting of the many burdens of Winter and the prospect of fair and smiling _skies, tempered breezes, birds and flowers —and that is all. But to more than half a million sturdy young Amer- fcans, boys and girls, it means a re- birth of opportunity, and there is in this circumstance vital significance to the whole people. These hundreds of thousands of youngsters are the members, scattered throughout the United States, of the Boys’ and Girls’ Farm Clubs, foster- ed and directed by the United States Department of Agriculture. To this army Spring means renewal of the campaign against “the little tyrant of the fields,” for once more they can attack the out-of-door tasks that are their main objectives. Even now their plans for stock raising are be- ing perfected and plowing and sowing by them are under way in many local- itles. And when Autumn comes their months of tofl will actually have add- ed to the farm-product wealth of the Nation not less than $10,000,000! Even more important than this, however, is the fact that their experience will have pointed them in the proper way to go, strengthened their health and made them all better citizens. Statesmen of high and low degree long have talked dismally or glow- ingly, according to the side of the fence on which they sat, concerning “farm rellef.” The magic phrase was calculated to compel the attention of the honest agriculturist, even when garlanded with nothing but vague and empty but glittering assurances. And, of course, real farm relief does vitally affect the lives of boys and girls of the rural areas. But they are mot permitting themselves idly to await ‘whatever may happen in this respect. Their job is plain before them, and they are even now hard at it—pro- ducing. “Proguct of years of slow but healthy and inspiring growth, these farm clubs owe their being to the imagination of some genius who must remain un- known to fame. Not only is his name unknown, but the exact time and spot when and where the idea first was put into operation cannot be fixed. It has beeg established, however, that the movement is one thing that can be placed on the credit side of the ledger for the boll weevil, whose debit side records the blight that has cost the South untold millions of dol- ‘More than 20 years ago, when the cotton raisers were casting about for some means of averting the threatened by the boll weevil, a versified system of farming was hit upon as a possible solution of their problem. Leaders in agricultural thought then wisely concluded that the most promising avenue through which to accomplish this was the rising generation, the young being un- affected by prejudice or lack of cour- age to attempt an innovation. Thus, taking root in the weevil- infested areas of the Southland and soon bearing fruit that more than justified all the effort involved, the idea gradually spread North and West. The Federal Government, through the Department of Agricul: ture, took notice and the land-grant colleges lent their invaluable assist- ance. Each year more clubs were formed and more thousands of bovs and girls learned that the rewards of rural life may be made quite as at- tractive as any other. Today the primary object of the clubs is not alone production, but also the inculcation of a farm spirit and the teaching of | methods of agriculture. How_effec tive the program is prov strated not only in the sults seen in vast actual production, | but by the increasing number of farm youths entering the _agricultural schools and colleges, and electing to| remain on the farms in spite of the allurements of urban life. Although stock and crop rai both form the I the boy ng ading activity of both and girl members of farm is demon- | durin young people t the things The mutu ed in t adolescent like to or clubs, there is a wide diversity in the | ¢ work_ undertaken to render them bet- ! ter farmers and home-makers nd more useful and contented citizens of rural communities. While John oc- cupies himself with growing more and better corn, wheat and potatoes and breeding cattle, hogs and sheep according to_latest approved meth- ods, Mary is busy with dairying, can ning and clothing conservation; all under the direction of experienced club leaders, The importance of organizing farm approved | boys and girls into definite and, one | nd competi- aising stand- proving com- compa; tion, of ards of munity The which agric not spiri work of 2 loc: tural count carried ot hit-o; various club: v every the country, is it will be seen, o | through the