The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-07-17
MN 7dl -ll-l71 80 - - = . ~ ~ Y
OUR BAREFOOT DAYS

days OF long ago When we were boys
on the farm or in the village, but
sober reflection, with the glamour
omitted, leads to the belief that more
. myths date back only a score or SO
OF years, than stretch to- the days
. when the world was in its infancy.
How many of US Of near-mature years
\ had the comforts, much less the con-
veniences of modern life? The great
lights, telephones, hot air furnaces,
a majority grew up without electric
'.Or steam radiators, without bathroom
cOnveniences or convenient water
supply in our homes, without city or
rural mail delivery, and without the
automobile.
The old swimming hole sounds ro-
[ mantle and there were many days OF
bliss. But the boy of today has so
many other sources OF pleasure and
delight that he would scorn the swim
ming hole. 1t is by contrast that
pleasures are derived. The lad OF
forty years ago was forced, to, get up
at day-break, go out into the dew-laden
pasture and drive in the horses and
cows; he had to carry in wood and
/ in some cases start the kitchen fire;
and some Of us were required to help
with the morning chores and assist
with the milking. g.
What were at one time comforts
almost beyond belief have now become
necessities, while our conveniences
have multiplied many fold, and the
Injuries, even in war time are
steadily growing in number. A con-
now is not amiss, and life will be the
temptation of conditions, then and
sWeeter as a result of retrospection.
I Would you voluntarily live over those
days? Would you take them In pref
erence to being a boy of the present
day? Most Of us would not-Wal-
/. worth, Wis, Independent.
The writer Of the above seems to
see only the surface, his power OF pen
etration is not good, he catches but
the glamour. a..-
True there were not so many auto
mobiles in those barefoot days." but
their absence was not felt. Happy the
boy who had driving team with har-
ness decorated with ivory rings and
asF1ap, robe with an American. Beauty
rose worked into it. With the reins
held firmly in one hand and the other
hand and arm encircling her" waist,
II, was off to the dance, lyceum or
moonlight picnic, after the evening
chores were done. Oh, that was the
life!
1 So far as the moonlight picnics are
concerned, they have not changed
much since the barefoot days." Still
: lovers hang their hammocks in the
trees and swing, spoon and swing,
two spoons in every swing.
Some today seem to disdain every
thing but the new things. BE it
weakness, it. deserves some praise, we
love the play-place Of our early (bare-
foot) days" True the days of long
arc were not all sunshine, there were
some thorns, but. upon every thorn
there. was rose.
What the young folks of those days
did not know of the inventions to
come, did not worry them. The old
Fashioned folks of today may have
beari only diamond in the rough,
during the May of their lives, but it
was real diamond. even If lacking
, the polish. :,
AZ for the old swimming hole, it
Il not so much the swimming hole we
miss as we do it's associates, our
Youthful friends. Their memories are
almost sacred, and are but second to
the memory OF dear old mother.
Mother! All. yes, she too belongs to
those barefoot days." and, no doubt,
her blessed memory helps make the
mast so dear. Could we but call to
life many of the friends of our youth,
and could we but once again gather
/ With the old "bunch" at some of the
Old trysting places, it would be just a
CLEAN of heaven.
Yes. it is true "'the great majority
grew up without electric lights, tele-
Thones. hot air furnaces or steam ra-
diators, without bathroom conven.
fences or convenient water supply, In
our homes, without city or rural mail
delivery, and without the automobile"
lincoln did not have those luxur1es,
but we do not love him the less, and
man for man was as big as any OF
the house plants of today. There were
mary lesser lights that grew to their
full strength Of manhood and woman
Z hood without the assistance OF those
luxuries. Many Of them also grew
strong and waxed tat without their
y fathers financial aid. They dug their
start down deep out of the soil with
their own hands and planned and
builded SO we'll that the present gen
Grafton, who now sheer at the bare
foot" days, may have steam radiators
automobiles, etc. like. to grasp by
the hand the man Of those barefoot
DAYS" and tell him he is a man! 's.
Much of the so-called pleasures OF
today are like painted grapes, are
only seen, not tasted" There may be
more today to attract and please the
eye, but much of it is only sham and
painted. 3~ " .%
w, H. Keims was just eating din.
ner when / called at his home last
week and it made me pretty sore to
have to turn down an invitation be-
cause had only a few minutes be-
fore filled up on sardines, crackers
and Bevo. I wish knew of some
way to foretell when I was going to
receive such an invitation. After MI
Keims had finished his dinner we took
a short walk around the barn yard
He was complaining Of a lame back,
which Is a mighty poor thing to have
On any Iowa farm this summer, and
It will be worse next fall when corn
husking comes, for then 1t will be
necessary to lift those big ears Of
IL ~xrysn