The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-03
The Farmers Home.

The farmers home in America has broad
er significance and deeper influence than
in any other country on the GLOBE. These
are not meaningless, fanciful expressions,
for houses of the people in this country de-
rive their character from the educational
and social culture which pervades society.
We find here that the progress of architec-
ture is closely interviewer with the progress
of learning, with the requirements of wealth
and of acknowledge of the finer arts. Igno
thing better than the huts which keep out
the storm and cold. Poverty which usual
ly attends ignorance, cannot provide any
thing beyond the rudest shelter SO that in
those countries where both ignorance and
poverty prevail the houses of those who live
by cutivating the soil are very rude, low
and altogether destitute of style and taste.
Education begets perception Of beauty and
grandeur in external objects.
Our domestic architecture is always an
exponent of our civilization and our pro-
gress in wealth getting. A man. learned
and cultured, may not have the means to
give expression to his idea of what a home
is or should be- so with communities but
there will appear, always, about the hum
BILE Threshold unmistakable indications of
a higher intellectual and moral character
While we regard the farmers home Us an
exponent of this culture Of mind and heart
OF himself and family, it is also Il continual
educator, and its influence extends to the
entire community. When one, therefore,
builds tasteful home he is not only benefited
himself, but his neighbors also. Hence he
is public beneiactor; he awakens in the
minds of Others sense Of beauty and fitness
and a stronger love for home and its SYM
bols of purity and truth.
This is essentially an agricultural cOun-
try, and the farmers are the numerous class.
The character of the farm house therefore
becomes a matter of the greatest importance.
1t should be truthful; it should be stately
it should be tasteful Ornamentation for
the mere sake Of display is as much out of
place on a farm house as rutiles on the bo
som of farmers shirt We are anxious to
see the homes of farmers built so as to rep
resent that plain substantial character..which
the farmer possessA. What is the true
ideal of the character of the farmer, then?
What are the elements which make up the
genuine farmer? They are frmness, truth
fulness, frankness sincerity honesty straight
forwardness, above all meanness, hospitali-
ty and in dependence. Cal these qualities lie
expressed in dwelling and appurtenances
Yes, and farmhouse should not be built
without expressing them. 1t should be
broad enough on the ground to express firm
ness and endurance it should be two full
stories high indicative of stateliness and
strength and of desire to rise above al
low, mean things its foundation and tim
bers should lie of the most substantial sort
expressive of honesty, truthiulness and
strength substantial brackets and braces
should protect the wide projecting caves
and porches as well as window iintels and
caps, expressive Of honesty and frankness-
| am what am; all the parts should be OF
equal height expressive of straightforward
ness and uniformity of life and character
the same yesterday, to day and tomorrow,
These are essential aids in representing
the grand and substantial character Of the
farmer aud his life, and should be planted
with no sparing hand, as we have frequen-
tiy urged in these columns. Avoid the fire.
quent mistake, however, of planting trees
close to the house. Let the house aud all
the rooms, if possible, have the sunshine.
We haye thus indicated some of the feat.
ures which should be given to the most inn
portant class of houses in America. 1t is
a matter of no trifing importance, we think.
The purest elements of social aud business
life in the new world are found in the coun-
try. To its constantly oyerflowing fouu-
tains the cities and the avenues of trade
look for their refreshing supplies. 1t
is important that these fountains be kept
pure by every means that our young men
in the country should be reared under the
influence of the purest and most substantial
virtues, and imbued with good and lofty
purposes. For these purposes the country
should be exalted until ii shall reach the
highest virtues and the noblest aspirations.
Detroit Tribune.