The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1871-03-16
Country Versus City Life.

Editors COMMISSIONING IDo
may think mo annihilated unless l
respond to the article that appeared
in your paper of March I'd, over
that signature, resume my pen to
say few words. 1t is an easy thing
to ask questions. II is said a fool
can ask questions that u wise person
cannet answer. mos article was
made up largely of questions, and
although l don't pretend to much
wisdom, [ win endeavor to answer
some of them. First, then, saro there
none good and true within tho city,
who educate their children &c?
Most assuredly very many, otherwise
our cities would soon become reduced
to the condition of the cities of tho
plain, and we should look in vain
for ten righteous, to save Thorn from
destruction. care there no women
overworked, with longings for the
refinements of other days &c2" [
presume some women are overworked
in cities, as all walks of life have
their cares and burthens, but city
woman is not nearly as apt to be
overworked as a farmers wife. l
have been in both situations and
know whereof l affirm. First the
city woman has much less to look
after than the other, then it is much
easier to obtain help in the city
than in tho country. Girls who
work out are social beings, and they
prefer to stay where they
can congregate together and
enjoy themselves, and attend their
own church, &c. AS tor the longings
for reinements, Ino tells us little
farther down, that all tho eIegencies
and refinements that wealth can be-
stow are at hand, SO l don't 500 why
they should long for what they al
ready possess. Ino says eve know
many country boys, whose chance
for the Presidency, or even Town.
ship School Board, are few and far
between. So do we, but we don't
propose to make Presidents of them
while they are boys. What we ad-
vocate is that they shall be SO train
ed and educated, that they may be
prepared for these or any stations,
whore their country shall need them
when they become men, and then
repeat they all stand an equal chance.
lno seems to take exceptions to the
farmers homo being called humble,
and says, he OF she "knows many
that are in possession OF all the re-
finements and eIegencies that wealth
bestows under any circumstances, if
80 they have been truly successful,
and their labols have been greatly
blessed. But such a home is not the
humble farmers homo, to which |
called your attention. It is hardly
TO be expected that 80 new country
should SO soon possess all the advaH.
tages of an old one, though of course
we expect these things will all como
in good time. 1t is common among
well-to-do eastern farmers to see the
sitting room furnished with
Tho softest of turkey carpet, marble
able, filled with the literature of the
lay, astral lamp, costly window
hangings, elegant pictures adornlng
tho wallis, gilt mirror extending from
selling to floor, $50 or $40 sofa,
boston rocker and chairs to match. |
&c, &c. Now, if these things arc
enjoyed hero Dy the farming com
nunity, | have yet to SEQ tho first
nstauce. | do not consider these |
.hings ut NIL essential to happiness,
,ut mention Thorn merely to sustain |
ny argument. Now | have no quar-
el with tho city, and know worry lit.
10 of any Of our western cities.-
they may be all patterns of goodness
md virtue, for auyht | know, though
Judging from tho weekly record OF
rimo we SEQ ia tho papers, / should
hink rot. II luo ieels very much
gsrioved and thinks her particular
ity has been very much slandcrcd,
can write IN article in favor OF city
f., fit would be profitable or edi-
wing to do 80, which very much
oubt, for there are very many rcas-
ms That could be advanced in favor
u city homo. saw.
CoMpErINE, March 11th, 1871.
"Tbere are three things" said a
it, (which have always loved
ithout understanding them paint I
Y, music, and women" j
Mayrp-Thn J.H'ar.ou mr., So T.. |