The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-12-26

to live, and no attempt was made to
render them attractive. There is no
reason why the farmer OF average
means should not have home with
all the comforts and conveniences that
go to make up an attractive abode.
Then again there is no good reason
why the farmers wife should not add
to the attractiveness of the home in
various ways 1t is pity that the
older people in the country do not re-
alize what it means to the young peo-
pie to have a pleasant home and sur
roundings. There is much and con-
tinued complaint because the boys. and
the girls as well. are anxious to leave
the farms and go to the towns and
cities, but we are convinced that much
Of this dissatisfaction displayed by
the young could be dispelIed If there
was something at home to make life
more pleasant and less monotonous
than Is usually the case
1t may be argued that the farmers
wife has little time to devote to orna-
mentation. and doubtless this is true,
but It does not take much time or
labor to plant and cultivate some
flowers in the yard and to train vines
on the porch, and the girls of the.
family will be happier and more con-
tented because of it. And 1t doesn't
cost much for the head of the house
to provide books and papers for the
young people to enjoy. One way to
keep the young folks on the farms
is to make the homes pleasant for
them. and 1t costs comparatively lit
tie to do this. In short, IL parents
want their children to remain on the
farm they must make the farm so at
tractfve that their children will be
content to remain on It and help to
make 1t pleasant for all the family.
Much has been done during recent
years to make life in the country
more endurable AS all of us well
know It has not been many years
since the farmer in most cases was
little more than hermit. Even IL he
lived by public road ii was of but
little Satisfaction to himself and his
family. They could see people pass
ing, and could more easily get away
from home, but that was about all.
1t was work of time ana trouble,
and sometimes of expense. to get to
town or city, or even to the nearest
postoffice. They knew little of what
was going on in the great world that
was shut out from them. Working,
eating and sleeping filled out the
daily round of their existence. When
they arose in the morning they look
ed forward to a day of toll, and when
that was over there was little to do
but eat and go to bed.
1t was in most instances a monoton-
Gus and humdrum Lire barely made
endurable to the old through habit,
but frequently hateful to the young
folks, and especially so to the Young
folks If they had CHANGED to learn
something of the outside world. If
by chance they could read the news
paper, or have visit from some one
from the towns, and thus obtain some
faint knowledge of what was being
done In the busy world which WAS
barred to them, the little knowledge
obtained by these means only served
to make their daily life more irkseme,
and create in them longing for the
pleasures that were denied them.
All over the country these condi-
tions have changed or are changing
for the better. BY the spread Of the
telephone system 1t is becoming nos
sible for the country people to ex
change greetings and news with their
friends at distance and thus know
what others are doing and saying
Above ALL the rural mail delivery sys-
TEN Is spreading and reaching out in
all directions, thus enabling the coun-
try people to have their papers and
letters left at their doors. It may be
that in some instances the knowledge
obtained through. telephones and mail
delivery only makes youth more any
ious to get to what they look on as
headquarters of all good things, but
that does not obtain in most cases.
We are persuaded. For the most mart
these modern conveniences help to
make the rural jewellers more content
with their homes and surroundings.
But while the telephone. the rural
free delivery and the spread of troll
ley lines are doing so much for all
whose homes are in the country, much
depends on the farmer and his wife in
the way of inducing the youths to re-
main on the farm. 1t is useless to
tell the boys-or even the girls-that
they should stay at home IL nothing
is done to make them love the home
The conclusion of the whole matter is
that farmers can make their homes
attractive to the children, and should
do 1t.