The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1897-01-27
Essay Read by Mrs. I. E. Armstrong
at Farmers Institute.
soo1ABILITY IN COUNTRY LIFE.


He who has not spent at least part of
his life in the country has missed one
of the greatest means of happiness low
ing Heavenly Father has to bestow on
His children.
1t is there we sit on the lap of Mother
Nature and study her beauties and delve
among her secret treasures and Gull from
her every source gems of rarest beauty
and design and as we drink in the notes
of the sweetest songsters, or listen to the
low murmer of the pebbly brook as it
hurries along, or wander in the deep
shadows of the forest it seems fitting that
we should thank God for placing us in
such pleasant part of the universe.
But it has been apparent for many
years that there is a growing discomfort
among farmers and farmers families, for,
no matter how great may be the moral,
physical and financial benefits derived
from life on the farm there still remains
the desire to associate more with their
fellow-beings and to be in closer touch
with what they consider the more FORUM
ate portion of our population, /. e., those
who reside in city or town.
1t is true there are not so many persons
needed now on the farm to do the work
as were required quarter of a century
ago. This is due in great measure to
the many kinds of machinery which have
been invented for the farmers benefit.
What formerly required several persons
weeks to accomplish may now be done
in as many days. This is specially true
of the harvest season hence the boys,
yes and girls too, rush off to seek their
fortunes elsewhere.
One other reason why so many of our
young men are anxious to leave the farm
is that so many of our young women do
not consider farmers sons so desirable
for life partners as are the young men
reared in town. This is a false idea; for
whatever may be lacking in the rubbed
finish" of the man will generally be
overbalanced by his sterliHg integrity,
correct idea of morals, his industrious
habits usually acquired with life on the
farm. While he may not be able to dis
cuss the latest plays or the newest figures
cut ON the waxed floor of the dancing
hall, there is no reason under the sun
why his better self may not be as well
cultivated as his city cousin.
1t is a well known fact that country
boys and girls are capable of filling i'm
portant positions both in the trades and
professions. 1 have in mind a little
country church which in few years sent
out nine of her sons TO preach the gospel
some Of which are now filling important
pulpits in n. Y. and Philadelphia, and
one is professor in one of our leading
Penn'a colleges. can name a grea
many farmers daughters who stand higt
in the medical profession, on the lecture
platform, as public singers, as music
teachers, as principals of schools, a,
nurses, as milliners, and in fact in a grea
many other important walks in life.
There are some country people whC
have an idea that magazines, books, pa
pers, and music are not intended for thu
inhabitants Of the rural districts, anC
consider it of no use for them to vast
either time or money on anything but tn
bare articles of necessity.
Would you have your sons and daugh
ters grow to be intelligent, refined mel
and women provide them with goot
books; subscribe for a good magazine o
two aud some other papers besides the 10
cal paper which of course should be il
every house in the land. Teach then
10 sing, furnish them with good musi
cal instrument of some kind and hav
them taught how to use it.
Allow each member of the family tn
privilege of thinking and acting a litttl
for himself Give the family holida
occasionally as we'll as taking one your
self
: There are numerous r. r. excursion
| which are in themselves great educators
if patronized the family will becom
somewhat familiar with travelling whic
will be benefit TO them in after life a
well as affording recreation for the pres