Smyrna times., 1877-03-21
For the Smyrna Times.
IJWtyI
A Voice from MRS. Farmer.

A Voice from Mrs. Farmer.
DEAR TIMEs:-I have little complaint to
make Of Farmer i'll that while he wrote at
length on the profitable method of farming he
said nothing of how at the same time one might
combine pleasure and profit. Most persons
look upon farming as II monotonOus life of toll
and loneliness This we think may or may not
be true. 1t is true that living i'll the country
dcbars one in II measure from town pleasures
and privileges, even when town or city is near
at hand, but why should not families, III such
districts as it may be done, unite for the pur-
pose of fun and Improvement and thus bring
out their best talents at home. There are
enough in most rural districts to form, II they
will, Il social element that may break down the
''all work and no play" system, which has
long made Jack dull boy in the country
There Is no reason why farmers families may
not have, in this way, much pleasure with no
loss to parents and incalculabe benefit to
themselves.
In our school district we formed, as early as
possible in the Winter, informal socables,
(something on the plan of those named in one
of your late issues, though we claim to have
| originated the plan) meeting weekly ut the
homes of respective families, according to APP
pointmcnt at each meeting. Our object was
mutual pleasure and profit for young and old.
Music is the primary feature Of our entertain
mCnts, with discussions by the elderly on any
| topic, together with declamatiOns readings and
essays by the younger members, to say nothing
of corner tcte-d-tctcS and confidential cOnversa-
! tionS of various sorts. Games of various kinds
! have been introduccd-"a authors" dOminocs,
chess, etc, where there has been tagging time.
! We have stringed instruments among us that
are used alone or with vocal accompaniment
or combined with piano and organ where these
| are found. OF course each feels stimulated to
excel in his or her part of the entertainment
and it is part of the duty of each to contribute
| to the pleasure of all. Our meetings are thus
looked forward to, and keenly enjoyed.
! We have also Il Wcll-repUla lated lVcculu and
! crowded schOol-houSe once week. Our boys
lead off, the older ones assisting, and highly
enjoying the vim of young America.
And, to supply Il long-exprcssed need of
/ those who are too far from town to go to
church, get dinner and return again for Sab
! bath-school, we have quite recently united our
forces Of Methodists, Presbyterans, BaptistS
and Friends and organized an undenonina-
tiOnal Sabbath-scnool in our School-house, with
high hopes and fair prospects of success.
Several of our boys have been graduated or
"qutuated' at our school and are now taking
a course at the Conference Academy, but these
| take great pleasure in still helping the old
| home school We all believe here that mind
! makes the man, more than fortune or Opportu-
nifty, and by such means as this we claim fOI
ourselves Though self-praise is half scandal
the credit of being members of a cultured and
happy circle of society, and this is i'll section
which nine years ago was looked upon as tho
forest"
We are highly favored here by our Northern
settlers who are of the right stripe altogether
and have been instrumental in raising the
moral and intellectual standard of our society
Now we believe that if our farmers woulC
raise their own standard by seeking highcl
culture and more pleasure for our young folk
the boys would learn to love the calling they
have latel " seemed to abhor, while the girl
would find an intermediate realm betwecl
street parade, the latest ovcrskirt, meaningless
small talk of society, and the humdrum of sObe
country life The entire family would b.
benefited by the interest and cooperation .
parents and children in innocent amusement
Well now, some will say. are cGH not SUbScrib
to the plan; it is too hard; we must select on
associates. Still like will go to like. We ar
as diStastciul to the unworthy rs they are t.
u, and rs to wealth. the wheel of fortune rcgu
lates that. Not always the best and truest ar
the wealthy ones. Let us help those who ar
climbing up, wherever we can; our hearts viii
, be better and happier for all such aid, for it
a God-givcn truth that one never stoops to ali
the cause of the good, the true and the beauti
} iul but at the same time he is aided himself
} In drawing upwards a struggling soul he
himself lifted to Il higher plane.
Another practical difficulty in the way
farming Is scarcity of help. We have alway
applicants enough to select from and general
such as respect themselves and value goo
= homes enough to do as required in order I
! keep them.
3, Summing up the matter, we tender you II
@ invitation to visit our ncighborhood, take
round with Us, and then decide if domesti
!, pleasure may not be obtained outside of
: Dorado, and if we have not proved the fac
: that happiness does not of necessity depend o
J | wealth and greatness; in short, have not foun
4 the philosopher astone--contcntment-- at Ches
{ nut Grove.