The sun., 1882-02-26
| NOTES FROM THE FARMERS CLUE
A Members Extraordinary Statement ne TO
why Country bread Can't Rise.

Farmer Garrish was the Chair, and looked
well. His frock coat was tightly buttoncd around
| him. and his admirable face wore an Q x preston
| OF dignity tempered with playfulness. Only a
| few members were present when the club was
| called to order. and the Chair encouraged
| these by rcmarking that an enthusiastic love
| for agriculture only could have brought farm
ers out in such abominabc weather. The club
| approved of this deduction by round Of mp
plause. or course the Chairs rcmark-was an
| indirect rebuke to the Poet Cutter. Farmers
| Lambert. Crane. Lawrence. Bailey. the Rev.
| Farmer from Maryland. and about fifty nine
| others but it was gently said. and will doubt
| less be kindly accepted.
| The subject for the day was, What Is the
| Reason of the Decrease In the Farming Popula-
| tion OF New EnglandY Strange to say, the
| subject failed to awaken any enthusiasm and
| for ten minutes the club sat quietly listening
only to the ticking OF the clock. At the end of
that time farmer tmidly suggested that Mr..
Davis might have something to say upon this
vital theme. Mr.. Davis. who sat in profound
abstraction in the front row. Is the small gentle-
man who Mt the previous meeting formulated
the extraordinary thought that there are col
lateral evidences Of tho existence OF table. lie
now arose and asked what tho theme was that
he WINS called upon to discuss. and what had
proved to be u letter Of some length written by
corresponding member. and stating rs a fact
the proposition above SGT forth. This letter
was now read to MIR. Davis who Is u little deaf
by Farmer Chambers. tho popular and efficient
Secretary OF the club the two standing mean
while face to face in front OF the desk behi nd
which sat the Chair. 1t may be said in passing
that the three as they appeared at TINT moment.
Farmer Clambers impar,ing. MIR. Davis, alb
sorbing. the Chair overlooking formed an
fnm fnrsr and Snss" srE and "nG which
strntivc a. he is warm expression oi pleasure.
The letter being finished Mr.. Davis said that
he did not know the cause of the decrease of
bur that during ,,hs last half century the in,
crease oi remuneration to tho capitalists and
to thu laborcrs of Europe had not kept pace
Mr.. Davis spoke for quarter Of an hour. bold
ly striking into whatever remote fields sug-
the subject before the club, upon pinions so
powerful that at the end of the time named he
n few wc'l-choscn remarks concerning the
political aspirations, of the M2ntenegrins.
club. having remarked Time up!" in the tone
Of a uuarrymnn' blast
Th. CHAIR IN, asked any one else to say anything
of New England.
Mr. Maguirc. young man. a stranger, and
a. drummer Mt the ago Of II. and that during
the civil war Ia was tho spectator OF leagues Of
burning tar and pine trees in the forests OF
While Mr.. Mcguire was speak ing the door
opened. and pale gentleman well muffied up
entered the room. A pair Of hands were clap
ped together Others followed. and by tho time
tho gentleman had got to the edge " the open
space surrounding the platform Of the Chair.
the whole club had broken into q fcrment Of
applause II was tho highly esteemed regular
Chair. DIR. Heath. and this was his first appear
ance after many weeks of serious illness. With
emotion the recovered President thanked the
club for its generous reception of him. He said
that he held the Farmers Club very dear. and
that for two hours in every week he had long
been accustomed To find therc agreeable relax
alton from his professional labors.
Farmer Garrish. ut the conclusion Of this
pleasant episode. rose bahind tha desk. and
placing in I'M impressive manner the tips of
his outsprcad fingers upon II. made n most
extraordinary statement. Hs said that pronii
nent among the causes of il-hcalth among
farmers families was the heavy sodden bread
tn which they arc accustomed and this condi-
tion Of the bread in the agricultural districts
the farmer accounted for IA follows: " The
farmers wife" he said. having kneadcd her
dough. places ii in u wooden bowl. covers it
with n flannel cloth. and sets it by the stove
20 rise over, night. in ever. farm hons, ti.re
soft dough. the agreeable flannel. and the
roXimity of the stove aro elements of great
attraction to these dom. sticatol animals.
They 20 to sleep on the top of the dough, pre-.
vent it from rising and ns"quentlythe bread
that is made out Of il is heavy aud sodden.
Abolish the eat from farm houses" said the
speaker and farmers wives and children
will be more healthy"
At the end uf five minutes the applause had
subsidized. and soon the club adjourned