The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-01-26
The MOnOtony of Homo Life Some
Remedies and Suggestions.

ESSAY BY MRS. IDA A. SMALL,
Read before the Farmers Institute held
in Tionesta, Dec. 1O-11, 1898.
Mr.. Chairman and Friends of the In
stitute:-Suppose that you were so situa-
ted that the four walls of house consti-
tuted your world, its horizon the barn
and cornfeld, or perhaps and endless
line of hills; suppose again, that you
lived back from the public road, half
mile from the nearest neighbor, and for
days saw no faces but those of your own
household, with no variety in your daily
occupation. DrearY as this picture ap-
pears, it is but that of the rural and farm
ing population in general. In the winter
and spring months, when the roads are
bad, their conditions become still more
unbearable, and the entire being de
mands change, Is it any wonder that
the boys leave for the larger towns and
cities, and the daughters either marry
young or seek emf loyment away from
home? 1t is the purpose of this paper to
| present few ways by which the most
isolated family may keep in sympathy
with the outside world, and increase their
field of usefulness. If / speak often of
the wife and mother, it is because she is
universally acknowledged to be the life of
! the home. If the mother is cheerful and
| goes around with snatch of song on her
! lips, there will be sunshine everywhere; I;
the children will carry it to school in their
hearts, and the father feel fit for any task;
but if she frets and scolds no outside
sunshine can brighten that place.
Every thing possible should be done to
give this country an intelligent, healthy
motherhood. Has it not been said that
"the hand that rocks the cradle is the
hand that rules the world?" Recent
events at Princeton have reversed this,
and we might say that "the hand that
once ruled over this land of Liberty is
now at liberty to rock the cradle"
Over-work is one of the greatest foes to
a cheerful household. We read of the
farm dame of Holland, with her snow
white kerchief and her picturesque cos
tune, stepping around directing hel
maids; and of the English housewife
with bunch of jingllng keys, dealing
out supplies or experimenting the work
but it is left for the women of America Il
be veritable slaves to their house-work-
washing and scrubbing on Monday, bak
ing and ironing Tuesday, cooking all the
time and sewing between times; prepar
ing all the food; canning fruit, picklinl
and preserving-in some cases doing tn,
| nil tIn a.
newspaper. Now how could the mind bC
improved under such circumstances a
these?
First, by dropping all useless labor
rest and read little every day, let hap
pen what will. Draw the line at milkin,
and carrying wood and water, let tn
boys and men do that. You see believ
in the emancipation of women, not from
petticoats and bloomers, but from bein
mastered by their work. The Woman
Christian Temperance Union, and HON
{ or Foreign Missionary Societies are to b
found now in almost every community
l would like to urge all the wives an,
daughters not already members, to unit
with one or all of these societies. TIL
| expense is small and the return in tn
, enlargement Of the mental vision grea
If it is impossible to unite with these
take some of their publications; read {
Frances Willard, who stands for all this
, is best in womanhood or follow ths
4 brave Cincinnati girl, Mary Reed, to be
, leper colony in India, then repeat to tn
family and get them interested. Don
Q think you are too busy to do this som
4" mothers are so concerned about othe
Ia cares they fail to hold the jewels IN the
grasp, and lose all influence over the live
Of their children. Influence once lost
ls hard to regain.
IT To brighten the home itself woul
,f suggest a frequent change in the positio
of the furniture, the pictures and drape
Z les, no matter what the men say again
ie housecleaningi one grows dreadful
D. tired Of looking at the same decoration
Il year after year. A boquet of pressC
ferns and autumn leaves looks cheerfu
IL and even a picture from an illustrat,
rs newpaper pinned to the wall will give Il
Y. mind new food for thought. Have fe
plants but not too many lest they becon
a burden. Have variety in the food
~ accustomed to bpckwheat cakes and me
10. for breakfast, try eggs and toast sor
he morning; instead of coffee make coco
n If you have read a new joke, spring it
the family at the heteatableand raise laug
I'D it will do every one good. Keep the fami
D. birthdays; remember them by lit
ns gift and an extra good dinner. 1t is a S
- time in a child's life when no one remel
> bers its birthday. A family that has
O. depend on itself for entertainment duri
long winter will have TO get out Of