Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-15
HOME BUILDING.
Paper Read by W. N. Drake, Before
the Farmers Institute at Cal
mar, March I'd.

wren lTlenu comes TO VlSlt you,
have you not noticed that there are
different degrees of visiting? During
the day time you take him around
with you as you go to your work; and
you talk about your stock, your crops,
your buildings and such common
place things; but when evening comes
and the work is done, supper is eaten,
and the children put to bed, then you
draw your chairs up to the fire and
talk of those things which are nearest
to your hearts, and which for some
reason you could not bring yourself to
speak of during the day. 1t is in
some such spirit as this that | have
chosen to speak to you on a subject
which believe is dear to most of us,
and should lie at the very core of our
lives.
refer to the subject of home build
ing. You may have heard of the far
mer who wanted to buy more land, to
raise more corn, to feed more hogs, and
so on. There are many such men, but
many Of us would stop that rotation
and put in the phrase "to build home"
i did not say house, because house and
home are not synonymous. A house
is only part of q home.
cannot see how anyone can begin
with piece of raw prairie or timber
land, and through years of toll and
care, convert it into a home, without
growing into it, taking root in it, as
Oliver Wendell Holmes says: "What
sense of ownership comes to man
who has seen trees, planted by him,
grow from twigs to giants" What
man or woman is there that does not
become attached to place where every
building, tree, bush and flower repre-
sents 80 much of their thought and eff
fort. What a companion is an apple
tree that one has planted and pruned
and guarded until it begins to return
fruit to him for his care. Shall we
smile at man who says he has some
affection for trees and buildings? 1t is
a good sign when man begins to take
root; and happy is he whose roots
strike deep and wide, for he is anchor
ed from many an evil. There has
been too little of this taking root in
this busy western country. When a
man begins with bare land, and works
and worries until he has comfortable
house, ample barn room, sheds, fences,
well that is no longer an experiment,
an orchard that is bearing fruit, and
all the other things that are needed to
make farming comfortable, as we'll
as profitable occupation, he begins to
find out that there are many things
that have cost him both money and
labor, that he will sell at loss if he
sells the farm, because houses and
barns are somewhat like clothing
they are intended to fit the owner;
they seldom fit stranger so well;
hence, they do not have SO much
value in his eyes as in those of their
builder.
The general tone and character Of
these country homes has a greater in
iuence than many persons suspect.
In every political crisis the nation
finds that the country is the balance
wheel, and the brake on the body Do
litic. BUTT is in business more than
in politics that the effect of country
homes is felt. The country is con.
tinually furnishing new blood and
vigor to the city. The majority of the
successful men in the. cities were
country boys. and they tell us that
other things being equal, the country
boy has better chance than the city
boy, because of his having greater en-
durance, more frugal habits, more
tenacity of purpose, and more self re-
lance, all of which are natural re-
suit of life ON farm.
The isolation of farm homes is
benefit or a detriment to our children
according as it is used. 1t gives par
ents more complete control over child
rem than is possible in cities, and with
proper training may be benefit to
them; on the other hand, if they are
allowed to grow up unframed, the re-
suit can only be uncouth. ill-mannered
and possibly immoral children. They
absorb much from their surroundings,
hence the necessity of making their en-.
vironment as favorable to good growth
ms our means will allow. Shall we rest
content with giving them all they need
Of food and clothing? We do as well
as that by our stock. Shall we rot alse
feed the eye, the ear, and the mind?
II they are eye hungry let us feed them
with flowers in and around the house,
with pictures that appeal to their high
er natures. III they are ear hungry,
feed them with music and song. I'll
know Of nothing that win tie members
of the family together as well US music, |
only let 1t be distributed among all the |
members and not all heaped on one.
Let them sing songs of sentiment and |
love,providing they are pure and noble, |
but most of all, get them to sing those |
deeply religious songs and hymns that |