Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1884-01-17

EAPER OF MISS MERCY j. GRIFFITH
ON THE FARM HOME AND THAT
WHICH TRULY ADoRNs AND BEAUTI-
FIEs IT.:
Those who left the comforts of early life
and the solace OF religious fellowship, three>
fOurths of century ago. in search of wider
space for labor and Tor homes, and chose
| OniO's wooded hills, found abOundlng riches
of soil and climatic favor. Here they might
locate homestead and meeting house with
prospect OF future plenty. flenIy has abound
ed indeed, and, BOunshed by the beauty and
strength of these mighty hills, vigorous,
healthtUl current OF thought has flowed to
swell the good of earth. Ohio has long since
| ceased to De the ''schoOl>bOUk's sunset LAND. "
rhe descendants OF those who fciled Tie for
ests that lifted HeaveDward from hill and
stream slope, have largely sought prairie
homes. Ii becomes us who remain, to cherish
the memory of chose enduring men and Wo>
men who made OF the wilderness servant
for their needs. These memories grow dOubly
precious, as year by year those spared to res
peat the story, pass to the silent land, severing
US link by link from the past. The few who
can tell of the first decades of the century are
now like lingering scattered leaves of autumn
and we deem 1t mCTc and more privilege to
hear from lips of age "reminiscences of days
when life and blood were young. No longer
are left the aged danes TO tell OF the patiently
endured journey across the Alleghenies with
household store brought by frugal forethought
TO the compass of single wagon; the tedious
weeks OF progress, and glad entering upon
the new lie which industry and thrift trans
formed from the rude cabiI. by some pure
spring TO the wide farm house or village
nome. Nor the silvered fathers, to recount
the struggle which transformed the wooded
wild into an arabic land, returning a miracle
| Of grain, clamorlng fUl outlet 10 reach the
| hungry. The waters went no longer idly
seaward, but lent TO trade and industry q
willing, If fretiul, strength. The great mills
that now stand tenantless vagranls, where the
; reams glide llStessy by, were raised by
hopeful hands, and thrObbed their busy life.
Labor sent out her spolls and brCughL back
her reward, giving life new phases The fru>
gal house wife, by the aid OF her deft fiEgers,
stored her linens and her woods, and having
learned their worth in the school of privation
duly priced her increasing array Of domestic
cOnvenences. How little we can realize with
he present facilities for easy, rapid transpor
tation, the meager resources at hand, or the
faculty thus developed for meeting necessary
wants with available appliances. Years came
and went Children born in the new land
crew TO maturity. Graded in the midst of
privation, during childhood trained TO observe
tue phenomena of nature-a kindergarten for
ail-drinking in the exhilarating air and in
spring beauty of the mighty hills, surrounded
Oy hOmely, thrifty ways, q generation of Wig
Oruus men and women were given to the
world-vigorous in thought as well as phys
>ique Their faithful service is largely un>
recorded, but in an aggregate of results their
he 4 fla,r Ax-
pen to chronicle this vanishing life, it is vital
mat we retain its cOrdiality, its wholesome
uess its simple culture.
70 day there is cry abroad. From every
citadel that yields to the requirements of pop
ular modern society comes a cry almost OF
despair. We are devoured by the demands
O1 COnventOnallsm is the testimony. Lie
has come TO be a helpless struggle. rne best
interests of our children are sacrificed in the
vain effort to keep respectfully near the top
In dress, travel, home appointments and all
the intricate net work of social life. The
masses near large centers are groanlng under
this tax and stimulating every force TO meet
lis demands; yet town, village and rural home
stand with open arms TO welcome customs M
volving this tax, and in their degree eventual
| ly feel the oppression. We see the legitimate
results OF this unnatural condition in delalca>
>
daI, and whole train of ulcerous eruptions
that surprise on every hand, yet hug the un~
healthy conditions still more closely, while
demandIHL The panacea which Shall heal the
surface 10 clean flesh. But, alas, as in the
| physical UI IsanjSuI the surface only truly indl-
Gates the conuI,IuA of the hidden vllai forces.
| these, the wise pay Sician knows, must have
proper tone, ere the Knife, the plaster, the
| lotion can cause successful healing. No hu>
Ran power Can regulate the present disturbed
elements of society by outward influence.
Labor and capital will war. Dishonesty, wan
ton extravaganza, intemperapce, want and
| crime will accelerate the Seething unrest, un>
less checked from within. If in the homes of
this land ID pure, vigorous, disciplined life is
nourished, then has this nation hope upon
which to lean. he habits, the opinions, the
| soul stamina, developing in the children of
these homes, in the young men and the young
| women, alone Can heal our woes. Wise states>
manship may aid, but from these must come
our statesmen. Wise church work, but from
| these must come our workers. From these
must come our power in every field.
Since from the country home is poured the
strongest current for vitalzng national forces
its status is most imperative. There is q
problem for those representing these 10 solve,
how to meet present conditions wisely. The
discipline OF material prlvation is no longer
legiumate. BOunteOus harvest and ready
transportation bring abundant returns for
efforI. In the wise conservation Of this
abundance alone lies safety. We cannot &c
back to:the customs of the past; hey have de,
parted with the fail ana the spinning wheel.
10 reject the excellence of o-day would be
asceucism. Only be sure that in accepting
the new, we do.not lessen our estate, or cum
Der with the false and unmeaning anomalies
making up so large a share of so called elegant
living that offend both good sense and correct
taste.
Being in its characteristics peculiar and in
dvidual, the farm home cannot, if its eXig.
encies be successfully met, be a cold copy
Of that which is satisfying IN the demands of
town life. 1t fosters, in measure compels
Individuality. They who tarry in the city
adjust to its ebb and flow, becoming inappre-
ciable atoms in the swarm of congregateC
:fe. He who builds a true country home
consorts directly with natures processes. Nc
market te:npts him with viands from every
climate and of every season, but to insure
abundant table luXuries he co-Operates with
sun and shower, and wars with frost and pes
through each changing season. If his needs
means aud taste call for improved buildings i
is by direct forethought, industry and energy
that he sees his thought take tangible shape
to be TO him and his a center for the sweetes
and best that life affords, or as a qucksunC
for the sweetest and best that life should af
ford, in accord with his skill in conservin!
forces. No water power sends its permeatinl
currents to meet every want of his household
except by individual skill he improvise som
plan for utilizing hill-spring or rain fall. N
: corporation DEGREES that his doorway shall hav
, leafy shade or the walk leading to it careful
D drainage. All that pertains to successful
country home involves direct practical fore