Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-10-10
The Vermont Farmers In their Homes
NEW sERIEs-No. II.


are brought together and when sueh II
lation exists they seem to mutually toici's
each other. the girl holding herself IN feaN-
ines to welcome any change that inc u
ture shall bring her, while the miS',''
and for that matter. the whole iahii's' -''A
w.tGully forward to 4 time when 'noi'
shall be no stranger and foreigner to mix
and mingle in all the affairs OF the house
hold. Even the boys. the farmers sons 10
not take kindly to " hiring out " by the
month upon their neighbors' farms, giving
up their whole time, and boarding IN the
neighbour family.
So we import men from Canada, who Of
ten cannot speak an English word, and
know nothing about the ways OF work
her. while oar own boys who have not
sought professions, and who have no capt.
tai. bat strong hands and willing hearts,
and girls with whom the case Is the same
20 away to the towns, or out West to try
their luck in strange sphere at getting
rich or getting living
1t seems to ne that a neighborhood lac
tory for domestic work. which would cm-
ploy half dozen hands, might be not only
benefit to the proprietors, but a good
thing for some Of our young people who
need to work for cages and who would WI
Iingly do so IL they might without giving
up their homes. and if they might in some
SORT preserve their independence. which,
we Ike to think. Is dear to every American
heart.
The arguments in favor Of domestic fac
tories among the farmers, that shall take
not only the cheese making bat the washing,
the ironing, the baking, ont OF the house
are
First, Tia; such a system Will relieve the
overturned farmers wives without the dis
comfort of adding a new and strange mem
Der to the household, giving them more
time and strength to attend to their mater
nal duties. and 50 beneftting the children
in health, strength and morals; and adding
in various ways to the comfort and well
being Of the family.
N.o8ul That this work, being performed
only BY those who make a bu-nc~- of II,
each one of hi- especial branch, and with
the aid Of convenient machinery, val he
better done, aud. at a les expense than in
the old way.
Third. ltwll give a littierarictY To- work
in the farming districts, and afford some
desirable situations for young people just
setting up in life.
And, finally, the business relations which
such plan involves, would afford health
ful discipline to men and women who have
little mental excitement, while the necessity
for mutual forbearance and concessions in
such a system of cooperation, would be
means Of grace and civilization to all par
ties concerned.
Now in these days ofagrieultlul clubs,
farmers oranges and dairymen'~ aS-ocia-
tons, submit that this plan is worthy of
consideration.
Among the SouthranS, before the late war
brought such change over the spirit of
their dreams, it was customary to have
most of the family work done upon the
plantation. Not only the sewing and the
tailoring. but the shoemaking and cloth
weaving, much of it, found place in the
economy of the household. These planta-
tons were large, the servants numerous and
stationary, 50 such things were possible :;
but We New Englanders thought that even
then these " cotton kings lived very poor
ly at an enormous expense. For one rich
man there were hundred poor ones. They,
on their part. laughed at our systems of
factories, and were quite positive that il
was not nice to have ones work done at
d" shops" hat their - great houses often
would not compare iaSorably in comforts
and luxurics with the simple home of a
Vermont farmer. and a New England ser
want cir. would have felt herself positively
diSgraeed ii She had been obliged to wear
such shoes and dresses a. many southern
belle was accustomed to put on every day.
1t Is not true that the Old ways Of ones
father, are necessarily the best ways; Meth
or can one safely follow his own notion. Of
things Sd long as he has taken no pains to
make them intelligent notions; bat il is
true that some ways Of living are better
than others. 10 Is our business as we believe
in civilization and Christianity, to find out
the hest ways And We need not be afraid,
think. since no one iancie~ that wc
are at the very top of ciyilin-
ton, To try occasionally well adj
vised experiment, if hapiy We might
remove some of the inconvenience and
discomforts of life, some of the hindrluces to
growth. and DO ever SO little toward bring
ing on the millennium Of perfect living,
to whi-h with more or less confidence we
all look forward. But in the mean
time ?''-a~k the tired faces. looking out
anxiouSly from their well-kept houses.
Domestic factories are long way off and
the future is no; apt to look bright TO those
to whom time seems to bring only an in
crease Of care with fewer and fewer com
pens 'ls. 1t isa question of vital impor-
tan, 10 many families cannot attempt
to answer it, but ! will say that believe
the ortLod X teaching upon this subject Is
wrong Patience. meeknesS and long suf-
fering are Christian virtues, but there are
otter virtues in the Christian catalogue.
and We need them ali to make complete
character Pious women often attribute
troubles TO the Lord. which they BY their
very meekneSs have brought upon them
selves. ! do not believe the Lord requires
Of any of u more than We are able to per-
tl..tf D.. r.la sod vel
NIT suicide. Patience may he carried 10
such an extent that it becomes ridiculous
H. Mr. Mcaw beer waited with patient good
nature in trouble, years and Years. for some
thing to turn mp.
! believe that women, heads of families.
ought 10 use their brains a. well "a their
hands IN order To make themselves TO some
extent mistress of the circumstances that
surround them. They alone making use of
such help as they are able 10 obtain, can
decide what l. hest and right for them To DO
For this mean time then have only one
or two suggestions to offer.
The manner of living among farmers
might be simpler. Fresh. ripe fruit, for
instance. Is better for a dessert at dinner
than the same made into pies. Cake for tea l.
not an imperative necessity and milk in its
first form is better for an article of diet than
butter.
Our farm houses are generally scrupul- |
Dusty neat think their immaculate |
kitchens delightful, bat tired face spoils |
all the pleasantneSS. Mrs. Stowe say, " it |
requires great deal of grace TO 20 with |
dirty windows. but | think some of our |
oyerburdened women should under existing |
circumstances pay for that very grace.
Again il might be wise to take a boy or n |
man from the farm and put him at the
1 - 7 a. 4
few hours and every day. ! have known
women to do this with very good success.
and the universal testimony Is that boy |
for two hours in the morning will help as |
much as an ordinary girl in all day.
Expensive when a man : price for work |
is 81 90 day, 4 woman's only s. 90 a .
week Yes, know, reckoning that way. |
In the last place YOU might hqre the |
cork alone. have heard of hay .'rotting |
81. 4 -. L..