The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1901-07-12
Phone on a Farm.

When we consider the relative
merits of the city and the country
as place of residence, we inva-
riably catalogue among the disad-
vantages of rural existence the utter
solitude and lonliness to which
those are consigned who dwell far
from the places where men congre-
gate. 1t is considered that the
ruralist is perforce denied the
pleasures of social contact with his
fellow creatures, that he is incon-
venienced by the sparcity of popu-
lation, and that the continual COM
muning with nature to which he is
driven by the lack of a more re-
sponsive listener has the effect of
inducing a supreme disgust for
everything pertaining TO bucolic
life. Not everybody will admit
that the absence of the turmoil,
hustle and strife of the city consti-
tute deprivation to be mourned;
nevertheless they are distinctly
necessary to the happiness of a
great many people who are injured
to them, and are equally desired by
those whose environment has al
ways denied them the opportunity
to gain the familiarity with them
which in most cases breeds safety.
Up in the Northern States the
lack of social relaxation on the
farm is rapidly disappearing in front
of the elaboration of the possibili-
ties of the telephone as applied to
the rural districts. From point
tar west of Chicago eastward to
Philadelphia the farmhouses are
being connected by a network of
wires which add Greatly to the con-
of the dwellers far from
town and leave no room for COM
plant on the score OF lack of facili-
ties for conversation. All sorts of
systems are offered to the farmers
by means of which the telephone
services are simplifed and cost is
reduced. There are private phones
sold outright to farmers who are
enabled to make such isolated con-
nections as they may need tor their
or pleasure, and there are
systems in operation,
based on the cooperative plan,
with central Offices in the county
seats, while between these extremes
If simplicity and complexity there
are a great number of more or less
intricate arrangements for con-
lections. The tendency OF them |
III is alike. They place the farmer
n direct communication with his
with his merchant, with
he outside world in general.
They enable the farm wife to order
Ter supplies, they make the borrow
ng of the neighbours pillow mere
natter of taking down and hanging
p the telephone receiver, and they
educe the courtship of the SWANS
nd nymphs of the farm to such a
nipple system that much of the ro-
lance that once attached to the
recess is obliterated, greatly to
ne disgust of the romantic poet
nd the regret of all sentimental
eople.
The introduction of the telephone
n the farm is destined, if the signs
re not misleading, to bring about a
evolution of an even more radical
laracter than that which has al
lady been wrought. The time is i
oubtless approaching when the !
lrmer may have his telephone con-
ected with news Office and learn
lie happenings of the world with
1t waiting for the rural mail. He
ay enjoy the weekly sermons and
lie weekly prayer-meeting services
ithout disturbing the well-esrned
st of his tired work horses, and
, may have the cost of operatic
included in the quarter
telephone expense account.
The farmer already enjoys more i
the blessings OF life than does ]
~ other class of beings, and !
hen to these he shall have added Il
e latest conveniences and luxu-
IS of city life he will have no !
rther excuse for grumbling.--
simitar. "
Mr.. John Tips. Cotton, o., says
Foley's Honey and Tar cured my lit I,
E girl of a severe cough and infamed
ncfle Nafllinpie drug store