The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1912-01-19
A COMPARISON OF ATTRAC
TiONS IN THE
COUNTRY.
give ENERGETIC SPIRIT OUTLET
Easy to Plant Love Of Home In the
Hearts of Their Boys and Girls
and Transmit Principles Of Truth.
to Posterity.
(By Mrs. Rutledge Smith,

|
Department OF the Farmers lnstl-
tute which was held in the Assembly
room of the Hermitage Hotel
when asked to talk on the sub
ject, Improvement in our Rural
| Homes" | was delighted, for it is
question in which | am much inter-
ested. AS an ardent lover OF Ma,
ture, / firmly believe that the boys
and girls reared near to Natures
heart, yet given the advantage of
real home, an ideal home some peo-
pie might call 1t, will develop into
our highest and best citizens and be-
come the leaders of their age.
mot long since | had occasion to
visit country home, the location or
which was ideal, and the farm was
known far and wide for it's produc-
tiveness | drove along the main
county road for several miles, then
turned aside and drove down one OF
the toughest roads imaginable, for
about half mile, when l. came in
sight of the orchard, from which for
years / knew my neighbors and
had received goodly share of fruit,
an orchard known for it's non-failing
qualities. Back of the orchard set
the old homestead, and as drove
up | wondered at it's ancient ap-
pearance." The good woman of the
house, hearing the bark of the
watchdog came from the cornTield
and, despite the fact that she was
barefooted greeted me cordially and
Hospitality, explaining that she was
barefooted becaues she had been
thinning corn. Her invitation to
dinner was gratefully accepted as 1t
was near the noon hour, and in
apologizing for her kitchen she re-
ferred to the fact that when it rain
ed she had to carry an umbrella
while she cooked. The dinner was
soon served and then | was shown
around the farm, which was good
one, with the barn well built and well
filled. 1t was no wonder to me when
but few months later | heard that
the Oldest son Of the family had run
away from home-tne stock had
been more thought of than the child.
ION another occasion | drove to a
neighboring county, not so famed for
it's farm land, but was guest in
one ca the nose elegant homes. The
handsome structure stood well back
from the road and as | drove up the
spacious lawn / felt the attractive
ness of the interior of the home, and
as | crossed the threshold | knew
that the Spirit of home-life was
there. Modern conveniences were
: here found, acetyline gas made
bright the night, water piped from a
near by Epring lightened the labor
of the kitchen and laundry and made
complete the we'll fitted bath room,
} while on the table the fruits of the
, season were found served with daint-
mess and taste. The barnyard prov
ed most alluring, for here the proud
turkey gobbler gobbled away as the
gray gander Kissed at the passerby,
J the busy hens sang and scratched
, and scratched and sang, the eIina
: fowl, with it's continuous "patter-
: rack" lent an accompaniment to the
deep bass Of the "quack, quack" OF
the duck, while across the field raj
and sleek kline lazily fed on the blue
grass, bountifully provided for them
, A nearby barn was filled with hurley
} tobacco, that hung in great sheathes
from above, and another, further
! away, held horse for each member
of the family, and strong mules that
the farm work might move on.
pond we'll filled with fish, added TO the
: picturesuuenes of the whole and
, thought of what the young iad!
} daughter of the house, a recent gradu
t ate of one of the foremost colleges
of Nashville, had told me as we drove
. to this Acadian like home of hers;
: There has been a time" she sald
. when wished to move to town, bu'
since / am grown, love and appreci
, ate my home / know there are few
) who have such home life as !, anc
I despite the fact that live in ooun
ty where there is no railroad, | real
lie how blessed I am. / have ny
: city friends who come to me or ! 81
t to them. When l am lonely I saddle
: my horse and ride until am invlgor
3 ated and on my return I find comforf
i In the papers and magazines tina
come daily to our door, or please ia