Newark post., 1914-01-14


"The Social Side of Farm Life, " |
may have treated i'll a broader
sense than DR.. Houchin really in
tended; but as | know so little OF
the social side of this country, 1t
seemed that | must stretch further
back to some of my earlier exper
fences and perhaps you may not OBJ
ject to hearing of a small part OF
Scotland s social life on the farm.
As far back as | can remember a
country life called out very ap-
pealingly to me; and it is in the
country that we find nature in its
sublimest form. Which of our city
streets can give that pure and real
enjoyment that a walk of six or
eight miles thru country lanes and
woods can give? The simple wild
flower, the foliage, the singing of
the birds-what can possibly ap
peal more to the heart and soul
than these?
1t is the upbringing in this envir-
onment that leads to pure and
wholesome social life in any coun-
try. In 1.-The Girl of the Timber
lost" (by Gene S. Porter), which
some of you may have read, Mrs.
Comstock utters these words, III re-
gard to her late husband s failings:
IF you had known about wonders
like these, in the days of your
youth. Robert Comstock. could you
ever have done what you did?' 1t
has struck me often to how many
more of our young men might not
this be applied.
1t is certain that we must begin
with our youngest children on the
farm, as elsewhere, if we wish the
social life among us to be pure and
wholesome. 1t must be instilled in
to them as part of their daily life.
And it can be done to a great ex-
tent by the literature provided for
them. There is no greater enjoy
ment to the child than the Fairy
Tale and Fable. From that they
can 60 to the simpler poems. They
must have good deal of the bright
and comic element given to them
but let it be that which is worth
giving. The child's taste will be
formed and as he or she grows old
er there will be no time to give to
those trashy 'novelettes and 'hor-
ribles which are so often seen
among our youth. The child must
have his game and his little form of
entertainment. And here the mis-
take is often made in trying to be
too elaborate in our entertainment
of children, just as we often are
with the grown folk. Have you
ever noticed what a simple thing
will amuse a child for hours-long-
er than some of his more elaborate
toys? In Scotland | taught for
many years and have had children
of all ages to deal with. in both city
and village schools. In a great
many of the villages the winter was
not a social success in the child
ren S eyes if they did not have their
Soiree. This was an entertainment
given in school and which consist
ed of refreshments followed by rec
itations and singing, magic lantern
etc The refreshments consisted of
tea served in tin cups and Scotch
currant bun chiefly, and an orange
In all the entertainments in which
| have taken part since. either pub
lie or private parties, | never have
seen children enjoy themselves
more than at these. They We're
children who for the most part, saw
no more elaborate form of enter
tainment. | can always remember
the little boy who, after taking five
cups of tea, thought he could take
another if he stood up.
Throughout their school days
these children must be prepared
for what is to follow in later life, as
much in their social pleasure as in
their work.
| am going to refer a good deal
to the farmer who is neither rich
nor poor, and to the cotter or help
which is necessary on the farm.
The well-to-do and wealthy farm
er can choose to make his social life
almost what he wishes. The splen-
did means of conveyance provide
him with an outlet from his farm
very readily. But the working
farmer and his help cannot take
the time and must find their social
pleasures nearer home.
Each country, each state, each
district | might say, may have its
own forms of enjoyment, but all
roads lead one way,-to the relaxa-
u L i /