Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-12-27
FARMERS HOMES.


Or all the multiplied vocations in
which the human family secL, to earn
livelihood it must be conceded that
farming is the most important, indie
pendent, hoaIthtul and original. II
is a nations strength, it's staff Of life
the original vocation Of our race.
Farming has tendency TO give u
man larger conceptions Of things
than he can acquire while confined
within the narrow limits Of town
and city lots it spreads him out over
acres, fields and broad plantations
with which be is Unidentified Theo-
doro Titon says that "a Western
man is an Eastern man expanded"
the sequel to which is thai he has
more room to expand. 1t would not
be safe to say that all farmers are
men Of large and liberal souls, but if
they are not it is because they are
not indigenous to the soil We can
not all be farmers, but certainly a
good farm, conveniently situated and
beautifully ornamented with build
lng- and shrubbery, is Il very desira-
bic possession and a beautiful type
of Eden. Away from the dust, din
and unhealthy atmosphere Of a
80" deu cIty, r'nueu y g.. --oe 20
freshing breeze, with plenty Of purest
water to drink and choicest golden
fruit to eat, every sense may be graf
flied, and every aspiration Of the soul
lifted Hcavenward
But how many farmers, in their
misery solicitude for money, refuse
to beautify their homes and make
them pleasing and attractive
When we see "tho gates ajar, fences
falling down, and barns "stooping to
coquern, poor skeleton brutes, while
neither tree nor shrub nor flower re-
lieves the vacant lot around the dom
iciI, some mischievous imp whispers
in our ear mo place like home" and
we inyoluntarily respond 'tis welt"
The question is often asked, "what
can be done to induce young men to
remain upon the farm instead Of run
ming to the towns and cities for
employment ~ There are several So
buttons to this problem, and, perhaps,
different one for every individual
ease, but we venture the assertion
that among the most fruitful causes
of dissatistactio in farm life, is the
simple fact that no care is taken, or
at least but very little, in a majority
Of cases, 70 make the farm as attract
i've as remunerativc. If farmers
would teach their children, by their
own example, that the farm il, not
only a prolific source of wealth, but
"a thing OF beauty and JOY forever"
/ agricultural pursuits would become
more popular among our American
youth, whose aesthetic faculty is ex-
cited by the ornamental surroundings
of the town aud city. Home, be it
ever SO humble, and far away from
the busy haunts of men, should not
be place simply for eating and
sleeping, and sleeping and eating, "a
hiding place, rest, refuge in the
wilderness, bnt . place TO paint the
living rose upon the check, to disci-
pine the intellect, to elevate the
soul
Every farm house should have a
library of useful and we'll selected
books, such as history, biography,
agriculture, travel political, scientit-
ic and religions. The reading mat
ter should not all be Of what may be
called a solid character. but should
comprise both mirthtul and emotion.
AL and thus the equilibrium Of the
mind be maintained 4 few work,
OF fiction possessing the limited char
acterstcs OF a good moral, may Will
| proprieiy help to adorn the family
library.
Every farmer VINO refuses to sub
scribe for a newspaper, and especial
IS that Of his own county deserve
TO DC left "aloue in his glory" Il
this age OF the world, and living IN.
der popular form of government, az
person is excusable for not furnishing
a weekly newspaper for his family Z
read and learn what is going on il
the world Every American ough
to know enough OF questions of pub
lie interest to cast an intelligent vot,
when he Is called upon to exercise
the elective franchise, and how i
such information to be obtained IN
less through the regular channel 0
Communication. The farmer pay
his yearly taxes, and he ought L
know who gets his money and fo
what purpose it is used. Nor shout,
he be satisfied with political informa
ton alone, but should learn the prog
ress of religion for on this essentia