The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1883-04-07

farmers home, ls the day on which the
boys and girls make up their minds that
farm life Is too dull for them, and start
to seek enjoyment in the mazy whirl of
city life. The farmers home is the
safeguard of our civilization. Whatever
advancement has been made by any ma
tiOn in the past, has been largely due to
the influence of the home. Civilization
follows iSOthermal lines and climatic
zones. The nations that have made the
most rapid progress in the arts and sci
ences, in religion and morality, have
been those whose climate makes home a
necessity; whose seasons bring seed time
and harvest, and whose winter brings
together father, mother, brother and
sister around the sacred hreside of home.
Would the artist paint his ideal home,
he pictures to you the rural home the
horticultural home; with happy fam
lily seated around the blazing fire, with
book and newspaper and social game,
and tray of golden fruit on the table.
In this kind Of home, civilization is
born.
But the boys are leaving the farm;
and worse than all, too often the fash
ions and fOllies and vices.Of the city are
invading the sanetity of the farmers
home. The profanity and debaucheTy
of the city are making fearful inTOads
OF vice into the rural districts, and un-
less the intelligent hOrticulturist opens
his eyes to these facts, and takes deci-
ded action against the aggressiOns of
these vices and fOllies, the name of
Honest Farmer" will pass into history
as thing Of the past. More to be dread
ed than the blight of apple or pear tree,
Is the blight that comes to the farmer 8
home, when the boy comes home with
his first cigar. Worse, thousand times,
than beetle, or bug, or parasite, that
steals away the life of plant, or tree, or
flower, is the thief let in at the mouth
to steal away the brain of the boy.
Well may our entOmOlOgists, with mi
crOscOpe, hunt down the destructive
curculiO that infest the plum and peach
tree; and with earbOlic acid and Paris
Green wage her war of determination
on beetle and bug. But while we watch
with intense interest her every move
ment against the myriad host of our in
sect enemy, shall we not occasionally
turn our thoughts to the more subtle en-
emy of our happiness, which, serpent
like, is cOiling its Shiny folds around
the very vitals of our social and pOlit-
tcal institutions, and often crushing out
the moral life, that ought to constitute
the spirit of the home and the statep
The limited space to which this arti-
Gle should be entitled in our report, will
not admit of the extended discussion of
the extent to which the drink habit is
finding its way into our country homes,
nor Of any lengthy suggestions as to
the methods by which we may fOrtify
our homes against its dreaded encrOach-
ments; but with this article as a sort of
preface, we leave the subject for abler
pens to tell what we may offer our boys
as an Offset to the temptations of the
city. Meanwhile let us plead with our
boys and girls to stay on the farm; and
with parents, to cling to their children,
make home the happiest and dearest spot
on earth. Fathers, give your boys lit
tie better chance at home. 1t does seem
that farmers home ought to have
more sunshine in 1t than there is in a
saloon. Give the boys chance.
'Let growth from earth OutdO,
Human growth, strong fair and new;
Lessons take from sun, air, dew,
Plan for minds advance.
Soils have you 70 drain and till
With a steadier subtler skill.
Than the fields you plough and drill,
Give your boys good chance.
Graded on dame Natures breast
In the rural homestead nest;
Make their lives the brOadest, best,
Give farm-boys chance.
Give them books of yisest men
Waken thought, and tongue and pen;
Love of home and SCHOOL, and then,
Boys will have chance"
The chair said it would be proper to
comment upon the essay and the views
expressed.
Mr.. Essig approved the sentiments
and views Of the essay, as did Mr.. Faust.
Rev. G. W. Henning cOincided and be-
lieVed in giving the boys a chance, both
by kind treatment and fair opportunity.
Mr.. Wilson being called on, thought
he was called on early, just having be-
come member. He rather came to hear
and learn; must say, however, he en-
jOyed and approved the essay. Rev. j.
r. Shepler was called on, and also coin
cided most heartily in the noble views
expressed. Rev. j. j. Leberman was also
called out and made some suitable re-
marks, referring to farm life and social
Improvement.
Mrs. Berlien suggested the girls have
a chance as well as the boys. and Mr..
ROckhill said his first draft of the essay
included the girls but feared its length
also that he might give Offense and
hence pruned 1t down.
Mr.. McGregOr was called on and had
only one fault with the essay and that
was its breyity-spOke of those raised
to farm life and abandoned 1t for other
business as yearning to return to the
farm. He spoke of the pleasures of
farm life and of the industry required
and the Importance of industrious habits
to make children VirtuOus and happy.
He referred to the charming effusiOns
that refer to home and rural life, and
mentioned Home Sweet Home as a pro-
duetiOn that had rendered its author
immortal and whose remains had Just
been brought from foreign land. He
concluded b. giving a suitable re-
citation.
Mr.. Everhard from the Committee on
Berries and Grapes read the following
report:
The Committee on Straw berries find
on exhibition two specimens by G. w.
Faust, the Big Bob and Mt. Vernon, with
fruit set on each. The former is of the
pistillate variety and was fertilized-b by
the Mt. Vernon. These are exhibited not
only for their early development, but,
(as claimed by Mr.. Faust. as possibly the
first that were fertilized by artificial
means, which was done with camel
hair brush, by transferring the pollen
from the staminate to the pistillate.
These plants were derived from ship
ments from New Jersey and New York.
The committee think Mr.. Faust merits
credit for his experiment.
PHILIP EVERHARD.
MRS. b. L. BERLIEN.
Mr.. Faust being called on spoke of his