Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1889-11-07
Farmers, Wives

In discussing the reasons why 90 few
boys born and brcd on the farm follow
their fathers calling, there Is one thai
is entirely creditablc to them and that
is too little considered. Most OF them
expect to marry some day. and seeing
how hard time their mothers usually
have, are properly unwilling to oblige
the girls they love to assume such ar.
duous responsibilities. In fact they
cannot oblige girl to become far.
mer's wife If they would. The time
for such obligation has not yet come,
and in ninety-nine cases out of one
hundred. ambitious girls, who like q
young man well enough for himself,
suppress their feelings and give him
the 90 by, If this be the prospect in
life that he holds out "for bcttcr or for
worse" 1t is unfortunately not alto
gether prejudice that thus influences
young women against the farm. or
rather it is the natural prejudgment of
their own fate from the facts in far.
mers' wives experiences with which
they are themselves familiar.
Undoubtedly the greatest improve
mont in farming life now needed con-
sists In creator comforts and convent
snces for farmers wives. The farmer
himself has all sorts of labor-savi ng
machinery. The wife often has to do
with only tho same conveniences pro-
vided for her mother and grandmother
before her. As social duties become
more exacting her time and leisure are
less than formerly. Children on the
farm do not trough" it rs much as they
lsed to. Just all the difference in
their appearance marks so much the
greater care thrown upon the mother.
1t is more difficult than formerly to get
good help in the house in the country.
iirls who work in private families pre-
Tor city life. They, too, had rather find
beau among the young men in some
city avocation than on farm. Now
Is far as possible farmer should either
make his wife's work proportionately
IS easy as his own, or he should quit
;he business II satisfied that this cannot
Dc done. Usually the hardest job in
The house may be saved by little time
" thoughtfulness on the part of the
husband and menfolks. Having q good
supply Of wood or other fuel In q con-
zen ent place ought to be requirement
rom every housewife. So, too. should
good hard and soft water convenient
'or use. Many steps may be saved by
constructing sewage drains to convey
ilops from the house. This drain should
terminate in some receptacle at Il dis.
:ance from the house, which kept dis
Infected will more than pay its way in
,rovid ng fertilizers for the farm.
1t is presumed that most farmers
wives have sewing machines. They
ire as great help in the house as now
FRS and harvesters are on the farm, and
nay be used many more days In year.
The iGehouse and creamery should be
maintained wherever a COW is kept.
They make great saving in the labor
II caring for milk, and are besides we'll
worth their cost in making more and
better butter than the old laborious
methods. The ce-cold milk from the
,reamer is an excellent drink for hard
working men. With every particle OF
cream removed, it Is rs nutritious as it
,yer was, and its GOODNESS, combined
with nutrition. makes it valuable for
rink to men in the hay and harvest
ields. "Then, too, with plenty of ice
t is easy to have ice cream easily,
made cheaply and better than nine
eenths of what is sold in cities. With
beautiful home grown flowers in the
iooryard, and perhaps q greenhouse
or them in Winter. the farmers wife
aaed ask no odds of her city sisters
Fith equal wealth in the pleasures and
,etinenicnts Of life which each may
njoy.
The trouble with most farmers is
hat they do not make the most OF lit
lie thhgs where they can easily and
.heaply increase the comforts and lux
iries of life. Lacking these, they look
With greater envy on the supposed ad-
1antages Of city residents. and of
course become discontinued and un-
lsppy. II farmers asked the advice of
heir wives more than they do about
household arrangements and give
hem their way in these, they would
Ind the comforts Of their homes great.
y increased thereby. Perhaps then
heir sons. whom they hope to leave
Is prosperous farmers, would not be
ieterred from their fathers business
,y their inability to find lovable and in.
elligent young women willing 10 share
'nch q life with them. AMERICAN Cal-
trator.