Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1873-06-19
Dangerous DOOr.YardS.

SOME one has said that neglect was the
one great curse of our country homes, and
when we contemplate the surroundings of
many farm-houses, we cannot contradict
this statement.
Just look into neighbor BIS backyard
see the chunks and logs of wood which
lie here and there, and the decaying chips
and sawdust, relics of the winters wood
pile for many year, which have entirely
destroyed the grass but ugly weeds plant
aims, dock and "beggars' lice" have thrust
up their coarse leaves and bury seeds
through all the rubbish. Then see the rusty
old iron hoops and tin pans, pals and the
like, which are scattered everywhere Per
haps we find the ground soaked with the
kitchen Stops which have been thrown
out this many day, and vegetable par
ings, egg shells, etc, littering up the yard,
while here and there are little spots where
the water stands until it becomes horrid
TO the nOstrils. When we mount the
doorstcps, we find them half rOtted away,
jagged, and unsafe for children's feet.
Then enter the house, and look at the
woman's pale cheeks and lack-lustre eyes,
and hear the cough, which she attempts
to suppress, as she greets our entrance.
Disease has entered before us--perhaps
death has also been there, and borne away
the faircst Of the flock-the lamb of the
greatest promise. The afflictiOn is ascrib-
ed to a "dispensation of Providence"-in-
stead of dispensation of ignorance!
Surely tits enough to give one diphtheria
only to look at such places, and they are
also excellent nurseries for typhoid fever,
plague, cholera. This last disease is said
to be marching westward slowly but sure
ly. Born i'm the rice fields of Asia, it con
tinues its deadly work even throughout
this continent 1t was looked for last sea
son, and is feared for this. Therefore it
behooves all OF us TO clean up our prem
ises more carefully than ever-to rake up
the chips and sawdust in our back yards,
and deposit the rubbish in the manure
heaps, where they will be of some use, and
repay US for our labors.
1t stands us in hand TO gather up all the
| bits of old iron which are useful on the
| forge of the blacksmith, and to throw
away, far out Of sight, all the battered
bruised and useless old tin pals, pans and
basins, and pick up the old boots and
shoes, and bury them under the grape
vines or the raspberry bushes.
Make bonfire of all the worthless bar
rel hoops, slaves and rubbish which have
accumulated in the farther corner Of the
yard Overhaul every part of the yard
and barn, and dispose ofeverything which
cumbers the ground, and is worse than
| useless, because its decay may produce
mephitic exhalations which will poison
the very air you breathe, and perhaps
stretch you upon your couch, racked with
ceaseless pains, and wasted with foul dis
ease. 1t will surely pay you to give some
little attention to the appearance Of things
Immediately about your house. Has it
ever entered into your mind how bare are
its surroundings; and how much more at
tractive, pleasant and homelike it would
appear If you would expend a little more
thought and labor upon them? Your
neighbor A. has planted vines to run over
his side porch, and his kitchen piazza.
You do not possess either a porch or
piazza; yet little money and labor would
procure them both for you, and your
daughters would gladly plant the vines
and tend them. 1t does seem strange that
men who are good farmers--who plant
and raise fine crops-keep q good horse,
perhaps two-are proud of their fine stock,
and make the farm pay well-can be con-
allow their back-yards to become such un-
lHNitlBky 0Iu CvNn Atooe iOui pA0tCo'
When, however, such farmers desire to
sell their farms, they discover their mis-
take; then they learn that a neat and
beautiful setting is most desirable rec
ommendation in disposing of homestead
They have forgotten all this while occu-
pied with their labors; but are forcibly re-
minded of it, If circumstances force them
to find q customer for 1t. 4&l84
Friends remember that If n little IF
your time and labor yes, even mOncy-is
given TO increase the beautiful, they are
not expended in vain. Plant an orchard !;
set out an abundance of small fruits; cul-
tivate kitchen garden; make q flower
garden and fence in : neat lawn-while
you also attend TO the surroundings Of the
back yards and barns-and you win Ind
them more profitable investments than
bonds and mortgages; for If their divi-
dends are not paid In gold, they are paya-