Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-02
WOMEN MAKE HOMES.
They Take Up Abandoned Farms and
a Rural Existence.

Rural EX1SLeuC6e
vrom the New York Tribune
The problem Of the abandoned or run
down" farm In New Hampshire is finding
at least partial solution, as simple as 1t
is characteristic of the times. These places
are being redeemed and beautif1ed In con-
siderable numbers by intelligent single wo-
men from Boston and elsewhere, some of
whom spend only their vacations In the
country. Within a circuit of about twenty
five miles among the foothills of the White
mountains one who has the entree Of these
delightful homes may visit several.
These women, and others similarly occu-
pied. many of whom are well known and
well educated. are distinctly recognized IN
the farming communities where they had
become property holders as residents TO be
counted upon when public Improvements
are to be undertaken and public opinion
is to be formed.
One woman for example, who has for the
present given up her profession on account
OF her health. has bought farm OF rather ne
exceptional value. because it includes fer
tile, "intervale" land On this she raises
large hay crops. She has put dormer win
dows into the quaint old house that she
found on the place. fitted It up with old
fashioned furniture, put settles beside the
big fireplace In the living room. hung a
crane and kettles in it and placed odd old
paintings and prints on the walls. Here
DOaTOSrS
house parties.
Another woman farmer, Miss B., has
come from the west and established herself
on so high a hill that she is unusually safe
from intrusion. She raises an abundance
of fruit and vegetables of unexceled quail
ity and enough hay for her stock. With
her own hands she makes the delicate but
ter on her table. One man can do her out
side work. One strong woman does the
heaviest work of the household and, with
c n n m tn nd hHr acrTS he
making money. Her mistress is not doing
this, but she is ma king enough to live on
and is spending her days in glorious noun
tain views, in dust-free and ozone-charged
air, where her relatives and friends from
far ard near only too glad to join her
in summer. In winter she has time for
congerial pursuits
Within neighbory distance of this place
yet third woman has bought a farm as
an investment rather than home. She
goes up in the early summer to do the
needed repairs and cleaning and to get her
quaint old stuff into its most effective posi-
tons, Then she leaves 1t for the tenant
who has seen her advertisement and has
come hundreds of miles, perhaps, to this
spot hidden among the orchard and forest
trees. far from any much-traveled road.
One enterprising woman has made her
house an absolute model of comfort and
beauty-an object lesson to farmer folk and
city people alike, and both from
miles around to see it. She is improving
her place in many ways. Valuable timber
is carefully guarded; wild fruit trees are
being grated; rare plants. like Labrador
tea, are cherished; comfortable benches are
placed where specially fine views Of the
mountains are commanded. Many varie-
ties of wild berries. reindeer moss, curious
ground pines and other plants native only
In the high attitudes add their interest to
the place. while massive granite boulders
and cleaning quartz lodges add their pic
turesque charm.
Tn hoy. art off ha fofa
man, who Is an amateur artist has con-
verified an abandoned farm into an all-year-
round home of such elegance and proper
lions as to suggest an English estate Land
scape gardening is a conspicuous feature
of her undertaking She raises cattle, horses
and sheep on a considerable scale, and goes
so far as to have her wool woven into
fabrics and designs of her own selection.