The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1888-06-14
Recreation.
Ohio Farmer


Harvest is not the long, tedious, la
borious season it used to be. With
mowers, reapers, self binders, and
horse hay-forks, and improved impli-
ments and machinery Of all descrip-
tions, harvest time has been robbed
OF it's terrors and reduced one half in
it's duration. This saving of time
should give the farmer more rest,
more recreation, much more time to
study and plan, and add greatly to
his enjoyment of life. That it does
not do this in SO many cases is the re-
suit OF wrong management. In re-
cent trip to Northern Michigan.we met
an Ohio farmer and his wife on tour
of recreation. We had met hundreds
Of ministers, lawyers, doctors and
business men at summer resorts and
on lines Of travel, but farmer Off on
pleasure trip in midsummer with his
wife was such q rare thing that we
could not help expressing astonish-
ment. 'Oh." he said, eve 90 every
summer, and have done so for many
years. A farmer has just as good O.
right to little rest and enjoyment as
other people"
But they can't all afford it, was our
suggestion. Nonsense" he replied.
"rhey think they can t and with many
the wish is father to the thought. But
they can all afford week or so Of
rest and recreation, some way. Many
don't want it, and many are so situ-
ated that they can't we'll go away.
But in nine cases out OF ten they could
change the situation. l have good,
trusty tenant living on my farm, and
a son and daughter at home, and we
feel content to stay away as long as we
desire. When we go home my son and
daughter will take their vacation. [
put by a hundred dollars every year
for this purpose, and | think it we'll
spent in two weeks Of travel and change
OF scene"
This farmer was well-to-do. In
fortunately, all farmers are not so
fortunately situated. But none are
so poor CT so hard pushed that they
cannot afford a breathing spell, g.
week or two of change and rest. A
visit to friends or relatives, or to an
attractive summer resort, or one of
the extended excursion trips now so
frequent, will afford the recreation
needed The human system will run
down and wear out under constant,
unremitting labor, and rest is the only
way nature has provided for repair.
Thousands offarmers' wives are under
treatment, taking medicine daily, and
paying unnecessary doctor bills, when
their only malady is exhaustion, and
the only remedy is rest-ot body and
mind. Use natures remedy and pre-
ventive. Of what good is life unless
we enjoy it? There are many species
OF slavery, and the majority
of farmers are voluntary subjects
of one Of them. The sooner they
emancipate themselves the better.
"a months rest now will add years
to your life," said a physician to g.
farmers wife whom he was called to
see, just after harvest, few years
ago. ''Ive no time to rest" she said,
There is too much to do" Tonics
were prescribed, the worn-out frame
partially braced up, and few days
later she was as busy as ever with
the multiplicity OF household cares.
Before snow Tell she was dead. The
physician told the writer that she was
worked TO death, and added, there
are a dozen Others in my practice
following the same road"
Sweet recreation barred, what doth ensue
But moody and dull melancholy,
knsman to grim and comfortless despair.
And at her heels /; huge infectious troop
of pale distemperatures and foes to life.