Year: 1877

1t Is often the case that farmers make no
social calls or visits on their neighbors. and
GO not encourage others to call on or visit
'hehi. IL they go out for an evening it is to
see some one on business or to 60 to tav-
ern or grocery. Of course they do not take
their families with them. These farmers
seldom care for amusements, and as a mat
ter OF course they think they are of no ad-
vantage to their wives and children. They
look on amusenents as a waste of time and
money, as we'll as a means of encouraging
oisplay In dress. AS a rule, the only meet
lngs they attend are those of the church and
political party to which they belong. This
tends to make them bigoted and narrow
minded, and in measure. units them to be
pleasant associates for persons holding diff
ferent views. This class of farmers seldom
travel, and accordingly they acquire few
new ideas. The longer they live the mar
rover this world becomes to them.


There are many evil consequences grow
ing out of Il life Of this kind. Not only the
farmer but his family grow unretineu, if not
positively coarse, in their manners. Wo-
men, whose love for society is ordinarily
greater than that of men, often break down.
AS to the boys and girls, they become dis
satisfied with farm lite, which offers no
amusements and affords little change of any
sort, and desire to escape to the city. If
they do not go away they become discon-
tented, and lose all interest in the affairs
they are engaged in. For boys to be profit
able on farm, they must be contented, and
they will rarely be contented if they are de-
MED access to society and have noopportun-
ity for having an occasional good time.
Many of the worst wrecks in society are
boys who left farm homes because they
were so dull and prison-like. They wanted
to break up the monotony they had endur-
ed, and SO they plunged into dissipation.


In the south there has always been pleas
ant social life OH farms. There have been as
much refinement, culture and sociability
among farmers as among any class in cities
and towns. AS Il CONSEQUENCE of this state
of affairs, farming has been a popular pur-
suit even among persons fond of society and
DESTROYS of havinga good time. Calls and
visits were numerous, home and neighbor
hood amusements common. Before the war
the prosperous southern farmer was man
of culture and refinement, and his home
cheerful ifnot elegant. In a city he was as
liable to be taken for lawyer or merchant
as for a farmer. Chiefly Oh this account he
L. o:., IL o.,G, ;nf3,
was a pleasant place to visit, aud it contain
ed most of the aids to comfort to be found
in homes in the city. His sons and daugil-
ters showed the grace and refinement that
came from mingling in good society.


In some parts of the north the grange has
done good work in improving the social life
of farmers. But it Has not done enough.
There is room for very great Improvement
in the social condition Of farmers. Winter
evenings should be put to better account.
They are too valuable to waste in doing or
in visiting tayerns Or groceries, They should
be rendered alike pleasant and profitable.
There is no better way to brighten up a
household or a neighborhood than to devote
an evening in a week to amusement. They
need not be expensive in order to be enjoy
able. Plrlor theatricals are very popular in
cities where there are tirst-class theatres and
performers. Il is very easy to make stage
and curtains, while minor dramas and COM
e4lies may be obtained at small cost. A re-
yiyal of apple bees, corn h.skings and quilt
ing parties, that were SO popular at one
time. would do much to break the monotony
ot farm life. Social lectures have taken the