Middletown transcript., 1915-05-01
BEAUTIFY YOUR FARM

An exchange tells the story of a
Kansas farmer who, after twenty good
wheat harvests, concluded that he had
as much money as any man ought to
want, rented his farm and moved into
town. He found life in town mere
matter of dry rot, and after three
years of dry rotting decided to go back
on the farm and develope paradise in
the centre of it. His idea of making a
paradise was to model out of cement,
with towel, Adam, Eve, the Devil,
the Serpent, Cain, Abel and hundred
other figures, some of the figures were
painted white, others in colors. The
figures are scattered through extensive
grounds and form settings to grape
arbors and clambering vines-vines
that Chamber up cement trees. In one
of the cement trees two concrete storks
are perched, each having baby under
its wings. Of course, this Kansas far
mer's idea of making an earthly para
disc is an easy joke. 1t has the Coney
Island earmarks to it. But there is
this about it, he is doing what it pleased
him to do doing what he has found a
real joy in doing. He is now seventy
two years of age and says he has barely
started on the development of his farm
paradise idea. No matter what the art
critics who have studied in Paris may
have to say about statuary made by q
farmer from cement, or, no matter if
they regard that Kansas Garden OF
Eden as to absurd for comment, there
is in this fantastic attempt at beautifi
cation the one idea and the only idet
that can stay the farm life unrest
change the growing dissatisfaction witt
farm conditions and environments
Farming is the most independent O
all callings, and rightly understood ant
rightly pursued it is the most beautiful
and joy-inspiring of all pursuits. L
there drudgery about it? There j
drudgery about all work if we choose t
make drudgery. If the farmer and hi
wife-and the boys and girls should b
taken into the council-will only begi
to think out plans of Identification tina
will not stop with the front yard butir
g de the whole farm, and set abou
realizing these plans, life on the farr
will at once become more interesting
Generally speaking farm life when it
ugly is so because it is nothing bu
D6,rn ebO11l1 ha hin
more to farming than the bare grind {
producing things to sell. 1t is nj
necessary to initiate the Kansas farm'
IN scattering cement figures all ovt
the farm. There are methods of beal
tification that are easier and bette
But. always, original ideas should
carried out, Never mind what Il
critics say, for they very often are co
ceived persons who do not know
much as they think they know Al
farm that has little streamlet rum |
through it, or that has bit of marsl
meadow land with hidden springs in
can at little expense be provided with
lake of an acre or two acres. II
lakelet can be banked up and damn
in so as to be of depth of three or TO
feet. 1t can be surrouned by weepi
willows; it can be made picturesque
beautiful. Fish can be raised in such
lake and boat can be kept on l.
the boys and girls. Such an innovati
will contribute vastly in the joy of fa
life, especially if there are boys a
girls around. This is but one suggest
idea. There are scores of other &c
schemes, such as the development
flower gardens, the planting of fr
trees in odd hooks and corners.
Identification of the farm front ale
the county highway by tire planting
trees or shrubbery, no matter if
tree or the ornamental shrubbery
monopolize some ground that mi
otherwise grow wheat or corn. TIL
things which make for beauty, mi
for the Gjoy of living and life is
worth the living unless there is joy in