The Fairmont West Virginian

Clubs for Homesickness.

Seattle Post-Intelligencer.

A club composed of former residents of Iowa has been organized at Bellingham. The object is to maintain a social bureau where every man and woman from that state can meet and converse with old friends. It is designed primarily as a cure for homesickness. It is intended as an assistant in securing and holding homeseekers. Many persons come and go without meeting even strangers from their native land. They get discouraged over trifles and in a short time are ready to move to some other section. With a few friends they might be carried on the tide of prosperity and become contented citizens.

The pioneer in a new country has many troubles to overcome. He may be surrounded by enemies, real and imaginary. His home may be located miles away from transportation lines. Isolation from society may work furrows upon his brow and make life a burden, but nothing can compare to the trials resulting from homesickness. No medicine seems suited to the case. Fresh air and pure water only aggravate the numerous complications. The sick person longs for some one to talk to about the old home and its surroundings. No subject can take the place of that particular vacancy in the memory of man.

To supply a cure for homesickness is to settle the difficulties of many wandering individuals. When that work has been accomplished the world will be better than ever before. Dark corners will have the rays of light cast upon their spider webs, and peace and happiness will take the place of disconsolation. The roving spirits of men and women without homes will be conquered when contentment has perched upon the brows of humanity. But that work can be performed with a proper spirit of organization. It will require activity, hospitality and honesty. Every person should be made to feel at home in the local clubroom without being under obligations to any superior individual.