, 1878-08-03
PLEASANT HOMES.

iueht COMPLAINTS OF what Is termed the shift
lessness of their ranchers" 1t is said that
many OF them send to the towns for their
fruit, vegetables and -four" These statements
being true, the California farmers are terribly
at fault. They do not vary and diversity their
crops \ grain grower or fruit grower does
nothing but grow grain cultivate fruit trees
He sells his grain or his fruit and buys veye-
tables. In most cases, if be has occasion for a
| bouquet Of flowers he would have to send to a
| Tourist for it. With bushels of grain in his
fields or fruit in his orchard, he buvs eggs in
stead of providing himself with hens. 1t is
too much trouble 10 take care of a cow, and so
be goes without fresh milk and buys butter
and cheese. Not rose bush can be found on
his ranch of a thousand acres, nor a bit of turf
kept green by irrigation. He may be a rich
man and making money. but his home and
grounds look bare and desolate. \ man with
family who tries to live this plain, rough life,
commits great mistake. His children weary
of home which has no attractiveness, and
pine for what they deem more favored locali-
ties. Women are rarely content with the bare
necessities of life. The ribbon with which a
school girl adorns her dress tells Of natural
desire for ornamentation. Less acquisitive
usually than men, they are not satisfied with
simply hiakilg money. They may suffer in
silence, and perform their duty, but every man
knows there is vast difference between a hap
r. onl 10, 4
man who has no love forfowers himself, should
remember that tend"rer natures than his own
hunger and thirst for that which he deems
| nonsense and trash. Now, nothing is nonsense
and trash which helps to mike life pleasant
and enjoyable The green turf and simple rose
bushes, which afford children pleasant and
fragrant play ground, may have a vast infiu-
ence over the future of 4 family. 1t may so
attach children to their homes, that aspirations
for the future shall be connected with it. 1t
is sad day for father and mother when they
discover that the thoughts Of their offspring
wander to other localities and pursuits than
those which their parents have known AMI
followed. Yet if home is a mere pen, where
one eats and sleeps, what else is to be expected?
Children may submit to such life, only to try
to escape from it rs soon as they find there is
different one. The above is q picture OF
farm life in California, but it will not answer
wh applied to Wala Walla valley. Here
our farmers have consideration for home COM
forts, and IN many instances their cottages are
| emboWered in roses and shrubbery and made
-hp.
An Illustration of what taste and ambition can
accomplish came under notice one day this
week, when We visited Mir. Charles RusSells
ranch. Here We found on all sides the evil
| dences OF taste. Ills house Is large and
ranged with viewso convenience; /; the rooms
are hard finished; the payor ana sitting room
furnished in handsome style; the bedrooms
with walnut sets, including marble tops, and
the window curtains and all other parts OF the
house furnished in a style to correspond. The
kitchen is off from the main building, and So
arranged that all nnSavory smells are waited
away. The bath room, without which no
house can is said to be complete, is convenient
~ arranged, and provision made for. hot and
cold baths. The luxury OF q bath should be
within the reach Of every family, and Yet we
regret to sav that but few Of our country
friends have provided themselves with this
convenience. Leaving the house we visited
the barn, and here We FOUND every provision
made for the comfort Of the animals. The
hasemen. divided ap into stalls, oil well aired.
and at the sam. time arranged So rs to be cool
Horses stabbed here very I"rci5iy realize the
Idea Gf ''horse heaven" IN the second floor
oi the barn we have the graineries, and hay
NOV, all arranged 81 rs to accomplish the most
work with the least expenditure Of time and
labor The orchard surrounds the house and
barn, but unfortunately this year the fruit
crop is failure. Altogether our friend Rus
sci and his most estim;ibie wife and family have
a model home, and in stril.in;, contrast with
the description we have Of the home-life of
California farmers. With this home and all
its pleasant surroundings. he has a farm Of 800
acres. the most productive land III the wOrii,
and good one season with another for hfty
bushels 10 the acre. We find our pen running
away with us, and 20 We must come To a close.
Our visit was made in company with Mr. Tom
Tierney, who with a pair Of his finest horses
al decked out in gold mounted harness, and an
easy running carriage, We passed over the road
with lightning speed. To add to the pleasure
of the occasion we had with us Mr.. Samuel
Robinson. agent for the sale of Scotch type,
who with his quiet, pleasant ways, greatly
contributed to our enjoyment. Sa.ny Is SAID
to be Frenchman of Irish descent, but what
ever country he halls from, he Is a jolly good
fellow, and whenever We take to the road, We
hope to have him bear us company.