Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1910-11-16

20 them thar the country makes fits
strongest appeal
A house and an acre or more of land
can be purchased or rented more
cbeaply than house and lot in the
city The home can be supplied with
all the cOnveniences that the family
were used 70 in the city. The trolley
and the telephone keep them in touch
with then city friends. The city man
who is past the days Of the hard work
demanded in a mercantile establish
ment or factory can still make a fair
living from the soil. The returns from
an even acre or so Of ground will go
far toward paying the family's living
expenses.
The pleasure Of life in the open,
where the air is pure and there is
time TO dream and room to be happy,
will ado years TO the lives of the
new made farmer and his wife. The
freedom from responsibility calls back
the light heartedness of youth. The
tyranny Of Office hours is done away
with The luxury Of independence is
attained
No sign Of the return TO the country
is more encouraging than the tendency
of the old farmers aud their wives TO
spend The remainder Of their days in
the country. Some Of the old farmers
who move 10 town 10 end their days
are satisfied perhaps. but most Of
then, are not The enforced idleness
gals them The narrow boundaries
of a city lot stine them They miss
their old friends and associates
The home farm is a much better
place than the city for the farmer to
spend his declining years for many
reasons. II is home to him. and a
thousand pleasant memories cling
around every knoll and tree He can
turn over to one of the boys the active
work Of managing the farm and still
have most Of the pleasure of farming
without the responsibility. 1t may
mean the construction Of another
house perhaps bat the expense will
be less than the cost of house in
the city. There are always little tasks
to be done when he feels like work,
vet he can quit when ne feels like
quitting. When he is not in a mood
to work there are always neighbors
to visit. With his automobile or his
horse and buggy he and his wife can
go where and when they please. Thus
the days pass pleasantly and smooth
~, without a ripple of discomfort or
the strain Of getting used to a new
environment The passing years leave
few marks on either the farmer or his
wife, for this sort of life is not cal
culated to encourage the advance Of
old age.
From the standpoint Of the c0mmu-
nifty the retired farmers are a valua-
BILE asset. A number of such families
in the community give permanency to
its social life. With little else to do
and plenty of time to do it in the
farmer and bis wife can go ahead
with the management of the club or
grange They can devise picnics and
suppers and go ahead with lecture
courses and celebrations.
These things are of incalculable
benefit TO any community. and yet too
often the young farmers are too busy
to look after all the details connected
with them.
In looking after the business affairs
of the township and county and state
the farmer who is out of active bust
ness finds an outlet for his surplus
energies. Township offices are by no
means lucrative. Yet Ii is essential
for the good of the community that
they be filled by men who will take
time to see that the township affairs
are properly conducted. A farmer who
nc longer has "a business of his own
to demand his best attention is just
the man for such a place.
The county supervisors have charge
of a great amount of business. Upon
the efficiency of their work depends
the condition of The roads and bridges.
The management of county is no
small job. yet it is too often intrusted
to some office seeking politician be-
cause there is no one else who has
time for the place Here is another
opportunity for the retired farmer.