Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1869-12-08
Photographs Of Farmers.

We were greatly interested during q receu
ride, in viewing the various photograph
which each farmer had exhibited of himse
for the inspection Of travellers Perhap
they were not specially intended to be thu
seen, but they were all in full view. The
were not photographs Of the faces, but Of tn
characters Of the owners. They indicated a
plainly as the letters on q sign, whether eac
possessed or was deficient in taste whethe
he had a regard for neatness or was an in
herent sloven or whether an interest in thu
comfort Of his family, or mere desire t,
make money, predominated His premise
were the dial-plate of the procliyities Of hi
mind
Farmer No. ] had fine looking farm, 8,
far as nature had made it so, but art was sad
ly deficient The fences were partly hid by
rank growth of elder bushes nettles and bur
docks and whore seen werc falling to decay
The barnhad broken-back roof and broken
hinge doors. Boxes hoops, barrels, brush
&c were scattered about the yard in thai
wild freedom which had at least the one
merit OF entire absence of all stiffness. Al
the roadsldes were a broken cart-wheel de-
caying roller an unhnged harrow, an old
N"1Nh wa hhN NNhiiAl nNulNtItQ rails ana
pieces Of boards, with some brush-heaps.-
There was little difference of opinion in re-
lation to this owners character one thought
him only lazy, another that he was badly in
debt, third that he drank too much LIQUOR ;
when on inquiry it was found that he posses.
sod in some degree all these faults, which
were probably mitigated by his patriotism
as he commonly sought or held some small
office IN the town government.
Farmer No. ? had a fine farm. both bv
nature and through the improvement Of art.
The fences were neat, the fields clear ofweeds.
and the crops abundant. The farm buildings
were in good order aud the cattle sleek and
handsome. But the dooryard was contrast
with these. A stout board fence formed the
front boundary, and small gate had been
placed exactly opposite the front door, but
there was no path between, the space being
occupied with high grass, mixed with the
suckers CT neighboring plum tree and a few
thistles. The kitchen door was surrounded
for space of some yards, with mud three
inches deep, and there was no planting or
other surroundings to make the house a
home. All the party agreed that this man
cared more for dollars and cents than for do.
nestle comfort, and esteemed the welfare of
his cattle more than the Improvement and
enjoyment Of his children.
Farmer No. had commenced the build.
ing Of a fine house few years ago, but it
was not finished A part was completed and
occupied, and another part, as indicated by
the boarded windows, was not lathod and
plastered. A well had been dug in the yard
but the windlass and the mound of bare hard.
pan around it remained. A gravel walk had
been laid out, trench for it cut and filled with
coarse stone but the finer stone and gravel
covering had not yet after three years, been
added. Whatever the owners character
might be in some respects, we all pronounced
him man of good intentions, and ready at
laying great plans, but deficient in executing
The premises Of several others were pass
cd. In the outskirts of a village. one had
erected large aud ostentatious brick house.
costing eight thousand dollars, but partly
from parsimouy, and partly from having rur
out OF funds as we were told, he could not be
pursuaded to expend ten dollars in planting
the surroundings \ fourth of mile distan
another bad built fine two-story house 0
wood, considerably larger than his small
family needed, and too large for the comfor
Of his wife. lie said he could not afford "a
plant trees and shrubs " Just to look at" an,
with the exception of eight cherry trees Sc
in rows in his front grounds, there was nc
foliage to shade the bleak face of his resi-
dence, and none at the ends These owner
were understood from these photographs, Il
possess more Of a mania for building, tina
taste IN planting or in making home comfort
able
This one-sidedness or distortion of chara,
ter, we found more common than any othe
defect in the better class Of owners. Man
attempted to have fne house, although
was hard to fnd.eyen costly one built
true taste, or without some mixture of i,
congruous styles, or fantastic ATTEMPT at orn,
ment. Scarcely one had a well planted an
well kept door yard Some of them sal
they could not afford it, although remint
ed that reduction of hundred, or eve
I'VE hundred dollars in the cost of their dwell
ing, would scarcely have affected their oxte
or real value. The small sum thus say,
would effect any desired amount of improy,
ment IN the way Of planting trees or shrub
and IN keeping the ground smooth and in ne
condition.
But We saw some commendable execution
The occupants Of small house, instead
borrowing money to make it larger by cost
additions, like near neighbor, had content,
themselves IN using to good purpose VIII
they had. Brilliant, blooming pot.plan
graced the front yeranda the neatly trir
med walks were bordered with few beds
verbenas, Towering bulbs ANNALS, &c. al
the whole had the fragrance Of scented flow
ers' and the beauty of neat arrangement.
1t was most pleasing photograph Of cha
aeter in at least some OF the occupants
this cottage. And all was attained withol
hiring carpenters, or employing masons al
painters, or adding to store bills" by Il
purchase Of silks and fashionable dresses
Country Gentleman.