A WORKER'S PARADISE.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 31, 30 September 1912, Page 4

A WORKER'S PARADISE.

Rural life in America certa'nly has its drawbacks if one may credit the tales told of how ingenuity strives to overcome the scarcity of farm .labour. In. Kansas, a couple of months ago,Unemployed harvest hands were precious indeed, and farmers were offering all sorts of inducements i to secure men •before their ripened crops were 'ruined. A remarkable scene followed the arrival of thirty unemployed .farm workers at a town called Htitchifiscn, the men being at once surrounded by a clamouring crowd of farmers,Vbo. began to outbid one another in their efforts to capture this help. Ten shillings a day and board was the first offer, but was immediately followed by the offer of a pound a day for sticking. "And we'll let you use our motor-cars for pleasure rides after the day's" work is done," said the first bidder. "Fried chicken three times a day if you want it," countered the second bidder. , A third farmer went one better. "We'll pay you £1 4s a day, serve lunch in the field at one-thirty, and qtiit work at three for cold drinks and more lunch." There was silence for a moment; then a four farmer struck in with, five meals a day, fres tobacco, no milking and no work after six in the evening. ' But the sporting instinct's of the' first bidder were aroused. "Listen, boys," he said. "The bestlooking girls in Kansas live up our 1 way. They're the right sort' of girls, too, and they all want good husbands. I shouldn't be surprised if such fiu.elooking fellows as you are' would make a hit with those" girls. Come,along and take a chance, anyway. I've got two motor-cars, and the neighbours have more. If you come with me it's free use of those cars and joy rides for you and the girls as long as the harvest lasts." This appeal fetched that manly thirty, and the other desperate farmers were left disconsolate when this very liberal gentleman set off with his thirty toilers. But it's more than' probable these chances don't come every day.