The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1877-03-29
FARM AND EYRESIDE.

FARM AND FIRESIDE.
How TO KEEP THE BOYS ON THE
F4RM.-The April number of Scribner
contains a paper by the well-known ag-
ricultural author, Col. George B. War
ing, of Newport, on the interesting sub
ject of EARN Villages" The writer
has been active in urging the adoption
of improvements in American farming
for many years, and has had good oppor-
t~unities for studying theneeds Of Ameri,
can agriculture. Familiarity with the
life and work of European farmers,
where it is usual for those who cultivate
the soil to live in villages, suggested to
him the idea that the condition of Jul
own agricultural population could be
much ameliorated by a similar concen-
tration into communities where the ma
terial and moral benefits of better social
relations could be secured.
The paper considers the way in which
land may be divided so as to ecure the
end in view with the least Inconvenience
to the men who have to till the fields,
and with the least drawback to the bust
ness of the farmer. Two cases are con-
sidered: L. When it is a question of the
settlement of new lands. 2. Where
farm-houses are already scattered yer
the country, each on its own farm. In
both cases it is attempted to show how
the details of the plan may be regulated
so as to cause the least annoyance and
loss of time to the men, to compass the
greatest convenience and comfort of the
women, and to provide the best ad-
vantages for the younger members of
the community. These two schemes are
illustrated by sufficient diagrams, which
indicate the way in which the farming
land and the village tract should be di-
vided.
Suggestions are also given a to the
laying out of the village green, the care
of roads, paths, grassground, and other
open spaces, so far as such suggestions
are appropriate in this connection.
The way in which the proposed change
would affect the work of the farmer, his
wife, his hired men, and his teams, is
fully considered, and it seems to be
demonstrated-while it is admitted that
in immediate money-making there may
be some slight Acknowledgements on the
whole, and in the long run, the general
prosperity of our agriculture would be
advanced by the change.
Considerable space is given to the
comparative effect of the life of the iso.
lated farmhouse and of the more soci
t able life of the village on the character o
the farmer and his family, and, there
fore, on the future farming people of the
country. The following questions indi
. cate the line of argument:
at may seem a strange doctrine to b,
) advanced by a somewhat enthusiast,
farmer, but it is a doctrine that has beef
4 slowly accepted after many years obser
vation-a conviction that has taken pos
!: session of an unwilling mind-that tn
| young man who takes his young wifi
to an isolated farmhouse, dooms he
= and himself and their children to an un
wholesome, unsatisfactory and vacan
s existence-an existence marked by tn
absence of those more satisfying an,
more c%ultivating influences which tn
best development of character and in
telligence demand. 1t is a common e1
o perience of farmers wives to pass wee
after week without exchanging a wor
e or a look with a single person outside {
n their own family circles.
e "The young couple start bravely, an
with a determination to struggle again'
" the habit of isolation which marks the;
class; but this habit has grown frol
j, the necessity of the situation and til
necessities of their own situation brin
h them sooner or later within its bond
IS During the first few years they adhel
u to their resolution and go regularly
church, to the lecture, and to the soci,
gatherings of their friends; but HON
duties increase with time, and the cage
ness for society grows dull with neglec
and those who have started out with tt
to firmest determination to avoid the roc
on which their fathers have split, Civ
Of up the struggle at last and settle dow
le to a humdrum, uninteresting and uni
e terested performance of daily tasks.
lie "In saying all this-andI speak frol
u experience, for 1 have led the dismi
life myself-it is hardly necessary
it disclaim the least want of appreciate
a. a of the sterling qualities which have bee
developed in the American farm-hous
u IF American agriculture las an u
If satisfied need, it is surely the need II
H. more intelligence and more enterprise
N interest on the part of its working me
and women. From one end of the lar
N to the other, its crying defect-reco
se nized by all-is that its best blood-o
ie in other words, its best brains and i
lie best energy-is leaving it to seek 9th
~ fields of labor. The influence whit
lead these best of the farmers sens
Mt other occupations is not so much the d
no sire to make more money, or to find
in less labOriOus occupation, as it is the d
ie sire to lead a more satisfactory life
m life where that part of us that has beend