The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1895-09-06
A DELIGHTFUL COUNTRY HOME.
Maple River Farmers Assemble to Enjoy
Day in it with Mr.. and Mrs. C
II. II. Payne.

| are III the maple hlNeT OlStrlCl. AnoalS
them is that of G. II. III. Payne and in II
last week Thursday the Maple River
Farmers Club held one of its happy
and instructive sessions. A more beau
tiful location could hardly be found.
Situated on little hill with the rich
and cultivated land sloping in all direc-
tons is the new and elegant residence,
one of the finest in Shiawassee county.
A large veranda on the north and east
sides invites the attention of the passer,
while from it the guest steps into q
most charmingly arranged house. A
large reception room opens with double
doors into the parlor and also the sit
ting room which is also connected with
the dining room and library by double
doors, all exquisitely arranged and
made light and pleasant by large bay
windows. Everything is in keeping
The large barn is most complete and
carefully kept. The stables in the
basement have cement floors and the
yards are well arranged. A large tank
furnishes water to hydrants in all parts
of the barn, while the large mice proof
granary is connected by chutes, as is
the hay loft, with the stable below.
The sheep and hog yards have devices
for loading, ringing and feeding that
are unique and labor saving. A silo at
the east end is filled from the cutting
room and on the stable side is so ar
ranged that securing feed for the stock
is but q moments work even when the
silo is filled. The land is good and as
Mr.. Payne is careful student and a
hard worker the farm yields returns
that are surprising. Mr.. and Mrs.
Payne have one child, Miss Bertha, and
| with them live Charles, Purcell, Addie
and James McGillvra, nephews and
niece, and Jabez Payne, one of the
staunch old pioneers that brought Shia-
! wassee out of the woods and who, al
though eighty-six years of age, insists
on taking turn at the pillow. Together
they welcomed the crowd of guests and
every one felt at home.
At two o'clock, President o. G. Moore
called the club and visitors to order and
after few remarks of congratulation,
called upon the chaplain, Mrs. Julia
Moore, who read chapter in the Bible
and offered prayer.
The subject for the men, '"The Rain
fall and How to Meet Drouth," was
assigned to VIM. GLADDEN. and p. B.
Reynolds. Mr.. GLADDEN. asked if the
drouth was from natural causes or the
work of God. He thought it was from
natural causes and drOuths would be
more frequent in the future than in the
past. Land had been drained, small
bodies of water had been removed and
forests cut down, leaving the soil ex-
posed to the sun and the drouth was
the consequence. Kansas and Texas,
prairie countries, had suffered less in
recent years while Michigan had suf-
fered more-the reason being simply
that there trees had been planted and
were constantly offering the protection
needed, while here the reverse had oc-
Cured. He advised fall blowing, early
and constant cultivation.
Mr.. Reynolds considered the question
more important to the farmer than the
tariff, the money or the temperance
question. The drouth commenced in
July 1898 and was still here. Since
1885 the rainfall had been from one
third to one half less than for the TWEEN
ty-fve years preceding. An annual de-
ficiency of 32,350,000 gallons to the
square mile had been the record of
1S934-5 in Michigan. Every drop of
water in the great Mississippi would
not make it up. No snow capped peaks
are here to help in years like this. All
must look to the moisture in the soil
BY evaporation twenty per cent of the
moisture was wasted. Corn, beans and
potatoes were to be fair crops. Why
do other crops suffer more? These are
cultivated more. The remedy must be |
deep blowing and pulverizing, more
constant cultivation.
Frank Sheldon thought that drouths |
were not caused by removal of forests |
but that ground was worked too long. |
E. j. Cook said it was not always |
possible to prepare for drouth, but |
that vegetable loan should be used for |
fertilization. Crops should be turned |
under enriching the soil. Rye was
good for this.
using too much electricity and lacked |
lightning and thunder to shake the |
clouds. He advised continued blowing.
F. G. Reynolds read clear and COM
prehensiv. paper on "The Influence of |
Geography on History" explaining the
rapid development of parts of the |
country favored by good geographical |
situation and the slow growth in others. |
The next subject, "Value and At
traction of Home in Forming Charac.
ter" was discussed by Clayton Cook.
He spoke of the different ideas of home. |
To the Indian with bear skin to re-
cline upon; to the Aborigines of South |
America, simply a shady nook along
the Amazon; to the rich man large |
house with fine stone front, filled with |
magnificent furniture, servant for |
every little want and to execute every |
whim. Yet the place made not the |
home. With all its comforts the rich |
mans home developed not the best |
things. The Indians life made him
selfish, cruel and indolent Love and |
sympathy, health and hard work made |
the best people. Parents should not |
threaten; should not tell the simple lies |
that leave the child unable to Judge be-
tween truth and falsehood; should not |
make little ones afraid of the dark,
leaving them towards for life time.
Every move, every word leaves its i'm
preston and the lessons of youth make |
the man and the woman good or bad.
The Dorcas Home delegation that |
came-twenty in numbers-to explain |
the objects of their organization, then
occupied the attention of the club for |
over an hour and closed by taking up a
collection for their work. Miss Anna |
10 rtropn wa q tho epaokar for tho lodias |