The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1892-11-29
w SIDES TO IT.
are eterna

Some city man has got off the fol
lowing about his idea of farm life:
"On the ordinary American farm i'll
the West, or even in the Middle States,
life is something in this wise: Every
body rises between 4 and 5 in the morn
ing. The men then look after the horses
and cattle, feeding the COWS, currying
the horses and cleaning the stables.
Next comes breakfast, cooked by the
women, TO which they all sit down III
their sOiled clothes, smelling Of horses,
COWS and cooking. The meal itself is
not apt to be well cooked, and the food
itself is generally poor, since all the
milk and fresh vegetables are sold
Farmers consider it extravaganza to live
well AS for service, e Is none;
everybody helps himself. There are
no manners, and a neat appearance at
the table would be considered as 'put-
ting on style The repast is also hur-
ried over, so that the main work of the
day may be undertaken. For men this
means planting, cultivating or harvest
ing; or the doing Of odd jobs about the
place, such as mending the fences, the
stables and pigpens.
"A heavy, Ill cooked dinner is swal-
lowed in the middle of the day, to which
everybody sits down hot and perspir-
ing. The operation is thai of feeding
rather than eating. Afterwards, all
during the dull, sleepy hours of the
afternoon the wearisOme round of work
goes on. At shutdown comes the odor-
GUS care of the cattle and horses, pigs
and chickens again, followed by a sup
per of pie and various other indigesUi-
BILE things. Every body tired with the
days labor goes to bed oon after sun
down SO as o be able to get up early in
the morning to undertake the same
weary routine. Often no lights are lit
in the farm houses during the sum-
mer."
The Grange Advocate comes back at
him after the following style:
We give place to the foregoing for
the purpose of letting our rural friends
know what some of these city chaps
think of them and we feel sure all will
enjoy a hearty laugh over the pen pic
ture this poor dumb creature has
painted. But let us take time, turn the
painting round and examine it care
fully. Everybody rises between four
and five in the morning" That is to
say, that being honest and virtuous,
they retire at a reasonable hour in the
evening instead of tramping around
from n drinking place to another,
visiting club rooms, that we believe is
the polite name for gambling houses,
lunch parlOrs and dens of shame and
infamy, Keeling home and to bed a two
o'clock in the morning where they re-
main until a nigh noon the next day.
Why, these fellows actually go through
life without once seeing the sun rise
OF we breathing the healthful and in
spring morning air. Next comes
breakfast, cooked by woman" Bless
u stars! who did he suppose cooked
the breakfast The men7 You're right
for once The women do the cooking
and it is not such cooking as you get
done in the city. If there is anybody
knows how to cook it is the families of
our farmers. And they don't boast of
the good meals they eat, either, for
having an abundance Of the very best
OF everything; to fail in this respect
would be to them a most notifying
shame. But "GU the milk and fresh
vegetables are sold. Silly goose, if O
believe that we are satisfied, and don't