CORN COUNTRY

Again a member of the American Folkways Series, if more informally so, this is less deliberately organized, openly enthusiastic regional report by a native son. Here is the corn belt, which extends over a number of states, from the time of its early settlers who were the victims of murder, Indians, and cholera,- who put up a stiff fight against the sod. Here were the practices and penalties of living in these parts, from squatting and claim jumping, to horse thieving, homesteading, rainmaking, hog calling, corn husking, well-digging, grasshopper plagues, famine and drought, with special words about a few of its famous- Abraham Lincoln, Dvorak, Henry Wallace, John L. Lewis, and Jessie Shambaugh who started the 4-H clubs... A lively, indigenous touch for rather sporadic regional history and commentary- this is easily read.