Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-03-22
THE FARM.
3as Influence on Bodily, Mental, and
Moral Growth.

THE following excellent paper was
mad before the recent Farmers Insti-
suie at Calmar by John B. Kaye.
EDS
When God cursed Cain, He at the
snme time elevated his calling, and
put upon Cain His mark, that no man
dared to destroy him. By that act
Sod punished Cain; but at the same
lime ennobled him, in that He took
hin under His special protection.
Gains offense was between himself
md his God; so also his punishment.
Out of Gains crime,--the first great
tragedy of the race,-and its punish
ment, the beginning of the second
great expiation assumed by the human
family, has grown up that indescrib-
able sympathy, between the soil of our
earth and the dust of our bodies, which
has been, and is, the richest inherit
anee of those who live closest to the
Aeart of Nature, the tillers of the soil.
God has made ell other men in civiliz-
ed communities dependant on them.
1 think it was the great Napoleon who
said that an army marches and fights
on it's stomach. Whoever said il, it is
certainly true. And of all the organs
nf our bodies, the stomach is most
peculiarly the pensioner of the farmer.
Without the sustainance of some of
his products, after about AS hours, the
greatest army that ever made the
earth vibrate with their tread, would
become a raving, weak, and ineffect-
iyemob. Deprived of them altogether,
civilized society would Immediately
perish.
Blessed is that babe born on farm
or healthy and intelligent parents.
There is no shreiking of whistles, no
changing of bells, no roar and rattle OF
trade and commerce, no shouting OF
assembled crowds, to disturb the SEN
sifive nerves, or put the infant heart
I'D fiutter of fear. The grooming, and
lullaby of the mother voice, the sigh.
ing of the winds, the lowing and bleat'
ing of the herds and flocks. the steady
going cluck and cackle of the barr
fowls, the twitter and song of the wild
birds; these are the sounds which greet
sbe new life on the farm. These are
The soothing, pathetic, harmoniou:
voices of Nature, as restful and quiet.
ing as sleep itself; they are a part OF
ahe hygiene of the farm, to which the
world owes more than it is aware Of
After these favorable beginnings the
boy and girl on the farm have plenty
of plain, nutritious food, and an APP
petite made keen and appreciative by
plenty of fresh air and exercise. From
All these, result health, and spirits thai
glow in the ruddy cheeks. and mani
kst themselves in the elastic step, the
CHEEKY laugh, and the clear sparkling
eye. 1t is not mere health and strength
al0ne, which find such favorable con
ditions on the farm, but bodily grace
and symmetry; and culture, as well as
Nature, unaided, nowhere does more
in this direction than on the farm
But here, the intelligent father and
mother on the farm, must come t.
Natures aid, occasionally, to help II
correcting any careless habits, slouchy
carriage, or ungainly gait, that thei
children may tend to. The natural
all-round athlete boy or girl, has NJ
more fitting habitat than the farm
In these days of machinery, and labor
zayingappliances, the young people oil
ahe farm are not over-worked, or call
ed upon to perform any duty beyond
their strength. Their calling and con
ditions then, are favorable to physica
symmetry, and perfection.
The farmer takes pleasure in pointing
eu to his neighbors, the SHAPED
horses, the sleek and trim-bu horne
or de-horned cattle, and the compac
~hlOcky" pigs, on the farm. He vii
sven start up the horses to show o.
their steps, If he is about to break
solt to harness, he frequently, as
preliminary, will put on check an
bit-gear, and let him move around !
that for some time, to give propt
carriage to the head, and correct an
tendency to being ''poked necked.
TO his own flesh and blood, his DO,
md girls, he is too frequently total
indifferent as to what shapes the
bodies are getting into. Here is a be
who has grown little too fast. He
hollow-chested, and stoop-shouldere
lie seems to think he is too long, al
aobe- trying to lessen his stature
doubling up on himself. His gait
mn indescribable shuttle. He doesr
walk. but as Mark Twain puts 1t,
sidles. Now this boy Is not deforme
but is getting out of shape. He shou
be attended to right away; he shou
have been attended to before. Talk
him kindly and tell HIM to straight
sot, stand erect. He may be We,
inst now in holding-up power, b
awaken his pride. Nothing will no
mp ones body like proud spirit,
:xlrength Of will, directed to that @