The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1908-06-19

he neither had chick nor child, as no
did not hunt. and seldom fshed. | do
not know OF anyone except this rug.
ged genius who could have endured
such solitude so long.
For us we had companionship In
each other and in Lenore. visitors
from the town whom we welcomed
| cordially, ncigEbors with whom We
mingled, and books and music with us
always. and Yet We were not entirely
content. And why? Because when
| men or women have lived for years
In n city. unless they arc thoroughly
disguised with the world and all there
is in 1t, they will inevitably miss what
the city has to offer in the way OF
mental enjoyment
II is just as true that TO live in a
city is, at least TO some natures, but
slow process Of torture. There are
many natures, OF course, born "boulc.
vardiers," types Of samcness ap.
pallingly frequent in the towns. who
are happy, In their way. only In the
towns. Their place is therefore In the
towns. But 10 those who are awakened
to the delights Of the country. and who
still do not want 10 entirely discard
those pleasures Of the mind which
find expression whore books, and mu.
sic, and paintings and sculpture are TO
be found, there is n practical hair way
vantage point where both rest for the
body and zcst for the mind may be
easily combined.
There is nothing in the mode OF lIv-
Ing in a city which is not more or less
tyrannous. You must do so and 90;
you cannot do as YOU like. Of course.
You are hedged about by modes Of life
which, while largely artificial, are In.
sistently obtrusiyc. You cannot breathe
pure air, you rarely drink pure
water; you must abjurc outdoor exer-
else, you are almost certain to have
nerves" and indigestion. You are no
worse of than Jour noighhur. but he
Is in the same narrow groove that you
arc
There is sound philosophy in the
theory of life in the country near to a
city AS for suburban life, the or.
binary brand. II Is, II anything. even
more odious than apartment lie The
cliques and asininitics Of the average
modern suburb are something which
combine to make a more than average
per cent. of suburban society mere ag-
grcgations Of snobs and parrots
The trouble OF suburban life is that
the suburbanite carries the country
to his office and the city TO his home.
He gets up as early az farmer 10
apes city customs and society" GUS
toms while he is in his home town. lie
wouldn't be caught without q collar
for money Even when he works in
his little garden he is dressed for the
ball"
Now you don't have to knuckle
down to these things when you hayo
gotten out a little ways into the coun.
try. and YOU will be pleasantly sur
prised at the first sweet feeling OF
freedom from restraint II Is the
same way with both women and mon.
Each one enjoys having a little relax
alton from the eternal drop, drip.
drop of the banclul dr.Ezlc Of con.
ventionalities, that take all OF ones
time. and make leisure an unknown
quantity in the affairs Of life.
We left the farm with many n lin
gering look over the fields aad hills
where we had passed 80 many happy
IL . Ia
able resolution not to spend the rest
of our days In STEAM heated fat or
any such penal institution. Not to
condemn Lenore to n "straightiaCket" |
existence Of unyarying dress parade"
Not to look back over years as mG-e |
shadows that went by In the night,
like dreams, but as Sca! eAisteuccs. |
where we had lived and striven, whore |
we could look back and say, in such |
a month we were here, or there, or |
were doing this or that" and not 10
have all time be Just a blur ont " |
which deaths and births should crawl, |
like flies upon windowpane
After all, We are not going 10 live |
for an eternity And to live wisely |
means leisure. both for mind ard |
body. Can you get II in the cities? |
Hardly. without great wealth Can
you even then? II seems doubtful |
Is constant striving the answer 10 the |
problem? "All work and no play |
makes Jack a duh boy" You can get |
leisure Of mind best In the country. |
hut II YOU are too far from n city Won |