Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1909-06-01
Overheard at a Farmers Meeting


1t was doesn't matter, but 1t was we'll
attended, and the men, women, young
folks and children looked prosperous
and we'll dressed. During an informal
period between speeches there was much
moving about and visiting In little
groups, and It was interesting to walk
about and catch snatches of converse
tion here and there. To hear what peo-
pie talk about In their moments of re-
taxation Is almost to know their char
acters, and it was impossible not to
form conclusions while noticing few
words from this or that knot OF men and
women.
"No, we didn't get In for the first of
the meeting" one well!dressed woman
was saying. "You know how it is on
farm. Chores never done and things
going wrong all the time. told John
This morning l never expected to be
able to do things like other folks"
Somebody jostled her at that moment,
80 her companion took up the converse
ton. "Yes 1 know all about it," she
said. Clown people can 90 and do, but
in the country it's drudge, drudge all
the time. We were late too, but al
ways expect that. The roads were just
one mass of mud, and suppose we look
horrible. 1 tried to sorape the worst
off, but John says hayseeds shouldn't
mind little dirt at this season." A
rueful look at her tailor-made suit and
trim silk waist failed to reveal any
traces of the horrible mud, but maybe
after all it was there.
The next group had for its topic the
hopelessness of cleaning house. with
the men folks dragging in mud all the
time, get clear discouraged" said one
sad looking woman. "It don't pay to
try to have things nice in the country.
You can spread down all the old carpets
you like, and have broom in your hand
continually, but nothing ever looks
clean" She paused for breath, and an
other woman contributed her mite to
the subject. "That's exactly what /
say" she said. "The girls have been
teasing for a new rug for the sitting
room this long time, but say to them,
what's the use? Pa and the boys would
soon have it ruined with their muddy
boots, so the old one is plenty good
enough. We don't have great deal of
company, anyway. Country folk are
too much rushed with hard work to 60
visiting and enjoy themselves"
Of in a corner some men were dis
cussing the hired-help problem, and
very interesting were the statements OF
these prosperous land owners. "For
my part, don't have any trouble" said
one farmer. "By keeping the boys out
of school day now and then I manage
pretty well. The school ma'am objects
to it, and says the boys lose interest,
but I don't see that 1t makes much diff
ference. In fact, they're getting 30
they'd rather stay at home than 60"
Another man applauded this statement,
and added, "When mans got up-to-
date machinery he can manage in a
pinch. My boys are all girls, but occa-
sionally they lend hand driving team
and helping with the chores. / don't
believe in frills in the education of girls
no way, 80 in few years the girls will
be lot of help to their mother and me.
Their Aunt Jennie argues with me that
l ought to keep them in school all the
time, and be planning to send them to
college, but don't believe in such stuff.
Amy used to cry when she had to stay
out, but she's getting bravely over that.
The only foolish notion they have in
their heads is wanting to 60 to town to
work."
In walking about for nearly an hour,
catching fragments of talk here and
there, i heard not single word about
the advantage of living on farm, not
the least reference to the good food, the
fresh air, the opportunities for making
pin money-nothing but work, dirt,
drudgery, disadvantages, the hopeless
ness of trying to live like town people,
the absence of all that makes life enjoy
able-these were the topics on the lips
of the men and women. A number OF
these people were we'll to do, and none
were poor, but no one had good word
for the occupation that gave them their
health and wealth. The daily response
of a woman on fine farm with hun
dreds of advantages when some one calls
her up on the telephone and says, "Well,
what is the news?" is ever the same,
Nothing ever happens out here" And
yet the birds and the flowers and the
trees and the sunshine and the grass
make her surroundings appear as little
Eden to passersby. The habit of crying
down their homes and blessings is
strong in the lives of many country peo-
pie, and probably never will be eradicat-
ed.
Then the chairman called the audi
ence to order to introduce noted
speaker at farmers meetings. His
topic was: "How to Keep the Young
People on the Farms" Was his talk
needed in that audience or not?-Hilda
Richmond in Country Gentleman.