The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-08-31

| opened to drink il in, As i rode along
in the carriage, how musical seemed the
rustling of the leaves as the wind stirred
them gently; how blue and cool the
lake looked, and how clean the air felt!
At last, when / fell back exhausted or
my little couch in the upper chamber OF
the cottage among the trees, I felt that
lay safe in the arms of a beautiful
breast and murmured;
Fold closely, o nature.
Thine arms round thy child
To thee only God granted
A heart ever new
To ali always open.
To all always true.
| And I prayed as he prayed:
All. calm me. restore me,
And dry up my tears.
I cannot remember In my life moment
OF more restful and perfect happiness. 1
| had escaped from a charnel house. whose
air was heavy with the odor of the dead
and the dying. place of death. almost
a place of murder, and I was guest in
chamber of Gods own dwelling house.
one. and I am not going to be sentimental
enough to push it too far. But. in a
measure it may stand for the contrast
presented by the city ana the country.
And, however we may love the whirl
and the brilliant night illuminations and
the intoxicatiOn of making money, OF
however much the sting of failing to
make money may ever drive Us on to
sufferings yet untold in city life, still the
time is sure to come 10 every one of US
when we shall long for the caressing
embrace of our first mother, that shall
soothe US and restore us and give US the
vitality to plunge once more into the
wild race with renewed hopes and fresh
ambitions.
There are not many of us who would
not appreciate a home in the country
that we could go to when we were tired
Of the city. The trouble is, we do not
know how TO get it at reasonable cost
o. how to make it enjoyable once we do
get it. Country life too often proves
disappointing after a week or a month.
There are several difficulties about
country life.
The greatest objection to much country
Ewing is the women and children get
lonely and viii not stay in the country.
This is inevitable, and though it seems
sentimental sort OF objection which
few of us are willing TO acknowledge,
still it is most real and must be faced.
The only solution TO this problem is
the colony" If we can find a pleasant
place and get two or three congenial
friends to become our neighbors. we shall
be all right. Others will join us and
IN time an ideal little village viii grow
up which all have some of the advan-
tages of the city and most OF the adj
vantages of the country.
The second serious objection is the cost.
Country people are greedy and want too
much for board, and when they rent
houses they are looking for twenty per
cent on their money for three months
occupation. To be economical. the city
man who wants to get his wife and
children into the country for from four TO
six months must have his own house
Don't be frightened. This is easier |
than it seems. \ suitable country home
can be built for from 500 Csix rooms) |
Il S.o00 eight rooms. with bath and |
fire place., and an acre or two of ground |
The interest and taxes viii represent /
a rental of only SO TO 500 a year which 1
is not so much as fat in the city would 1
cost for four months
The second difficulty about country /
i.fe is that the country people are hardy 4
and Go not appreciate very much the /
which 70 the city man make 1
home worthy OF the name. Bare. hide 1
Gus walls. cold, damp rooms. the neces-
sity Of taking 4 bath 10 the horse trough. /
are items which repel the city man when 4
he considers country life in Its more /
practical aspects. Il it IS q rainy day
and the children and women must stay 4
IN the house. tkey nearly die OF &, for
the country mans house is what may De
called only q shed where persons may
be stabbed for the night
II the mar from the city prepares his
own home he viii find thai a few cheap
rugs. tasteful paint and tasteful wall
paper. with few little knickaacks along
with q primitive hus none the less real
bath room. viii cost him but a few
dollars and viii operate 20 keep his
family conteuted in the country for ar
additional month or two. with 50 much
saving in rent "a saving each year
amounting 20 more than the first cost
Of the items MENTIONED.
These are a few OF the objections which
The city man feels hut does not con-
no-ly express. He says. Wen. 7 want
10 keep ny children IN school and
! have ny own ideas about education.
md some may no1 agree with ne All
xfm agree. 7 think. however. that Ee WISH
.c give cur children the best possible
start n lie. 7 had & splendid start II
lie ard yet my father died ard ieft ne
without a penny. - chance v0uld have
{. 7 got something better than a few
collars Ny fathers health was sue
lat re was forced 70 iesve the city and
70 on farm He didn't make any
money CT TIA farm and Re were POOR
.u0uSh.
There vas district school for The
hres q FIVE months in the year. which
~ mother taught Tor the sake e he-
W. children : d56at 60 % school
III 7 vas ready 20 enter the grammar
yrade. LAST year For AL thai. ! vas
he youngest boy Il NJ class and csa- J.