The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1897-01-08

| nOHle," Dut not emu tnere. III we
must live apart from others, moth
ing keeps us SO in touch with them,
and so ready TO enjoy their society,
when we do meet, as books and
news papers. We would say, take
first, one Of your county papers,
second, one of the standard Farm
Journals, then, some religious pap
er,-If you are not interested in
religious matters, you ought to b.,
and our church papers are ably
edited and will do you, and yours,
good. Then at least one good gen.
eral new spaper or magazine.
Others Of course, ad libitum. The
county paper tells you what your
neighbors are doing, the Farm
Journal--Well, it's one of your
tools. The church papers will
keep you from getting cynical
about the world growing worse,
perhaps, make you feel like doing
little to help make II better, and
the general paper keeps you ac-
quainted with national affairs; and
the Sc will certainly do much, to
take away the sting of isolation.
But, another object to being II farm
er's wife, might be found in the
average farmers disregard for
what he contemptuously calls
"lOoksw by which we mean, the
appearance of his surroundings.
Now, we can't all have great
houses with fine grounds and sur
roundings, but much m ore atten-
ton to neatness, and simple beauty
can be given to our country homes,
than they do receive. Woman
kind Is rarely altogether lacking
in the aesthetic. She does, natur-
ally, sigh for touch OF the beauti.
full. She likes grassy yard, she
don't want home where you can't
tell where the front yard begins,
and the barn-yard ends. She likes
flowers, and vines, and trees, and,
with little help. will have them.
Then help her to keep the little
yard about your house neat and
clean. DON'T put your pig-pen, or
wood-pile between the house and
the road. Don't throw old boards
and truck around. Don't deposit
pitch-forks, shovels and op.buck-
cts at the front gate. Have the
yard moved too, in summer time,
often enough, that she will not be
afraid of snakes, and that the flow
ers she loves can grow and show.
Give her some help and encourage
ment, by making flower-bcds for
her and see il she doesn't make
"the wilderness blossom rs the
rose." Aud lastly, when together,
you have increased your earthly
store, and begin making improve
ments, don't build cribs, granaries,
fine barns and everything else,
while the old house gets older and
older, rustier and rustier, making
life and work harder and harder
for the good house wife. We read
a good story once Youths Com.
panion prize stOry-styled "The
Mothers Revolt" and we've wand.
cred many times that there have
not been more such "Revolts," that
is, that more farmers wives, have
not managed to get their husbands
Off for few days absence and
while he was gone, move into the
new barn, and let the horses and
cows have the house. But, while
we have been naming objections,
you will mistake us greatly, If you
think we see no advantages in
life. The country home
has charm of it's own that never
can belong to one, of row, in town
or city. 1t naturally has about it
more Of the owners individuality;
hence, there cluster round it, more
Of intimate and hallow-
ed associations. We, as Americans,
can appreciate this. Could any
stately old mansion in the heart OF
Washington City, so charm us, or
so make us feel, the actual life,
habits, aye, the real in.
ward personality Of our own George
Washington, rs that dear old low.
walled home on the Potomac, ant.
Vernon ?" Our poets understand
this, too. Where do they go for
their sweet, home songs? Not to
No. 720, Blank St., but to "The
orchard, the meadow, the deep
wild wood" Anything
akin t" the immortal "Old Oaken
were impossible OF any
but IA fai m-house. Evon viii
who has struck 80 many
tender cords In his Farm Ballads,
has scarcely interested us, in his
City Ballads. But If the improve.
ments we've suggested, seem ex-
travagant to any Of you, permit
Us a few words, in which to plead
the cause Of whom we ask them
the farmers wife. 1t is said, we
believe justly said, that agricuitur.
al pursuits, are the he'd rock on
which all other business rests; that
the farmer IL an Indispensable fact
or In the business world. Well
then, we've asked these things for
her, who, IL not equal in power, IL :
equal In Importance with yourself
but for whom you could scarcely
be a farmer For, in this particu-
lar, we do claim, the farmers wife
differs from many other wives. The
wife, the mechanics
the professional mans wife, is each
rnanu nf tho hama o,,I ,. o,,,i, |