The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1921-01-26
Woman Speaker on Farmers Short Course

The important position which the wives and
daughters of our farmers occupy in the agricul-
tural industry will not be overlooked at the insti-
tute which is to be held here next month Mrs.
Charles w. Sewell, of Otterbein, assistant state
home demonstration leader in Indiana in 1917
and 1913, has consented to deliver lecture on
the evening of Feb. T. and other lectures pertain
ing to the work Of the women and girls who live
on farms will be given on Feb. and Feb. 8.
Time was, and not so long ago, that the farm
er's wife received scant attention in our consld-
Grafton of the welfare of the rural dwellers We
seldom thought of her long hours OF labor, the
few conveniences which she had, and the absence
of many social features. The genius of the in
ventor developed one labor saving device after
another for the housewife who resided in the
city. Architects planned houses to save steps
for the mother who presided over the city home
But neither paid much attention to the mother
and sister on the farm, who lacked running
water, gas and electric light, and the scores of
appliances closely associated with these utilities
and designed to Tighten labor.
A noticeable change has taken place recent
ly. Purdue university last year ran special
train through certain sections of Indiana for the
sole purpose of demonstrating the many labor
saving devices that have been invented and which
can now be installed on the farm to save time,
worry and labor for the farmers wife.
The coming of the telephone and it's installa-
ton in thousands of rural homes in Indiana
helped solve the social problem for the farmers
wife and daughter. No longer were they isolated
from their neighbors and confined to their own
homes. The telephone brought their neighbors
into their homes Conversation could be carried
on with friends miles away.
Equally important the coming of the
automobile. Whereas formerly it meant delay
and hours of travel to reach the city, the farm
ers wife is able to reach the market, the city and
the social gathering in few minutes by using the
automobile, which has come to be one of the es-
sential and indispensable vehicles of the farm.
And with the introduction of these facilities
the farmers wife and daughter have obtained an
opportunity to take part in the social and cultural
life of the community, from which they were
separated by an almost insurmountable obstacle
Today the women who live on the farm are able
to take part in the social life of the community
and in the educational and recreational features
which are provided
All of us are glad to see these changes and to
know that prominent part of the institute to be
conducted here will be devoted to matters in
which the wives and daughters are directly inter-
ested. A glance at the program shows the fol-
lowing TOPICS all of them of paramount interest:
Demonstrations in canning meats; hot box
lunches; health talk; music. and other lectures
We hope that large number of women from the
rural communities of Wayne county will attend
the institute not only for the educational features
but also for the social spirit that will prevail.