The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-03-15

A story might unfold;
But the end was sad OF the dream divine
1t better rests untold.
HOW TO KEEP THE BOYS ON THE FARM.
The April number of Soyibner con-
tains a paper by the well-known agri-
cultural author, Col. George b. Waring,
Of Newport. on the Interesting subject
of "FarmV illages." The writer has
been active in urging the adoption OF
improvements in American farming for
many years, and has had good oppor-
tunities for studying the needs Of Amer.
lean agriculture. Familiarity with the
life aud 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 odr
own agricultural population could be
much ameliorated by a similar concen-
Uration into communities where the ma
terial and moral benefits Of better social
relations could be secured.
The paper cons ders the way in which
land may be divided so as to secure the
end in view with the least Inconvenience
to the men who have to till the fields,
and with the least drawback to the Dusl-
ness OF the farmer. Two cases are con-
sidered. l. When it is question of the
settlement OF new lands. =. Where farm
houses are already scattered over the
country, each on its own farm. In botn
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 adyan-
tages for the younger memb rs OF the
community. These two schemes are
illustrated by sufficient diagrams, which
Indicate the way in which The fai ming
land and the village tract should be di-
vided.
Suggestions are also given as to the
laying out of the village green, the care
OF roads, paths, grass-gr0und, and other
open spaces, 50 Iar as such suggestions S
are appropriate i'll 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 1t seems to be DEM
onstrated-Whlle 1T ls admitted that In
immediate money-maklng there may be
some slight disadVantage-that on the
whole ana 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 lie Of the iso.
lated farmhouse and OF the more Soci-
able lie OF The village on the character
Ol the farmer and his family, and tAere-
lore, on the future farming people OF the
country. The following quotations ill.,
dlcate The line OF argument:
SIT may seem strange doctrine to be
advanced by a somewhat enthusiastic
farmer, but IL is a doctrine that has been
slowly accepted alter many years. OBJ
seryaiou-a convection tnat has taken
pos session OF an unwilling mind-that
me young man whO takes his young wife
10 an isolated farmhouse doOms her and
himself and tne!r children 10 an un-
wholesome, unsatisfactory and vacant
eXlstence-an eXiSleuce marked by the
absence Of those more satisfying aud
more cultlvaGing Influences which the
best development OF CHARACTER and intel
ligence demand. 1t Is common eXpe-
rIence of farmers wives to pass week
after week without exchanging a word
or LOOK with single person outside OF
their own family circles.
trhe young couple start bravely, and
with u determination TO struggle agalnst
the habit Of isolation which marks their
class; but this habit has grown from
the necessity of The situation; and tue
necessity of their own situation bring
them sooner or later within its bonds
During the first few years they adhere
10 their resolution and go regularly tC
church, to the lecture, and to The socia
gatherings OF their t,iends; out home
duties increase with time, ana the ea
gerness lor society grow dull with neg.
Iect, and those who have starleL oui
with the tirmest determination to avoiI
tl,o IA f.ll hon buH VI
split, give up The struggle At last aDC
SETTLE down to a hUmurum, unlnteresi
ing and uninteresteu performance 0
daily tasks.
Sin saying all this-and speak from
experience, for have led the dlsmal LIE
IN, sell-iJ is hardly necessary to dis
clam the least want of appreciation .
tue sterling qualities which have beer
developed IN tne American farm house
hold.
"lf American agriculture has an un
satisfied need, it is surely the need TO
more intelligence and more enterprlsin:
interest on the part OF its working mel
and women. From one end OF the lane
TO the other, its crying detect-recOg
nizea by all-is that its best bIood-Ol
m other words, its best brains and it
best energy-is leaving IL to seek othe
fields of labor. The influences whicl
lead these best OF the farmers sons t.
other occupations is not SO much.the de
sire to make more money, or to lind
less laborious occupation, as 1t is the de
sire TO lead a more satisfactory liIe-
| lite where that part OF us has been dc
yeloped by the better education and be-
ter civilization Tor watch i'll this centur
we have worked SO -nard and SO wei
may find responsive companionship an
encouraging intercourse with others.
"The social benefits and the facilitie
for frequent, neignborly and inierma
intercourse are obvious. 10 say moth
ing of the companionshlps and intlma
cies among the young people, thei
fathers and mothers would be kept frol
growing old and GUM by the constar
| friction oil their kind; and in so far as
more satisfactory social relation wit
one's teil0W-men gives cneeriulness an
| the richness OF wider human interes
| in that proportion would the village Lii
have.,a wholesome, mellowing effect tia
| is not to be found in the remote farm
house, nor even i'll the sort of neighbo
hood we sometimes find in the countr,
| where several tarm-houses are within
quarter OF mile of each other. Til
habit Of running in for moments cha
with neignbor is good one, and
gets bat scant Development anon
| American farmers"
The better development of the churcl
1 s,Il nFt tlaIs ic IGn q