The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-07-21
HELPING THE. FARMERS WIFE
CORNELL READING COURSE AN
ANTIDOTE TO DRUDGERY.

The Women Taught TO Help Their Husbands
and to Get Broader Views-Clubs Now
In Almost Every Nelghberhood-Bet-
ter Training for Farm boys and Girls.
In the reading course for farmers wives
started something less han five years ago
by the New York State College OF Agricui-
tufe at Cornell University there are now
more than 22,00O pupils. All are the wives
or the daughters Of farmers in the state OF
New York.
Farmers wives know more about their
husbands business than any other class
Of women" said Miss Martha Van Rens-
selaer, the supervisor Of the reading course,
what does the average wife OF a banker
know about her husbands business or the
condition Of the money market, or how
many lawyers wives can advise them about
their cases? Unless a rare exception the
farmers wife knows her husbands BUSH
ness from the ground up and its success
is largely dependent on her.
1T was because Of this intimate relation
that this reading course was first thought Of.
So much was being lone for the farmers
themselves that we thought for the sake
Of the farm something should be done
for the women. About five years g cir
oular letters were sent out from Cornell
to all the farmers who were taking N
reading course asking IL their wives would
be interested in having u reading course
Of their own. We received 1000 replies,
most Of them an enthusiastic yes
SIN two years our pupils increased to
$4,000, and fearing that there might be somo
padding in the lists we out il down to zero
and began all over again. We wrote ask-
ing all those who wished to continue the
| course to renew their applications. There
are now more than ~ 900 pupils. I o
mean that we nave more than % 900 names
on the list, but that there are actually that
many women who are following our read
| ing course either in their homes or with
their ncighbors in clubs.
This reading course is carried on pri-
marily by pamphlets published monthly.
The first of these was IN the subject OF
saving steps. Besides advising the readers
TO plan their work in such a way as to save
as many steps az possible and so save not
| only their time but their strength and
health it pointed out various simple meth
ODDS and inexpensive c-ontrivances that would
help them. II pointed out how much tine
and strength was wasted by bringing water
into the kitchen from the wen day after day.
in many instances where the water was
supplied in the barn by means Of a windmill
or by the gravity system.
"A second suggestion in that same am
phlet was for n tile drain for waste liquid from
the house. In this we not only told why
| and how it should he done but gave the cost.
I remember the cost was just four dollars.
Any one who has watched the numberless
buckets OF dishwater and other liquid
refuse that has to be lugged out of the
house day after day by the women on the
farm can appreciate what a saving OF labor
that four dollar drain would mean.
We showed the cost and convenience
Of a simple dummy for carrying provisions
between the cellar and the kitchen. gave
Illustrations of a window cupboard to be
used in cold weather and the cost and
Illustrations of a sanitary and well arranged
kitchen and ioehouse. Now all of these were
our suggestions, and we sent out with the
pamphlet a discussion paper asking for sug-
g~estions from our readers. We not only
asked that they send us a drawing Of what
they considered n model kitchen but that
they tell us the easiest way to do the family
wash and TO outline a general routine for
their homework for n forenoon in such a
way as to save the most steps and time.
From saving steps we went to decorat-
ing the farm home. We showed by illus
t~rations the difference between artistic
simplicity and inartistic overdecoration.
We also pointed out the advantages artis-
| tically and Internationally Of an inexpensive
copy of a good picture over the cardboard
monstrosities that had not only cost more
money, but labor and time that might have
been devoted to a better purpose. The
next paper was on sanitation and we not
- -.
the actual cost OF many devices helpful in
improving sanitation Of farm homes.
Another pamphlet that interested me
very much and that brought forth O great
many letters from my readers was devoted
10 the boys and girls on the farm. You
know that is the great problem with the
home loving farmer to-day. how to keep
his sons and daughters from fiocking to the
city as Boon as they are out OF leading
strings. We advised them to give their
children an interest in life. to teach them
TO do the necessary work i~ntelligently and
to remember that a child's play was it's way
Of expressing itself. that all natural play
and tastes should be encouraged. When
the dolls and playthings are more and
more put'away. teach the little girl how to
care for a home. She has learned in school
how to compute the cost of papering a
room. Let her at home try 1t on her own
room. II she loves flowers give her her
own garden; II she shows a fondness for
animals give her her pet. Let her feel the
sense OF possession and the responsibility
that goes with it. Give her certain duties
about the home.
Boys should be led in the same way.
When they grow beyond the toddling age
give them recreation n duties that will
develop as well as occupy them. What boy
on the farm will not give better attention
to the calves II his own is in the fiock2 When
one Of the litter Of pigs is his own the feed
ing Of the whole pen ceases to be a burden.
While his interest may flag the child should
be reminded Of its responsibility to the AMI
NAL dependent on it's care. This is where
the boy on the farm should get his training
to regard the feelings of dumb animals.
1T seems to be one OF the tendencies Of
our age. on the farm AZ well as in the city,
to train children TO leave home rather than
to remain in it. Girls are trained IL they