The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-04-12
Making Fnrm Life Happy.

Several months ago the Cosmopolitan Maya
! zine offered two prizes, amounting 10 800
one for the best essay 10y farmers daughter
/ on farm life and how to make II attractive:
! the other for the best article by a farmer on
( the needs Of farmer his hours of labor and
the national legislation necessary for his pros
perty. The choice from the three hundred
! manuscripts submitted has been made by
| Hialmar Hjorth BOyesen and the editor of the
| Cosmopolitan. The frst-ramed essay. by
Jennie L. Hooker, Of McCutchanville. Ind. l.
| printed in the April number of the magazine.
| McCutchanville Is "a post hamlet. seven miles
| from Evansville.
Miss Hookers essay, five pages long. ia
| simply and neatlyeXpressed its purpose being
practical, as BELTS the conditions set for the
competition. Young people, she says, leave
the farm because their rural homes are often
unattractiye and lacking III social and educa-
tiOnal privileges. 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 honorable
healthful and comparatively independent pur-
suit it has its needs. If the farm life" says
the essayist, lis 10 be made thoroughly attrac-
tive If IL Is 70 be raised % the exalted position
il merits il will be necessary, first, t. lessen
the task work Of farming; second, % raise
maximum crops and profits: third, 20 surround
the work with intellectual progress, not forget
ting for a single mement 10 properly appre-
ciate the honorable position of the farm in the
community; and last, and by no means least.
make the home not only attractive in appear
ance, but place wherein dwells the spirit of
harmony"
Labor-saving inventions have lightened the
work Of farmers more than that Of their wives
Too often the wife and mother is poor over
worked creature, whose line of vision seldom
extends beyond the four walls Of her home.
yainly endeayOring 10 furnish the table and
cover other necessary expenses of the house
with the price of butter, eggs and poultry"
Women on the farm are not given the full adj
vantages of sewing machines. knitting ma
chimes patent churns and washing machines
Girls on the farm should be paid for their
work. The raising OF poultry is more profita-
bic and agreeable than the care of milk and
butter.
Women on the farm should cultivate read
ing clubs. good books and periodicals. The
home should be made attractive with interest
ing literature and simple. tasteful decorations
Concerts and lectures in the neighborhood
should be attended Music should lac cult
vated-lnstrumental If possible. vocal in anv
case Books and music may be had by the
humblest farmer who ever walked between
the plough handles, and combined with those
two blessings is the home influence. which
cannot occupy neutral ground, but must be
either blessing or curse. BY all
means. then. let there be domestic amuse-
ments, fresde pleasures, which, even though
they be quiet and simple, shall make our ru
raj home happy and not leave it an unpleasant
place which will oblge the youthful spirit to
look elsewhere for JOY" The home should
be place of cheerfulness and unselfishness,
and where the rights Of the humblest are re-
spected. 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 a circle the younger members are apt TO
break away.
The boy on the farm has often little time 20
himself He Is put in harness young and is
expected 10 rest from regular labor by run
keep a boy trained thus on the farm after he
gets large enough 10 shift for himself. The
better way would be to give him light tasks.