Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-09
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VACATIONS %%FHRME WHY MOI?
(~3yEHnuUA''nE"' "'''T Twentieth s'""'' Farmer
in The Twentieth Century Farmer.

touching the cost Of the thing which keeps
many farmers from enjoying periods Of
leisure and change.
But again, many a farmer gets inta a rut
Of such long standing that its walls be-
come almost like stone. That rut lie the
fallacy Of the ultimate long vacation. 1t is
the hope of moving to town and living in
ease after twenty or thirty years of farm
life. Usually IL is a mistaken idea, bad
management. Every year our towns and
cities witness the tragedy Of town-moving
by farmers. They occupy their city homes,
expecting to realize at least their long
dreams Of delight. only to find that they
have made the change too late. The COM
plete breakup OF habit after years spent
In one single line or mode OF life could
hardly fail to be tragic. Perhaps there
is not much discomfort the first year. 1t
partakes the virtues Of a short vacation.
Your interests are taken up with the
building and furnishing Of a new home
and in sharing with the children the Joy
which they find in their altered life. But,
like a widower, the new habitant Of the
city finds It hard to get through his sec
ond summer. The signs Of planting time
and Of cultivating time awaken the
slumbering propensities Of a life and call
for satisfaction with a relentlessness that
is death to contentment. The town
farmer" soon finds his one comfort in seek
ing out others Of the same dolorous class
with whom he may discuss farm topics and
crep prospects. He is apt to lose his jolly
good nature and grow irritable.
He gets but scant sympathy from his wife
and children, for children are impression,
ohIo nna oAan1a aaofIv opd fha Wife has
still her housewifely tasks. which are
changed only by being lightened. while her
hunger for social interests leads her
quickly to form new friends and to take
a vigorous hand in church and lodge
affairs. In these interests II is hard for
the husband to follow her. Tar nature
is less adaptable. l have yet to find the
retired farmer who has been able to culti-
vate a taste for receptions and dinner
parties.
All this tends to mar the harmony Of the
family. When, usually, by the third year,
the man decides to move back to his old
farm, there is apt to be an unpleasant sit
uation. OF course the wife is willing to
go for her husbands sake. even though it
be against her inclination. but you may ex-
PNNN OP1A ~ VI a RAaN " NAN NAAA
dren. 1t is a rare thing for a family to
pass through this crisis without being in
some degree broken up.
OF course there are exceptions to this
state OF affairs. The farmer may find in
town congenial work OF some sort allied to
his old habits, but the results sketched are
common enough to be a warning.
1t is my belief hat a small amount of
money expended in yearly or semi-yearly
outings for the farmer and his family would
so improve the enjoyment Of country life
as to remove from both parents and chill
dren all desire for permanently leaving the
farm. Should they after all ever 90 west
or need to reside in ~town-whieh 1t is
greatly TO be hoped will in the majority OF
instances never be the case-they will have
the preparation necessary for entering upon
the new life with Joy and not with grief.
II is certainly desirable that farmers should
become better and better on, but 1t is not
desirable that as their circumstances inn