Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-02-01
WOman's Life in the Country.
Western (Wis,) Farmer.

!
Western (Wis,) Farmer
How much women in the countr,
ought to enjoy nature. TO see aud I'm
derstand the miracle, OF life that are
taking place in the growing worc
around them-thi3 is to enjoy the SCI
ence of true and happy living, for i
makes the very atmosphere full of love
light, music aud peace. There she car
gather roses where others gather
thorns; there she will never grow old
no matter how much the body decays
We see so many women about us in
town and country who seem to be dy.
ing Of mental starvation or stagnation
as you may please to call it, that if we
could lead cnq dispirited woman whose
heart is full of pain in this sweet path
by living waters, we would feel content
There is no denying that life in the
country to many women is but cease.
less routine of endless work, care and
disappointment, and as they look into
the future nothing bat work seems to
beck0n them on.
Is it any wonder that many of them
struggle on for years against fate
then become morbid, fretful and un-
reasonable; SO much so that love is
withdrawn from Them soon after this
health and hope is gone forever, and
many OF them become subjects for the
insane asylum-for statistics are
showing that much larger proportion
Of farmers wives are becoming insane
than of any other class. There IS -
sad, dark picture, and one | would
gladly turn from could | do so.
IL IS next to impossible for q man
who ID out in the open fields, in sun
shine and storms, among stock and
growing crops to understand what the
needs Of his wife are, the routine OF
whose life must of necessity be mo-
notonous and varying. 1t has been
said OF her that it is nothing outside
of her that kills, but what is within.
She needs more Encouragement, love,
sunshine, society, hooks-something
for mind as well as body. Every in
telligent and kind-hearted farmer
ought to understand this more fully,
and insist upon his wlfe's taking re-
spite from care for certain time each
day, if she viii not 30 il for herself.
In the end he, as we'll as she will reap
the reward, for both lives will be hap
pier and brighter. The body must be
recruited after severe toll, and the
mind wholly freed from care for q
time, until reaction takes place. Each
person must select the kind of recrea-
ton best suited to his or her wants.
Every farmers table should be sup
piled with the most palatable and d.
gestible food. Good health and COM
mon sense teaches this but no farm
ers wife should be slave to rich pies
and cakes. MANY women feel that
they would be of little value to their
households, were they to omit making
and baking ton of cake and a thou
sand pies year. Let us be sensible
and adopt the English ard Ger
man custom of simple living, and dis
card if necessary (which probably it is
not) both pies and cake for freedom
and smiling faces. Living to crafty
only the animal wants is a very low
form of existence. Let us not sell the
soul 70 the body, out have higher aims
and aspirations, for God has implanted
them in our hearts.
Then sing the song If gladness
Leave out the sau refrain;
Raise up the dropping spirit
And thoull not have lived in vain.
Q, glorious life to feel the thrill
Io live to work and sing
. golden hours Drift slowly by
Lite is priceless thing
One OF the encouraging signs of the
times is that women as well as men
are becoming deeply interested in self
culture. Thousands Of women in town
ana country, are taking the Chautau.
qua course OF study aud graduating
at home. Clubs or societies for the
study Of art, history, natural history
botany, and household science, are be-
ing established in every city and VII
iage and why should the people of the
country be behind? Cannot every
country town orgauizs and sustain a
society or club of men and women stu
dents, who will come together weekly
or seml-weekly on Saturday nights az
Ter the weeks work is done to study
natura history As il is opened and re-
yealed 70 them dav after day? No
where can natural history and natural
science be % successfully studied as III
the open fields over deep waters and
quiet woods Of the country. A years
careful study at times not missed from
the daily ayocations Of life would give d
paradise Of intellectual enjoyment
unknown before.
People living ia the country should
Gake friends with Nature Then there