Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1883-02-15
Ohio STATE UNIVERSITY LECTURES,
THE FARMERS HOME.
BY PROFESSOR TowNsHEND.

a man is said to be known by the
company he keeps; still better may he be
judged by the home he makes; for eve
ry home, to a great extent, is an express
sion of the tone and character of its Oc-
cupants. The possession of intelligence.
industry ard good taste, or the lack Of
these qualities, by families or people,
may be read in the appearance of their
homes as from the pages of an open
book. OF still more importance is the
fact that our children will be the natu-
raj product of the homes in which they
are reared; every feature of these
homes will be interviewer with their
lives for good or evil, hence it is that
our efforts for the elevation of the young
people of Ohio should begin with the
home. In the further discussion of
this subject hope to show that we must
make our homes healthy, convenient
and attractive.
HEALTHY.
Disease is not an accident or a provi-
dence, as some seem to suppose; it is
usually legitimate result of ignorance,
carelessness or mismanagement To
avoid disease care must be taken to Sc
cure the most favorable conditions for
the maintenance of health and strength,
and to guard against all the avenues
through which diseases make their ap-
proach. Let US particularize:
The home should be favorsbly situa-
ted in respect to drainage; the region
round about the house should be we'll
drained, either naturally or artificially,
so as to secure exemption from all dis
eases of malarial origin The immedi
ate site and surroundings of the home
should be well drained so as to secure a
dry, warm and wholesome atmosphere
A wet or damp situation is liable to
produce colds or even more serious lung
affections. Good sewerage to carry off
the waste of the household is still more
important; if the sink-drains and sew
ers of the house are imperfect,no matter
how convenient or elegant the house
may appear, it is not fit for anybody to
live in.
Pure air and plenty of it, is another
essential of good health little bed rooms,
er even larger rooms without means uf
securing sufficient change of air, r,should
not be tolerated. Atmospheric air al
ways contains some carboHic acid, but
the usual quantity is less than the half
of per cent. When the quantity in a
room reaches per cent, the effect is
unpleasant, larger proportion is posi-
lively injurious. No fact in hygiene
is better established than the tendency
of confined air breathed over and over
again to favor the development of tu-
bercle, or what is usually known as con-
sumption. Hence it is, that a mans |
worst enemy is his own breath.
Sunlighb is not unimportant: to the
growth of most vegetables it is indis-
pensable. and parts of plants deprived of
it soon become blanched. Only fungous
growths, which live upon decaylng
matter, can thrive without light. The |
inauguration and stimulOus afforded by
sunlight is necessary to the health of
human beings; those rooms in q house |
which freely admit the light are always
the most healthy.
Pure water is next to pure air in its |
to health. Its value is prob
ably so well understood by most of you,
that to save time l will pass it with a
mere mention.
CONVENIENT.
Comfort and convenience are not so
likely to be overlooked in the establish.
ment of home; the need of shelter,
warmth and rest are felt by all and the /