The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1876-11-24

In his address to the citizens Of thisIcounty.
at the late fair Of the Paw Paw Valley Asricui'
tural Society, Governor BagIey closed with the
following remarks, which are wort by the con-
siderstion OF every rural household in our
land:
"But be II ever so profitable we must also
add pleasure TO the profit or we shall SOC IN the
future, as It has been and 10 to-day, that the
village and town will continue to attract and al
lure our young men from the farm To coun
teract this, the home should be the pleasantest
place on earth. Books, pictures, newspapers,
music, anything that makes home anywhere.
should grace our farm houses. There should
be no best room, to be opened only when some
stranger Is within our gates, or when the MIN
lister makes his visit. The house should belong
to the folks and the folks should belong to the
house. Flowers and fruit, lawn and vines,
shrubbery and trees should adorn the grounds.
But why particularlze We all know how to
make our homes beautiful, but we neglect it,
put il off from day TO day, from year to year,
and by and By wonder what il IS that tempts
John and Charlie, Kate and Mary, into town
Make your home SO pleasant that, wherever
your boy or girl may wander, whatever may be
thoir lot in life. they can look back and say,
" Ny fathers house is the dsarest spot or
earth" All the surroundings OF our rural neigh
borhood deserve more care and attention. Our
roadsides should be planted with trees, and
our roads ought to be much better than they
are. Cities spend millions in the construction OF
parks, but we neglect in the country even to ale
nature in the work OF beautlfying It's face, a.
ever so slight an expenditure OF time anc
money.
"The country is constantly losing large
share of its population from Its poor schools
or rather because the town and village schools
are so much the better. 1t seems to me tina
our country schools should be the very best
while fear from outward appearance they arr
Just the reverse. The town school house 4
generally attractive. we'll furnished and seated
with pictures on the walls, surrounded will
shade trees and lawns, while our district schoo
buildings are, as a whole, lily constructed anC
poorly furnished, situated on a bleak corner
almost in the highway, without leaf to shad
it from the summer sun or screen It from TIN
wintry blast. The country boy and girl, from
the very isolation or their lives, need and de
serve the best OF schools and ablest OF teachers
We should bring the school to the family, an
not migrate with the family to the school.
1--WE need the home feeling that ownership
can alone give us. The temple OF liberty cal
only be constructed OF the heorth-stone. Hap
by the land where honest labor gives to 1t
| people a sure reward, where industry and thrift
pave the way to honor and respect. Happy tn
| land where children and children's childre
gather under the roof tree OF the old home
stead hallowed by the memories OF klth an
kin, who have been conquerors OF nature in 1t
rugged moods, and helpers Of humanity IN thel
THAT such may be our future should be til
hope and endeavor or all Of US who love th
land we live in ;"