The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-11-20
FARMERS WIVES.
HOW TO MAKE THEM HAPPY
Interesting Discussion by the Deer Creek
~ Farmers Club
Reported for The Epis.

Reported for The Egis.
The Deer Creek Farmers Club made new de-
parture at its meeting at the residence of Mr.. +.
w. Baker, in Bel Air, last Saturday evening, by
talking about ways and means of making their
wives and daughters happy, the question being =
'How can farmers best promote the comfort and
happiness of the ladies OF their householder"
Mr.. Baker said he had found some difficulty in
performing the duty which devolves upon the
host of selecting the topic for the evenings dis
cuSson. The problem, however. had been solved
by lady, who remarked: You have talked
about horses and cattle, sheep and hogs. blowing,
planting and harvesting crOps-In short, how to
never had word to say about the hard-worked
farmers wife and daughters. Why not consider
ed?" The suggestion, said Mr. Baker, was adopt
ed.
The poet Burns wrote:
MANS humanity to man
Makes countless thousands MOURN"
Unless the poet used the word "man" in its most
comprehensive sense he might have added some
thing about mans inhumanity to women. More
offend in this respect from want Of thought than
any want OF feeling Besides the evidences of affec-
ton and tenderness which, being natural with
many men cost no effort to bestow, there ought to
be, on the part of farmers, substantial tokens of
appreciation of the part the wife performs in the
economy of the farm. Her life is a hard one at
best. So many times even if her husband is able
to pay for help she can not get it. Therefore she
should be provided with labOr-saving appliances
of every kind. The farmer is quick to see the ad
vantage OF any implement which will tighten
facilitate his own labors in the field and the same
wife indoors. But something else is needed These
things may minister to her comfort but not to her
happiness. Her pleasures should be considered and
provided for. For instance, almost any farmer
could afford to keep gentle horse and carriage
for the sole use of his wife and daughters. little
money to spend in their personal adornment or to
make the home more cheerful and comfortable,
should be given them. A man need not be afraid
of giving too much. for the head of the house will
get his full share of all the good things that come
into it. A good garden will add to the wite's
pleasures, by enabling her to better provide for
only a few of the things which would make the
ladies of the household more comfortable and more
Mr.. Baker added that committee of ladies had
provided bouquet of roses to be awarded to the
gentleman who made the best appeal in behalf of
John b. Wysong doubted whether or not a bache-
or ought to have anything to say the subject not
having had any experience: AS theory, however,
he supposed one OF the chief ways to make ladies'
comfortable and happy would be to have good
cook. Good cooking aids digestion and when the
man OF the house Is well fed he is kept in good
humor and makes things more pleasant for the
ladies. In the next place conveyance ought to
be provided for the of the ladies, that they
could drive out occasionally. A little outing will
make them more cheerful and agreeable at home.
The drudgery of farm life is excessive-so many
things require the care and attention of the farm
ers' wife that her lot is usually hard one. Much
of her unhappiness, he thought. proceeds from
want of appreciation and sympathy, If these were
given the ladies would be more contented and hap
ply. Every farmer ought to provide for a little
vacation for the ladies of his household, by which
they could be relieved for time, at least, of their
household cares and get the cobwebS out of their
brains. A farmer ought always to provide abund-
antly and literally for his family. 1t would be we'll,
too, to spend little money in books, periodicals
and papers.
John Moores said the greatest trouble ladies
have to contend with is crooked. ill-natured men.
This is the cause of much OF their unhappineSS. If
husbands, fathers and brothers knew to behave
themselves as gentlemen the ladies of their house
holds would be more happy. The farmers wife
ought to have certain sum of money regularly
wthlwhich to provide for the wants of the house.
troubles into the house. If he has worries he can
90 out into the fields and woods and get away from
nne put 'he woman can hot gea away Mos one
owing to the general crookedness Of mankind. So
many become cross to their hands and then come
families. Many little conveniences might be sup
piled with little expense such as having water
humor better than having plenty of water handy.
Thomas LOchary thought the question an excel
lent one and said the ladies ought to be requested
known lady who did not enjoy having the useef
horse and carriage, and every farmer should
one thew might use when the SQUIRE was not using
it, but one that the Squire might have when they
did not need it, The ladies enjoy going to the
store mill or postoff1ce and can often get cent
two more bushel for wheat than the Squire him.
self could get-and they always come home sober.
VIM. D. Lee thought ladies on farm are kept
at home more than they ought to be for want of
means to 60 by themselves. 1t does not always
suit farmer to leave his work to drive them about
d
of their own. He confessed that while he has
eight horses he has not one which he would con-
slider safe for ladies to drive. None of us do as
much for the ladies as we should.
b. Frank Hanway said that to promote the COM
fort and happiness of the ladies the first thing to
do is to provide happy home and this all depends
on the head of the house. 1t should be furnished
as comfortably as the farmers circumstances will
permit and provided with all the conveniences
possible to alleviate the drudgery of housekeeping.
If farmer can afford to keep an extra horse and
carriage for his wife and daughters he ought to do
Thny MAUI lnf fhnr,N NF0n in
Edward p Moores said that to make the ladies
ed inside and out. should be supplied. Then don't
interfere with the lady's management. good
hen house in nice warm place will bring smiles
SO many inventions have been introduced to rem
der more easy the farmers labors in the field the
improvements to aid the ladies have been COM
paratively few. nice horse and carriage is very
satisfactory, to the ladies. and carriages are so
cheap now that almost any farmer could provide
good one for his wife. 1t is true single ladies
might prefer not to drive themselves. but married
ladies should have horse and carriage at their
command The cost TO a farmer of keeping quiet
horse for his wife to drive would be small. good
wood house and large wood pile are also great
promoted if a man when he passes the wood pile
would pick up an armfu of wood and carry it into
the house. and when he passes the pump carry
bucket full of water in. A good garden is also
essential and farmer should assist his wife with
her flowers If man will prepare the ground the
ladies will plant the flowers, and nothing betokens
thrift and prosperity more than Well-kept flower
beds around the place.
should keep horse for his wife to drive, but he
thought the wife would consider any conveyance
na was good enough Og her & goHd
why not let her go to your pocket-book and help
herself. There is no danger of her abusing the
than if you made stated allowance.
r. Harris Archer said an important point con-
corning the comfort and happiness of the ladies
IA hpnn NUprlnOlyph namely boarding
hands. He argued that it would save the ladies of
the household much trouble and worry if hands
ways at regular time imposes heavy task on
the farmers wife, and it would be better for her
with their own families Some farm hands, when
they are well fed themselves forget the necess-
ties of their families and the latter often suffer-
If they took their meals with their families they
would provide for them much better. The addition
to wages would not be more than Is cents day and
strong, healthy farm hand would eat more than
that in meat alone every day, and the ladies would
have much additional work imposed upon them to
John Moores remarked that If hand is well fed
he will be able to do more work.
Edward P. Moores suggested the loss of time if
farm hands live at any considerable distance from
the farm.
B. F. Hanway said he did not board hands and
out to the field in the morning and the horses
were eating while they went to their homes.
=, VIM. ID. Lee thought it would be more easy for
$40 or Sl2 a month when they board themselves.
Mr.. Archer, resumng said that when man
comes into the house disposed to scOld, he ought
to think of his wife, Here she is, obliged to stay
in the house day after day, with no opportunity to
get even a breath of fresh air, and yet we expect
her to be always in good humor. If men were
to change places with women they would always
be in bad humor. In his neighborhoOd, he said,
the practice has arisen of husbands visiting by
themselves. This is great mistake.
Some member suggested that if the wife would
occasionally find some agreeable fellow to go visit
ing with her the practice would be broken up.
Robert I. Bovine said the home should be made
as attractive as circumstances will admit. Ii you
can afford to beautify, the pleasure will be ncreas
1t would take them out of doors more frequently
and add interest and variety to their lives. His
experience accorded with that of Mr.. Archer with
regard to boarding hands. Farmers wives are
so often without help that it is severe tax upon
the lady of the house to do the cooking and wash
from distance is employed he can bring his din
ner with him, and in his experience less time is
lost by hands who get their meals at their own
homes than when boarded at the farmers house.
Home life should be made pleasant by the head of
the house taking an interest in the affairs of the
times.
James w. Hanna also regarded it as mans
dnty to make the ladies of his household content
ed and happy, and thought the labor of boarding
good garden adds to the pleasure OF the ladies.
Mr.. Hanway remarked that often the ladies
were obliged to manage the garden,
Mr.. Hanna replied that this is not right A gar |
den properly managed, will supply vegetables and
fruits in abundance. A nice hennery is good |
produces He said he keeps seven cows, attends |
to the dairy himself and his wife gets all the |
money. Everything should be made convenient |
for the wife. Wood and water should be brought |