The Glenwood post., 1912-01-06
A. ]. DICKSON, ttibst ~ lrspriesss
Saturday, January 6, 1912.
THE FARMHOUSE PRoBLEM

So much has been said about ths
drift from rural districts to the cities,
that it is generally recognized to be
highly important fact in both the eco
nomic and social development of the
country. But how many people haze
any clear, definite idea of the causes:
Many causes contribute to this drift
ing from the farms, but one of the most
potent-the hard work demanded of
farm women, together with the lack uf
commodious farm houses-has not rc-
ceived the attention it deserves
We find quite often that the farmer
rides to town, altogether too frequent
ly, in the most up-to.date vehicle hrs
horses we'll harncssed and his entirr
outfit presenting an appearance OF
prosperity: he makes use, of the latest
in the way of inventions to tighten his
burdens and increase the efficiency Of
wife! She is too frequently churaing
with the same style of dash churn used
by her grandmother. while the family
washing is done on an out-of date ;spj
perhaps wornout washing machine, il,
indeed, her only resort is not to the
tub and washboard, also Of grand
mothers days. - ..-..
The family is too often huddlei to
gether in two or three little rooms, and
there is scarcely any privacy and al
together there is an absence of that
serenity and repose for which the
tired housewife SO often yearns.
THE children someone to chafe un-
der the -eramped conditions and to long
for asTSohsof their own and the modern
coHvshieaces which they know are ea'
joFed by their city cousins. This; dis
. asdnfent soon takes. possession of! the
patient BAT .overworked mother and the
tirst'thing the farmer knows he fnds
himself in, the midst, of a condition OF
unrests-which has already reached the
incurable' stage and. that father is for
tunate indeed if he does, not soou after
find his boys, and worse than that, his
girls, slipping out beyond the farm
tcther and seeking a livelihood inthe
city, with all the temptations anl
hardships and heartaches that such
an experiment almost inevitably means.
Farmers, make your farm homes at
tractive You can just az well do ii
and it pays-it actually pays, not only
in your own pleasure and enjoynen.,
but in the knowledge. that you have
done your best to make farm home lie
attractive to your wife and children,
and what can prove greater reward
than that for little effort and e1-
pense?
But some may say our picture is
overdrawn. Not at all. II is even un-
derdrawn. But on the other hand many
of the farm houses in Garfield cPunty
are models of convenience and rnodera
comfort.
There is the private water system
and the furnace heat with the cheerful
firepace in the corner, while it is not
unusual to find modern plumbing with
bath and. toilet and kitchen sink while
the modern washing machine is turned
by water motor and in q. few instances
gas lamps furnish the lighting for the
home. Co.,.
Under these conditions and with
plenty Of room for the young folks to
entertain their company, and with suf-
fieient time in the evening for
them to enjoy the association OF
Ystsir neighbors and. friends there
Will be less of discomfort and
Therefore less Of the dreaded drifting
toward the city. There is no. goo't
reason, except in rare instances, way
the farm house cannot be made rootny
and convenient so that the family car
really ive-,enjoy life-,and not merely
exist as, seems too often the case.
Garfield county is coming TO these
better things. but there is yet much
room for improvement.
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