The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1864-07-15
some Defects In Farm.L,fe

gentleman who had been enyaced IN ,>-o-
pairing for publication the - Returns of the r. r.,
dustry of Massachusetts and tho :. -. ~
ton of Births, Deaths and Marriages " incInS
ing the diseases OF which our people had died
informed us that there were more casoa -;
death from insanity among the families of farm.
ers than in any other occupation! We were
surprised at the statement as it was the reverse
OF what we had always supposed to be the fact
Subsequent inquiry and observation. however,
have somewhat recOnciled us to the unwelcome
truth. The prevalence of this terrible malady
among men engaged in ia ming, we infer is
often Occasioned by the want CT proper action
and development of the brain-the disease not
assuming spa,mOdic and excited form so
much as gradual sinking into halfidiotic or
lmbecile condition, that often ends in a total
loss OF mental power. But in the case OF wo-
men the cause OF the malady NAV be traced to
intense mental activity, to unceasing care, and
to the everlasting ofevery power both of mind
and body in the ever-recurring and perpetual
duties and responsibilities Of the family.
Let us present brief sketch CT actual life. of
which thousands have sat for the picture 1t
is that OF young farmer. He marries, and
for year or two his wife can do very well
without help: but by-and-by his work is too
much for him alone and he must have hand
and, one by one, little chill lren increase the
family, until the wife's burden is much heavier
than when she took it up. But he is just get
ting start, and if they want to get rich Gas
everybody does) they must ecOnOmize: so she
gets along without help. She rises early, gets
breakfast, often for several men, dresses the
children, washes dishes, skins milk, churns
perhaps, sweeps rooms makes beds prepares
dinner, clears up" snatches an hour to sew,
keeping restless baby quiet meanwhile, gets
supper, puts children to bed. and after they
and husband are asleep, resting from their
oft to hat l,.
paying seamstress.
In addition to this daily routine, she does all
the washing, ironing, baking, scrubbing,
housekeeping, sOap-making aud hog kiliing
work. it costs so much to hire help; and at
the same time enacts the part of Ia y of the
house and entertains he company.
so year after year. she tolls and drudges, not
allowing herself opportunity for improving
her mind, so she may be a better guide and
counsellor for her children. At length her
once fair face is faded and care worn aud her
self now and then Frustrated by fits of illness
only TO resume her wearying labor as soon ae
her returning strength permits. And thus
she yearly becomes less able to bear the bur
den OF her increasing household duties.
Too many men leave the wife t. draw water
and carry wood, and as for the baby, they think
it a wOman's place to tend children SO it frets
and cries. or the mother must work with it on
her arm, while they read the paper and talk
with the hired men. The farm increases in
value and fertility and the husbands labor be-
comes lighter, as he is able to hire more help;
but it is still expected of the wife to do all the
house-w ,rk, with what little help the elder
children, if they are girls, can give her.
At length. through this ceaseless application
they are ready to build; and when the com
Portable new house is finished and nicely fur
ni.hed and the children are beginning to be 6
real help TO her, the pa.e, sickly wife and mo-
Their lies down TO die! She has saved by cease
less wearying toll. Hundreds of dollars for her
husband, End he has lost what money is pow
erless to recali--thc companion of his youth,
tho one who has walked beside him and
cheered him through life's most thony paths
And such nn,ilnely deaths are whispered
among friends as mysterious providences,"
instead of the neglect OF Il proper household
economy on abe farm.
These views are partly corobOTated by
statements in recent report upon the insane
asylum at Hartford. CT. The superintendent
says that of one hundred and eighty-seve
female patients thirty-tour per cent were tn
wives OF farmers and mechanics" The con-
sideration of the causes which led to this most
natural re>llt showed that between nursing
the accumulation of h0u: ehOld duties and
drudgery, and the miserable, short-sighted
economy which often led the husband to re-
frain from supplying the necessary domestic
assis ance. the poor, heaft-brO<en and dis
couraged wife had lost, in turn her appetite,
her rest, and her strength. her nervous system
had become Frustrated. and sinking under her
burdens, she had sought refuge in the asylum.
Such il the language Oh the report.
his great error has been q common one, and has
deeolated may farmhouse 1t grow out Of al
OverweeDingd 81 e to accumulate too fast u csnow
men now With whom this is passit that over rides
ev Iyttilg else Sometimes it is mani c. ed N Z de-
sire t. add IL O more to their raj road Or other
stO k; at Others to increase he ut the and;
o. again to no the notes OF their lii ighbors his
passion makes them mean to themselves, mean t.
IEeir families and mean to heif country; and they
haitua y cheat all these for tbs lake of huggng 10
thti' sOr ii rOus little more Of That which h y
must sM leave and perhaps 10 be Guarrelled about
by hers ii this is bad economy. We do not AL
vOcate extravaganza in any thing but only that ppy
c.mmrgii OF labor and lei. ure. or recreation and
study with our dai duties and that mpa he,ic as
sOcia'ion which gives life charm snd Viii,
fail 70 inc ea-e our real happiness. Let Us listen
more frequently to the prOnpiingsOf refined tas e,
aud Go come Things about homes with reference
to beauty as vel u uti ity hese will have ha ps
influence up N he mind habit. and character; will
u Int un the tome with sweet affe, tons and shed
fir GRANGE owe all its duties. hhe children will catch
th s. virtues AIRY them forth to the world, 10
purif and strengthen man there AID will ever look
tack 10 such q homestead as the W ll-spring that
sends ON whatever dign fies and cnnoblcs our ma
tn es. And this will tie truc farm economy Ne,r
ENGLAND Farmer.