New-York tribune., 1901-03-13
FLATS VERSUS FARMS.
SOCIETY FOR POLITICAL STUDY MEM
BERS DIVIDED AS To THE DEMERITS
OF CITY AND COUNTRY LIFE.

To 1--we or Tot 20 live in the country was the
subject thar agitated the Society for Political study
A. its gathering yesterday afternoon The topic
was an outcome Of the paper on The Benefits ot
Community Life" by N-s Belle Gray Taylor The
paper shattered few cherished ideals 70 the effect
that Socrates was a wholly admirable specimen
Of humanity by hir-ing that be was out late 50
often that il was no wonder that poor Nantippa
became a shrew. She argued however. that MS
influence the worlds thought would have been
little 4 he had lived in city. civil .zation.
she said, develops from community life. and even
village with its little store. where they sell
black silk and moasses, is better than the outlying
farms
A. the conclusion az the paper free discussion
ensued which quickly resolved itself INTO criticism
and defence Of the farmers mind. manners and
cookery. Miss Louise Stevens started the ball roll
ng by saving that the smell %. forgotten dinners"
or too savory v-ands and often made the
apartment which the avera ge citizen spends his
life burden, and she preferred a farm Mrs. Mar
garet Bates referred 10 Mrs. Taylor's statement
that insanity prevailed among farmers wives TO
greater degree than in the city, and asserted that
she never knew one who was ''iuordinately crazy
and had seen many women since residing in tho
city o. whose sanity she had doubts. She pictured
the many delights Of country life with entausi-
asm born Of spring, but closed her remarks by the
snti-climax thar the whole she would rather
have city fat than q farm
Mrs. May T. Bedeu injuciciousy commented on
farmhouse cooking, saying thar She Wondered that
me farmers had any health, they live priu-
clpaily on potatoes. pie and cake. Sae INDUCED =
some painful "reminiscences evidently. she
serted that steak was thing 10 b. dreaded IL the
country. This aroused the members who were
norm on farms. who rose masse 10 protest One
remarked with tears IA her voice that farmers
wives Ters 'as much ladies women IN the city
Nhlch brought Mrs. Bedel 10 her feet in hOrrifed
oisciaInler os having IN any way referred 10 their
manners good breeding
Mss America Phillips asserted that. ''as far
hesi'h was concerned. people in the country take
great deal more medicine than IN town" She gave
"H instance ln which country cousin advised her
20 take spring medicine. saving that she could
s4A quart hOft.es s. ''lusI think Of buying
"a quarts az one timei' exclaimed Mss Phillips
u - zones OF dismay. She then "insinUated things
suolt ine farmers mentality that aroused another
nn .9nn Le5!y ret0rted that in a wide acquaintance
- -.A country life she had known only one crazy
E.Su4 ana that was q man VINO came 10 New
1e,k and worked with Dr. Parkhurst.
alrs- 2 =. church said that II is mistake 10
Se 'ae iilat "a farmers vile has the same work 10
-, q oIhlerl} Cheese and butter are seldom made
o. ner ~ the present time.
The new president Mrs. Helen Clark closed the
troubled waters
ne early parr Of the meeting was occupied b. the
-stalialon ot the new officers during which the air
"a niteq with flowers Of speech The ceremony
.u.ciloec win a materia ialiZation Of the numerous
.sIe e2hoflcal bouquets into large bunch Of real
rses presented 20 the retiring president Mrs. John