The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-29
Mllllfl Eagle
MAKING FARM LIFE HAPPY.
An Indiana Farmers Daughter Tells
How to Help Home Life.

An Indiana Farmers Daughter Tells
How to Help Home Life.
Miss Jennie E. Hooker, of McCutchan-
vile, Ind. received prize of 500 from TIE
Cosmopolitan Magazine for the best essay
on how TO make farm life attractive Here
Is an abstract of her paper:
Young people leave the farm because
their rural homes are often unattractive
and lacking in social and educational privi-
leges. They have mistaken ideas, too, of
the pleasures of city life and of the labor
connected with stores and factories. On
the other hand, while farming is an honor
able, healthfuI and comparatively indie
pendent pursuit, it has its needs. III the
farm life, " says an essayist, lis 20 be made
thoroughly attractive, if it is to be raised
10 the exalted position it merits, it will be
necessary, first, TO lessen the task work OF
farming; second, TO raise maximum crops
and profits: third, 20 surround the work
with intellectual progress, not forgetting
for single moment to properly appreciate
the honorable position of the farmer in the
community; and last, and by no means
least, make the home not only attractive
in appearance, but a place wherein dwells
the spirit of harmony"
Labor saving invent tons have lightened
the work of farmers more than that Of
their wives. Too often the wife and
mother is a poor, overworked creature,
whose line of vision seldom extends beyond
the four walls Of her home, vainly endeav-
oring TO furnish the table and cover other
necessary expenses Of the house with the
price of butter, eggs and poultry" Wom-
en- on the farm are not given the full adj
vantage of sewing machines, knitting ma
chimes, patent churus and washing ma
chimes. Girls on the farms should be paid
for their work. The raising of poultry is
more profitable and agreeable than the
care of milk and butter.
Women on the farm should cultivate
reading clubs, good books and periodicals.
The home should be made attractive with
interesting literature and simple, tasteful
decorations. Concerts and lectures in the
neigh borhood should be attended Music
should be cultivated, instrumental if pos
sible, vocal in any case. Books and music
may be had by the humblest farmer who
ever walked between the plow handles,
and combined with those two blessings is
the home influence, which cannot occupy
neutral ground, but must be either bless
ing or curse.
By all means, then, let there be domestic
amusements, fireside pleasures which, even
though they be quiet and simple, shall
make our rural home happy and not leave
1t an unpleasant place which viii oOige
the youthful spirit to look elsewhere for
JOY. The home should be place of cheer
fitness and unselfshness, and where the
rights OF the humblest are respected In
too many farm households the father never
unbends, the mother never feels well
enough TO enjoy any pleasures, however
innocent and simple they may be. From
such circle the younger members are apt
TO break away.
The boy on the farm has often little time
to himself He is put in harness young,
and is expected to rest from regular labor
By running errands for everybody. II IS
not easy to keep boy treated thus on the
farm after he gets large enough to shift for
himself The better way would be TO give
him light tasks to praise him for honest
effort, to teach him the use of money and
TO encourage him in little business vent
ures of his own. A small share in tn
crops on patch of ground for himself will
not be amiss- A pleasant room adds TO his
contentment, and if ne can have pony or
horse he might be reckoned even happy
Will young people cared for in this fashion
leave the farTns