St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1888-02-27
RURAL SOCIAL LIFE.
Some OF the Reasons Why ThOs
Raised on Farms Drift to Tow ms


An old settler, in the course of some
remarks at a county institute, reported
in the Chicago Times, stated that fam
lies living on farms were not as sOciable
as they were years ago. They made
few friendly calls Oh their neighbors,
while visiting parties had gone out of
fashion. 1t was his opinion that the
cheapnesS OF books and the increased
circulation of magazines and neWSpa-
perS were among the causes of the de-
cline of social pleasures among farmers.
When there was little to read a family
III farm house enjoyed receiving calls
from their neIghbOrs and were prompt
i'll returning them. The society of farm
erS living in the same neighbOrhOOd fur
niShed almost the only means of enjoy
ment, and they made the most of it. As
there were no places of public amuSe-
ment, as there are in large towns, they
depended on rural pastimes. They had
cOrn-Shuckings, apple-bees, and quilting
parties. In the fall they organized nut
ting parties, and during the winter they
had neighbOrhOod sleigh-rides. They
contrived various ways for making cOun-
try life pleasant and enjoyable.
In all the Western states that have
been settled for considerable time it
has become fashionable for wealthy
farmers to leave the places they have
improved and rendered comfortable as
soon as they become moderately wealthy
and to move to some large town. Some
times they allow their boys to carry on
the place, but in the majority of cases
they leave them to tenants. Quite re-
Gently it has become common for
wealthy farmers to go to some town to
pass the winter. Taking from the rural
districts the men and women of wealth,
intelligence and experience operates
very unfavorably on the social life in
these localities. 1t creates the impress
sion that life on farm is not worth
living. 1t makes those who remain be-
hind discontinued. A few years ago
farmers were complaining because
their boys wanted to go to cit
les, and honest Horace Greeley and
others wrote articles to show that it was
to their advantage to stick to the pillow.
Now country boys are complaining be-
cause their fathers wish to leave the
farm and go to town to live. A boy is
wanted who will show them that it is
better for them to remain in the old
farm house.
Something appears to be wrong in our
system OF farm management as in our
social system. In many countries life
on farm is considered more ENJOYABLE
than life in a large town. For centuries
it was the ambition of nearly every city
bred Englishman to obtain a coun-
try estate where he could live and
enjoy life, free from the vexa-
tons, cares, noise and smoke of
large town. All the poets from Virgil
to Whittier have sung the delights of
life in the country. Most of the great
nOvellsts have found their good char
acters in the country and their bad ones
in the city. All the painters go to the
country to find something beautiful to
reproduce on canvas and sell to people
whose occupation fOrbids their living
among waving trees, native flowers,
green fields and lowing herds. Law
yers employed in probate practice tell
us that estates in the country average
larger than those in cities. doctors de-
clare that country life is more favorable
to health than life in a large town, while
ministers are fond of diScOurSing Oh
country virtues and city vices.
Since persons of all the most intelli-
gent occupations unite in giving the
country so good name, it seems very
strange that so many people desire to
leave it. The reason is dOubtleSsly to
be found in the want of social adVafft-
ages. Men and women who have i'm
proved country places and become in
some degree attached to them, leave
them because they believe they can find
more social advantages in large towns,
and they are not generally mistaken.
The matter of improving social life in
the country is worthy the attention of
the managers of farmers institutes that
are now being held in various places in
the West. 1t has most important
bearing ON the present and future con-
dition of agriculture. If the most in
telligent, wealthy and successful farm
ers leave their estates in the hands of
cline in agricultural prosperity may be
expected. Their presence on farm is
an inspiration, while their advice is of
more value than the labor they can per-
form.