The Columbus journal., 1896-02-05
Harnlers' Club.

| Farmers Club
The last meeting Of the Farmers club
was at the residence Of William Meayss,
sr. The officers selected for the ensuing
term were: A. w. Clark president, Mrs.
, e. J. Young vice president, w. E. Lock
hart secretary.
Clause second Of the by laws, relating
to absence Of members, was stricken out.
The first Friday Of each month is to
he meeting day hereafter. instead Of the
last Friday. the next meeting to be at
John Tannahills.
The essay Of Mrs. Young was SO full
Of good suggestions that she was re-
quested to permit it's publication in
The JOURNAL.
THE IMPORTANCE OF GOOD SUPPLY OF
READING MATTER-BY MRS.
z. J. YOUNG.
The time lns long since passed when
the Bible and the almanac were cOnsid-
cred a sufficient library for farmers
family. The Bible, Of course, should be
indispensable, and can always he studied
with increasing interest and benefit, but
We also ought to give ourselves and fam
lilies chance to gain the best and most
reliable information concerning the
progress Of the world in which We live,
and take a glimpse, at least, OF passing
70 h<> -
unfOlded to our view. Newspapers, mag
azines and books, are now offered at SO
low a price, there seems no reasonable
excuse to prevent our availing ourselves
Of their advantages, and to those Of US
who have families growing mp, an abund-
ant supply Of good reading matter is a
real necessity.
Young people must have something to
interest themselves in during leisure
hours, and il not kept interested in
something useful and improving, they
are very apt to he tempted to waste time
in amusements that are often both ex-
pensive and Improbable. BY attracting
the attention of our children to the study
Of good books, We help to bring them in
contact with the best thoughts Of the
brightest minds Of the past as we'll as the
present; we aid in giving them new ideas
and food for thought and imagination,
and cultivate in them desire to store
their minds with the substantial ele-
ments required Of them as responsible
beings, instead OF the superficial follies
SO often indulged in to excess. An intel
ligent understanding Of current topics,
as presented by the leading papers, is
quite an education Of itself, and gives
material assistance in helping to fit a
person to carry on conversation in any
society, while those uniformed on those
everyday subjects cannot help feeling
the deficiency. Consequently it is duty
we owe our families, to provide them
first with the best reading matter We can
procure, and then with as much Of it as
our means will allow, or their time can
utilize to advantage. Then what are the
best papers to take, and why: I think
the first in the list should be the local
newspaper, and probably in a country
neighborhood one local paper would be
found sufficient to give the family the
items Of current happenings, local adver-
tisements, and other bits OF news Of
interest in our neighborhood, and on
which We all like to keep posted.
Then, as most OF the heads OF families
are more or less interested (or should
bel in public or political subjects, they
will want a metropolitan paper, to give
them all the desired information on ma
tiOnal affairs. This is rather delicate
subject, as most OF them will prefer the
paper which afiiliates with their own
views, or those Of the party with which
they are identified do not think this
just right, as generally only one side OF
subject is presented, and is made the
most Of to build mp political capital and
party prejudice. 1 always think it q
| good plan to hear both sides Of q story,
and then form conclusions accordingly.
| To do this we must take two opposing
political papers.
A good farm paper is a good thing, il
| it's instructions are suited to the locality
We are in; and so is a good magazine,
the prices Of which are now SO reduced
that We could all afford at least one.
A paper devoted to home topics and
housekeeping is great help to the
mother OF family in many ways, and
would help to enliven many weary tasks
and brighten up our homes.
Last, bnt not least, il there are chill
dren in the family, take good children's
paper. II we'll selected, it will prove a
most beneficial factor in their education
and create in them a healthy desire for
reading and study, which is always com.
mendable and should not be neglected.