Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1911-10-13
PAINTING FARM BUILDINGS

Deep down in the human heart there
is a love or nature and OF the restrul-
ness and variety which rural scenes
alone can give. Out in the country we
get nearer 10 nature than elsewhere.
Ii is a rare treat TO ride along good
highway and see the artistic erfort
which nature puts forth with so mucn
grace and ease. painting the Ileios Win
a beauty and variety OF foliage upon
thousands OF trees; changing the color
and character of the soil so that IL
blends into q harmonious whole and az
fords a restfulness and satisfaction 10
the mind. Let nature alone ana she
covers I'D the great majority or the
sores and disbursements which man
in subduinK her natural resources has
wrought As we ride across country
we sit and gaze at the panorama OF
beauty through which we pass. Our
pulses Jingle with the pleasure Oh II
all.
But no. the picture is not quite per
feet and strange as it may SEEM the
49,, which mars il is due TO mans
handiworK: for 10. here ana there We
mass a site which he has selected toi
his home. and somehow or other II too
freouently seems out OF perspective
with the rest OF the picture We
nanse and INQUIRE into this, and 1lno
nrobabIy that the architectural erfects
Of the farm house and the outbuildinss
are not pleasing. The buildings nave
an unattractive. vacant. starring aP-
pearance; they stand out IN a star tlihs
ard inharmonious contrast TO the green
~ TIRE trees and the field. What is the
troubleg Is il altogether due 70 tho
humbleness OF the home. the type or
construction followed. TO the made
auacv of the site chosen These may
have an influence but they are the NIL
nor factors in the picture The derec'
is d11e primarily TO natures inability
20 coat the weather-beaten timber with
some Of her natural pigments, ana
thus make the homestead blend ano
fit perfectly into the landscape we
become easily surfeited from variety
OF causes. and possibly the fact thai
those residing in the country live in
the midst OF natural beauty has blind
ed their eyes to this failure to so dec
CRATE the home through the use OF
pafnt as TO make IL harmonic with the
rest OF the picture
The slogan OF today is back TO the
country" In some respects il is well
chosen 1t would be better TO substi-
tute for this propaganda, however. the
retention in the country OF those who
were born there and should naturally
70 bring about this most desirable emo
viii be to make the farm home more
attractive. In travelling from place 10
place one Is impressed with what
transformation may be wrought by the
use OF the paint brush In two COM
munities with which the writer is Ia
miIiar q striking contrast IN this re-
spect is Afforded The farms in both
sections are about the same In area
49,
the farmers are relatively as progTec-
sive in many respects in both of these
communities. II is probable that their
bank deposits would total about the
same sum, but in the one community
the houses and outbuildings are at
tractively painted AS the writer rode
through this particular section he WAS
greatly impressed with this evidence
OF prosperity and success. The homes
seemed so much brighter. apparently
more generous in size. and there waA
an air OF comfort about them that was
altogether missing in the other local
fty. A striking difference you will at
once agree. and all due to the invest
ment OF a. few dollars IN paints and
brushes. the work being done for the
most part. as I understood il. at odd
times. and by the owners themselves.
In the other community this could Just
as easily have been done. but some
leading and aggressive spirit had noI
thought IL worth while TO kindIe the
lamp Of example and thus stimulate
all his farmer friends to do likewise
There are many reasons why our farm
homes and outbuildings should be paint
ed One OF the most potent Of all being
that II adds Infinitely more TO the value
OF the property than the cost entaiIed
in buying and putting on the paint. The
mental impression made on the writer
by the contrast Of the two localities
mentioned was very striking for where
the paint had been applied surface indi-
cations pointed TO a greater degree OF
prosperity than in the other community.
One would have more readily purchased
land for a home there than elsewhere.