The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1891-07-11
Mc,NoTCNY IN FAM LIfg.
Farmers Themselves TO Blame for Their
Humdrum Existence.

Humdrum Existence.
That variety is the spice of life" is
very generally admitted. Yet farmers,
as class, do not get as much of the
spice of variety as they should. Their
lives are often monotonous almost be-
yond endurance 1t must be con-
fessed, however. that farmers are them
selves largely to blame for this monot-
ony. The isolation of the farmers
home is one of the greatest obstacles in
the way of social enjoyment he has to
deal with. 1t is our duty to one an
other to cultivate social habitsl to visit
each others homes, compare notes and
make suggestions as to the best meth
DDS of farming, etc Nor does our
duty end at this neighborly intercourse.
Our first obligations, like charity, be-
gin at home. We should make the
farm home just as attractive as our
means will allow.
How many farm homes are utterly
devoid of attractionsl The house is
implanted and uninviting; the fences
are dilapidated; the gates have sagged
down to the ground; the entire sur
roundings are dreary in the extreme.
In the yard grow noxious weeds. where
roses and other ornamental plants
should be seen. Scrubby bushes stand
where neat grass plat should be. In
stead of an orchard of beautiful fruit
trees we see here and there, at long in
tervals, a few broken limbed. neglected
apple and peach trees and q dense
thicket of plum bushes hard by.
The adjacent fields have been cult
waited for years in the same crops,
plowed by the same shallow running
plows, and producing their steadily de-
creasing little crops of corn or cotton.
No manure has ever been applied since
the land was first cleared. The same
round of drudgegy has been gone
through with year after year; the same
cry of hard times has always been
heard on this farm, and the same dole
full expression has been seen on the
farmers face for years past. Indeed,
this lugubrious expression seems to
have settled down to stay, and stay it
doubtless will until the grave shall
close over his weary form.
The work stock receives but a scanty
and monotonous ration of corn and
fodder, while the mich COWS have to
subsist upon what they can CLEAN from
the bare forests and old fields.
Is it at all strange that boys should
abandon this kind Of sordid, wearisome
life and flee to the city as soon as they
become of age2 1t would indeed be
strange if they remained there.
But think of the hardships the poor
wife must endure upon such a cherries
farm rs this Oftentimes without even
the common luxury of vegetable gar
den. and, perchance, little or no poul-
try or milk to aid her in her culinary
cares. Is it not enough to run a sensi-
tive woman crazy2 There are thou
sands Of just such dreary, monotonous,
cherries farm homes in the west and
south, and perhaps elsewhere.
Executive ability is not confined to
men by any means. | know plenty of
women who have more practical com
mon sense in a minute than their inca.
pable husbands will have in a lifetime. |
Such women should hold the tiller and
guide the agricultural ship. Had they
full control of things there would be
far less monotouy of farm life. They
would supply both the spice of variety
and the sugar of sweet contentment to
the boys and girls of the household. =
Country Gentleman.