Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-02-15

in which no comfortable provision had
been made forth sickness none of us
wholly escape. Conveniences for bath.
ing, regret to say, are not as generally
found in; connection with farmers homes
as they ought to be. There is often
some difficulty or trouble about securing
an adequate supply of hot and cold wa
ter, but those who have habitiually ex-
perienced the comfort and refreshment
of warm tepid bath after hard days
work, or cold bath on summer morn
ings will not think a home complete
without provision to meet this want.
A plan of model farm house for the
| Ohio farmer would be something desira-
BILE were it not almost an impossibility
ANY exterior to be in harmony with a
billy and rough country would not be
in harmony with a country that was
flat or undulating. A large farm would
require larger farm house than small
one. If some special form of agricultu-
raj industry we're to be pursued, such
for example as dairying, the house must
differ from that required for miseella-
neOus farming. The house should be
made TO fit the family and its wants,
rather than the family be expected to
! adapt itself to the house. The coat is
| made to DIT the man, not the man for the
coat. Then some pockets are larger, or
| contain more than others, and hence the
difficulty of planning model or perfect
farm house. Nevertheless, it may per-
haps be possible, and it certainly seems
desirsble, that some architectural genius
should make plans for the Ohio farmers
home that would express its purpose
and secure all the ends desired better
than any city style transported to the
country.
ATTRACTIVE.
The farmers home should not only he
healthy and convenient, it should also
be attractive. Would it not be pleasant
and encouraging if we oftener heard the
farmers sons and daughters singing that
good old song, "HOme, Sweet Home ?"
A situation may often be selected for
the farmers home which, besides other
advantages, will afford beautiful out
look; fine landscape, when real, is not
less valuable than rich painting, and
why should not the farmers family have
the benefit of such enjoyment? Then a
house in harmony with its surround
ings is always beautiful, and such har-
mOny costs no more money, but only
the exercise of good taste. The sur
roundings of house, such as trees aud
shrubs, may add greatly to its beauty
Possibly some of as gray-haired men
spent so many years in clearing away
the original forest that we are in danger
of not seeing the beauty of trees; but
whether we can sec it or no, there is
wonderful beauty in treeS-their form
and color and movement and shade all
add to the attractions Of pleasant
home. Beautiful Towering shrubs are
easily obtained. and they add very at
tractiye feature to the surroundings of
a home. So of flowers, boys and girls
are not brought up to see the beauty of
flowers and to delight in their culture.
don't wonder they can see no other
charms in a country life.
Doubtless the chief attractions of a
farmers home should be found within
the dwelling, the warm affection and
thoughtfHl solicitude of parents for
their children, the dutiful and loving
spirit of the children as they grow up.
Add to these the interest which the
farmer and his family take in the per-
sonal welfare of the young men or young
women on whose assistance they depend,
and the interest and pride these take in
the general result. Love and good will
in any home will make continual
feast. But it is of the furnishings of
the house we specially intend to speak.
Pictures, maps and charts will help to
make home attractive to some; musI-
cal instruments will have greater
charm for others. So cabinets of miner |
ais, collections of insects, and herbari- |
ums will furnish the means of scien tilic |
training and delightful employment. |
Books, of which l hope to speak more |
fully in future lecture on the Farmers |
Library, should have an ample space in
u farmers home. Not least important |
is good place and ample materials for |
the children to use in their play. |
Healthy play often does more for physi-
cal and mental training than schools or
work. Whoever it was that said "All |
work and no play, makes of John dull
interest of the farmers children, beg
you will neither overlook nor forget.
CONCLUSION:
1 trust you will all see the Importance
of bestowing the necessary thought and
labor upon the farmers home, so that
our sons and daughters may grow up
healthy. intelligent and thoroughly in
terested in their chosen occupation.
whatever it may be. In closing. l will
name two or three books in which some
of the subjects to which l have alluded
are more fully treated. First here is
villages and Village Life" by Eggles-
ton, and published by Harpers. Second,
here is Maintenance of Health" one of
Handy Book Series; and third,
there is Healthy Homes" by Eassie,
published by Appleton & Co.