The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-06-22
! city versus Country.

purify ana happiness dwell In the cOun-
try, while the city is pervaded by dis
ease, impurity and unhappiness. But
observations made quarter of GEN.
fury ago, while lecturing in large and
. small towns in several States, led me to
different conclusion, and every sue
'ceeding year has confirmed it.
First, there is more health in the city,
in proportion to the population, than
there is in the country. There are rea-
sons for this. When food is cheap, or
the money value of it is not considered,
people are apt to eat too much and too
great variety, and to prepare rich
dishes decidedly detrimental to health.
This is generally the case in farm
houses and country villages. have
known many housekeepers to spend
most of their time over hot stoves, pre-.
pairing numerous and elaborate dishes
to be devoured by husband and chill
dren, to the serious injury of their
stomachs.
1t may be eaid that unusual prepare
ton was made because of my presence.
Not SO. can tell where children are
habitually allowed piece Of mince pie
or Q doughnut before going to bed.
Some women tell me they have pies on
the table at every meal. Only think of
making more than thousand pies in
the year, and that is only one item Of
many.
On demonstrating with some one upon
this pernicious habit, the reply has
been: swell, we have the materials and
may as we'll use them. Besides, my hus-
band is not satisfied unless there is q
variety on the table," Once having
been invited to tea at a lady's house, as
we were about leaving, she apologized
tor the scsntiness-as she called it-up-
ON her table, saying that she had been
almost sick for several days, and so
could not make the preparation she 9th
erwise would have done.
II should think you would be sick,
/ replied, land all your family. What
right have you to ruin your constitu-
tons by setting such table as saw be-
fore me, so covered with o variety of
rich, unhealthy food that could scarce
see the cloth? You are laying the foun-
da.ion of disease in those you love-"
And such warnings are unheeded.
Slaves to routine, they perish in the per-
nicious habit. Consequently dyspepsia,
dysentery, fever and other malsdies in
vite the physician with his poisonous
drugs, TO make the matter worse.
Then, every one needs to be amused.
Women in sparcely populated places can
look forward only to an intermediate
routine Of domestic drudgery from Mon
day morning till Monday morning again,
relieved perhaps, by listening to one
sermon on Sunday. the Friday evening
prayer meeting, or the Thursday after
noon sewing circle; and they cannot at.
tend all of these in one week. for time
must be found for making soap, or bread
or Johnnie's pants, or dozen pies, or q
new kind Of cake. There is neither time
nor motive for daily exercise in the open
air. We cannot start of on q walk oil
greater or less length, solely because il
Is conducive to health. There must be
some other object to stimulate one.
The men Of the household, on the con-
trary, are continually going to and fro,
transacting business with townsmen and
strangers, and discussing the current
topics Of the day with energetic, educat-
ed men. They have q varied and saluta.
ry contact with men and women in diff.
ferent conditions of life. They are
amused, strens thened, inspired; and yet
they are not so strong and healthy as
they would be, had they been born OF
strong, healthy, broad-soule1 mothers.
The city woman. unless she possesses
wealth, usually does her own marketing
at least in Philadelphia. She knows
just what she wants for dinner and can
buy il cheaper than her husband can.
So, after breakfast and after he has left
for his business. she goes ont with her
SON or q servant to carry the basket, say
ing to herself Henry needs new shoes, .
or II must have pair Of gloves. If the
children eat only oatmeal pudding and
milk for breakfast and We have no desert
ct dinner for several days, I think can
ave enough ont Of the market money ~
get thew." With an eye to economy
abe purchases sufI1ciency of plain,
simple provision, requiring not much
labor to cook IL, and returns not only in.
vigorated end strengthened by the morn
ing exercises, but with the satisfactory
thought that her family will not be in.
jured by rich and improper food. The
air she breathes may not be 90 pure a
that OF the country, bnt il il far better
than 10 be kept in the house.
In the afternoon abe will perhaps go
out again TO get the shoes or the gloves,
stopping for an hour in . picture gallery
or public library, OF wondering delight.
Cd among The many objects Of ark that
all the stores. She = amused instructed,
strengthened and encouraged by the use.
ful and beautiful objects she has sen,