Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-12-11
ON FARMS
Life Not So Monotonous as Some
People Imagine, Says G. B.
Wilson
SEASONS BRING A VARIETY
BRING a VARIETY
SEASONS
Corn Picking Season Followed by At
tendance at School Of Children and
Period of Quiet at Home = About
Public schools-How Gear Hunted
the Piss-other News.
Special to Times-Republican.

| Special to Times Republican.
Allison, Dec. 11.-Those who have
formed the idea that life on the farm
| is monotonous should take notice OF
the change that has taken place dur
| ing the last two or three weeks, In the
way the farmer employs his time. On
ly a few days ago everybody was In
the cornfields; at the present time
cattle are cleaning what the hurrying
corn pickers did not find in their Gag
erness to secure their principal crop
before the coming Of winter storms.
Conditions outside the farm house
have also undergone a radical change,
as will be observed by noon hour
visitor. Instead Of finding the entire
family with the addition OF one or
more farm hands sitting at the dinner
table, he now sees usually, only the
farmer, his wife and possibly the oc-
cupant of a high-chair taking their
mid day meal in comparative silence.
the source Of large portion OF the
conversation and excitement having
been transferred to a nearby school
house, where for just few moments
previous to an adjournment to the play
ground stories of cornfield achieve
ments are recounted and Christmas
plans discussed animatedly over a doz-
en- or more dinner pals. There is al
ways plenty Of work t., be done on the
farms and frequent changes make
farm life anything but monotonous.
There is one kind Of attraction very
potent in coaxing tire farmer away
from his home these days-that OF tbs
public sale. Everywhere one goes his
attention is drawn to the announce
ment of half dozen sales somewhere
in his vicinity. It will be so until next
spring. Business, pleasure and in
struction are combined by those who
attend these gatherings. the popularity
and number of which seem to increase
every year. Removal from the farm,
whether it be to locate again in anoth-
er part Of the state, in some distant
section of the country or to retire or
take up some other occupation, Is no
longer accomplished in regular manner
without the holding Of public sale.
They furnish means of acquiring
valuable knowledge that could hardly
be gained in any other way. Farmers
Institutes would doubtless become
more popular and would be more
generally attended If it were not for
the advantages furnished by attend
ance at these gatherings, and the
farmer who wishes to take an,'occa-
sional Inventory Of his stock finds in
the public sale criterion that enables
him to accurately estimate the value
Of every species Of property he may
possess.
One of the finest farms to be found
in this part Of the state is that OF Mr..
I. M. Fisher, who owns a half section
a short distance from this town. The
farm has an interesting history. 1t
consisted originally of four sections and
for many years was owned by Mr.. II.
l.. Stout, millionaire resident OF Du-
buque. The present owner was en-
ployed as superintendent OF the farm
in 1879 and continued in that capacity
until 1898 when it was divided and
sold. The town Of Allison was plated
on one section Of the original fem and
was named by Mr. Stout in honor of
the Iowa senator. Thoroughbred horses
cattle and sheep have always been
kept on the place, and one of the barns
is pointed out as having been the home
OF the dam Of the famous racers, Ak
tell and Allerton. Mr.. Fisher in 1898
bought the 800 acres on which the
are situated and altho ne is
now sc years Of age, devotes the great
err part Of his time to the care OF the
many animals with which the place is
For the benefit of the farm.
er who pleads lack Of time to read as
an excuse for not taking daily pa
per, 1t might be mentioned that Mr..
Fisher INDUCES in an annual expend1-
ture OF more than $40 for newspapers,
ma gaines, farm Journals and other
Among the hundreds OF names con-
tanned in the visitors register kept at
the place, are those Of William b.
Allison, John H. Gear and David B.
Henderson. The present owner relates
that on one occasion, many years ago,
Mr.. Gear and party were hunting IN
the vicinity, and using q room in one
Of the barns as common bedroom,
where they slept on piles Of hay, buff
falo robes and other like substitutes
for the usual furnishings OF sleeping
apartments. One evening when the
members Of the party had composed
themselves for thu. might, mischlevous
bet pie was turned loose among them,
and the first one he tackled was Mr..
Gear, who quickly arose, with the ex-
"up, boys. the hogs are
mon ns," The offending pig was
soon elected and the weary hunters re-
sumed their slun1bers.
G. 4. WILSON.