The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1901-01-25

shops. Note the tired looks, the lustre-
less eye, the pale face and the stopped
figure. Isn't it sad that in this beauti-
full world of ours, in which mother ma
ture has so bountifully provided for
her children, that some are doomed to
such misery? Wouldn't Whit of that
life giving oxygen, so abundantly free
in the country, put fresh life into these
veins? With reasonable care what is
to prevent the country girl from enjoy
ing good health and living to ripe old
age? Fresh air, pure food, cheerful
surroundings and regular habits are
the promoters of health. And does she
not possess these?
/ will say but little Of the average
girl socially. know there are many
social advantages in the city which the
country people can never hope to real
ize. But how many of these can be en-
joyed by the average city girl? What
enjoyment she takes must be after
hours. And you may be very sure that
if:a girl is just average mentally and
financially, fate places her in her prop
er position socially: City life is not
fruitful of lasting friendships; and the
actual struggle for supremacy is not IA
vorable to human sentiment, The So
cial developments of cities is more
snowy than satisfactory. There is
certain communism to be found in
parks, libraries, music, theatres and all
such, accessible in part to the poorest
people. But nature with all her Eau
ma and Flora is q greater book of in
structiOn and thought. Even the high
est works Of art cannot rival nature
from whence they are feebly copied.
What architecture can rival the eternal
rocks and mountains? What Ornamen
tation can equal the beauty Of the tree
and shrub and flower? We are not on
ly nearer the OmnipOtent one, but share
in his creative power. In the country
there is none of that crowding that fair
ly stiles; there is absolute freedom and
development of home life; no flats with
their heterogeneous mixture OF family
life; no rooms to let to roomers whom
no one knows; and so on throughout
the entire list.
In cities the individual is dwarfed in
the community; in the country the in
dividual looms up in all the freedom
and glory of nature. Hence comes the
great thinkers, poets and orators, di-
vines and men of war. The luxury of
cities enervates; the luxury of the coun-
try builds up brain and nerve. Here
rests the security of liberty; the indie
pendence of nations. The city rises and
falls; grows and is swept away by fire
and sword or decay; but the features of
the country remain forever.
Doubtless many of our farmers
daughters are dreaming of a city life
some day, when they are older, when
some unknown and charming prince
comes driving up with four in hand,
and home on the avenue to offer you.
Distance lends enchantment, and the
glamor of city life is very bewitching
when viewed from afar. 1t may be so
bewitching that you overlook the pleas
ant possibilities and realities of your
present abiding place. To dream and
to hope is not wrong; but discomfort is
a monster which threatens your peace
of mind, and perhaps your very life's
happiness.
1t is so easy in youth to fall into the
habit of living in the golden future; so
easy to neglect present duties, pleas
ures and possibilities in favor of some
unknown, but longed for future, where
everything will be different. BE happy
and content in your snug homes on the
farm. Let the future take care Of itself.
The old home may not always exist;
Une GEAR ones HOW drOullu you Will ut
scattered; and then as the years roll on
you will find yourself dreaming of the
past-the old home life on the farm.
In those days you will want no regrets
mingled with your memories.
Nothing will be dearer than to think
of
That dear little country house;
Inland, with pines beside 1T:
Some peach trees. with unfrulttul bOughS;
we'll, with some weeds to hide it:
And flowers, not only such as rise
Self-blown. poor things, which all despise.
Return to the city after being absent
for years; it is no longer the same; the
old body and soul are no longer there:
and you know not its streets nor its
houses. But wander over the wide
world and return to the country scenes
of your childhood there are the same
hills and dales, mountains and plains,
and the eternal features of nature are
as in the days of the years that are
gone: the trees only having grown into
more beauteous bowers. In these for
ests more sacred and grand than tenn
Piles wrought by man, may the setting
sun of our lives go down in harmony
and trust.