The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1900-02-22


What" you say, ashamed OF your
occupationf" No, never; I'd leave 1t
II were, bat one doesn't want his
occupation placarded on his back, II
he be United States senator; and
II negbbors In the country wish to
meet together in q social or literary |
club, they don't need to drag in the
name Of their business here too. Why |
not have clubs and why not give them
them just such names as would give
them II we lived In town Right here
is one trouble With the farmer. He is
in rut. He has allowed himself to
get so thoroughly welded to his occu-
patton, that the two are inseparsble.
He eats, he sleeps, he rides, he
walks, he visits, he does everything
as farmer. He has thus narrowed
his path in life till it is like the sheep
paths over his hillsides. The ancient
world was divided into two classes,
Jew and GENTLE. The modern world
has likewise gotten divided into two,
farmers and the rest of mankind.
What we farmer folks want to do is
to get out Of these little narrow sheep
paths. and walk along side OF the
rest OF creation to lose sight some
times of our occupation; to do some
things, neet sometimes, not as of
farmers, but as men and women. Let
those Of kindred tastes organize
clubs-make them literary at least
in part, and they will haye enough of
the social element to attract all when
once tried. II it be thought to re-
quire too much time for the mem.
bers to furnish original matter, then
make them simply reading clubs;
reading together, is as pleasant as
talking together, and more so for it
furnishes something to talk about.
II you want to study our own Am.
erican literature, call your club for
some favorite American author. II
your taste be more general, then
make it poets or authors club. Or,
the very popular Tourist club could
be just as pleasant and as profitable
in the country as in town, when in
Imagination you make various tours,
many of which, most of us will get to
make no other way. Select some
country, state, or single spot OF in
tel est some where to visit and then
read everything you can find about
it, study the route from start to fin
lsb, find what you would be likely to
see, If you were there, and then af.
ter the style of our childhood days,
pretend you went and saw it. In
short, go there on paper. This is a
fascinating way to study geography
and safe way to travel. II such
clubs be thought little two serious
for our young folks, there is form
of evening party lighter, and which
can be made as lively and full of fun
as any one could wish. Let it be q
fire-side or fagot party, where each
one brings fagot for the fire and
while his fagot burns he must con-
tribute something to the entertain.
ment OF the party a song, recita.
tion, reading, story, even joke OF
conundrum. Anything that may
strike his fancy. Here is field for
} all. from the gravest to the gayest.
This is something akin to the old
time literary society or lyceum, but
is better, because home-circle is
better than club room. We have
mostly open fires In Hooking county
and I'm glad we have. A pleasant
home, glowing fire on the the
hearth, and happy circle around
the hearthstones, is q scene that
poets will never tire OF picturing. Nc
wonder that one poet put our fires
next our affairs. 1t was doubtless
the thought Of such scenes as this,
that inspired Halleck with the words
of Marco Bozzari's battle cry. II
never could have been said of com.
mon stove in school house. "Strike
for your altars and your fires" We
want intellectual and social develop,
ment side by side. We want for oul
young people, the refining influences
OF an intelligent home circle. We
want them when they will learn to be
easy in manner, polite in speech. In
short, we want them to learn to be
at home in the homes of others, and
let me say here that one whose social
enjoyments have been mostly in pub.
lie halls etc, does lack just this quail :
ity, easy in other homes. To sum up
we want some influences in farm
life, which will make that life loved
not less but m ore, and which will
make farmers and their families rea.
dy for any situation in life. I don t
refer to conventional rules OF eti.
quet, but mean readiness to min.
gle as social being in any social cir