Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-11-15
..,nols plow,ns vi atet,.

Hundreds of proficient youn, no,.se-
keepers got their first lessons In the
art from the competitive drill OF two
near Chicago blowing machines, writes
j. l.. Graft. in the Chicago Tribune.
Not only have these associations sent
to homes of their own brides who knew
every detail Of housekeeping, but they
have fitted u large number of young
men to be perfect in everything they
undertake, from blowing q straight
furrow on the farm to the filling OF
important vocations In many walks OF
life in either country or city. In their
influence for good these two organlZa-
tons stand out clear and distinct In
class of their own, unique and success
full beyond the usual degree.
One OF these institutions has just
held it's twenty-seventh annual match,
and the other, the offspring Of the for
mer, is now ten years old, and has just
held successful meeting The first
one is the Wheatland blowing match,
located in Wheatland township, VIII
county, and the other is the Big Rock
Flowing Match Association, located in
Big Rock township, Kane county.
Both of these organizations were
started by the pioneers of their re-
spective counties - country gentlemen
of the old school. The work was under
taken in each case for the purpose OF
encouraging men and boys to turn
furrow with such q degree Of prof.
cheney as to class 1t among the accom-
plishments of an artisan. Some of the
toni raI
fields of the west and northwest got
their first lessons In blowing in one or
the other of these Illinois institutions.
like which there is said to be nothing
In this country.
The matches were hardly started be-
fore the women took hand. They es-
tablished in connection with the
matches fair at which were exhibited
products of the needle and the kitchen.
On the same day cash prizes were
awarded for the best blowing with
walking sulky, or gang plows to men
and boys, and to young women for tho
best work in sewing and embroidery
and in cooking, baking and preserving.
The men provided for the prizes In
the blowing matches by raising the
money among them, and the women
accumulated a fund by cooking and
baking for dinner to be served on the
grounds. Over $4,000 has been paid in
prizes by the older organization, and
in like proportion by the younger
match. In order to show the high
standard that was set for the plowmen,
land is marked off with the precision
;,,
The plownan in order to be perfect,
must turn the land in a given time,
and the last furrow must exactly COM
plete the land without a break. TO
use the expression of one of the old
time Big Rock ploWers, the furroW
must be so straight that you may stand
at one end and see a mouse jump
across it at the other end"
The work is judged and scored by
the best known plowman, without
knowing who has done the work.
In looking over the lists that have
been prepared for years past, one finds
all Of the finery of the proper date, as
well as the substantial food products
and the sweets of the day on which
they prevailed. Approximately, in a
term of twenty seven years, $4,000 was
paid in prizes, ranging from 81 to $l5,
to the plowmen, and $4,000 in first and
second awards ranging from 25 cents
to 81 by the women for products of the
needle and culinary art
In all the time during which these
unique institutions have survived with
out jangle of any kind. the young
men and the young women have gone
to other homes. Both sexes have found
the training that the blowing match
stirred up to be the most valuable as
set carried away to distant lands. The
graduates Of these near Chicago tilling
and housekeeping schools have not on
ly taught many but they have raised
families Of their own, who have gone
forth and taught others. The great
middle west has had the advantage Of
their skill.
One Of the chief objects in establish
ing the blowing match was the bring
ing Of people together in social inter-
course and this produced high degree
Of intelligence that spread over the re-
spective counties, producing progress
sion Of modern day farming. The
farms are within an hours ride of Chi
cago, they are all connected with town
and neighbor by telephone and served
by rural free carrier. In many in
stances the farmers are using electric
ity in operating the machinery of the
farm. Hundreds Of the best known
men of the counties lay their great
progress to the influence of the blowing
match in making good farmers and
proficient help.
For Better Flowing.