Year: 1875




regard to cuchre being fashionable amuse-
ment among farmers families. l had not
supposed such to be the case, and such IS not
the practice in this vicinity. or course
there are some in every community who
spend their time in such amusements, but [
am sure card playing is not practiccd to any
great extent in the farmers families where
am accustomed to visit, and | have a large
circle of visiting acquaiutaDces.


am not sure but euchre may be more
interesting, and less harmful, than the small
talk current in society,--it is certainly pref
erable to slandcring and backbting our
nelghbors. AT least, such is my judgment,
though never played a game of euchre in
my life, and can ouly guess at its effects on
the character.


But it seems to me that, unless the COM
pany is very stupid, such amusemcnts are
uncalled for or seldom needed. The COM
munity in which | reside is preGminentlY
farming community, aud also a very intell-
gent one. There has been lodge Of Good
Templars established six years, and in the
many meetings we have enjoyed together We
have come to feel like brothers ami sisters,
at least those between whom there is any
congeniality of spirit. Such should be the
feeling among the Patrons, but as our grange
has only been established thirteen months
we are as yet comparative strangers.


During the winter season we have great
many Good Templar visits meeting, by in.
vitation, at the houses of different members
as many Of us as can be conveniently enter
stained at once. These visits have been very
pleasant, and l think not Improbable to us,
and we have never yet been obliged to re.
sort to cards for lack of ideas or power to
express them, nor do we indulge to any
great extent in gossip or scandal.


We find enough to interest us in discuss
ing the events and questions of our time, the
temperance cause, womans rights, and other
topics of interest, and the ladies seem to en-
joy the discussion Of these important issues
as much as the men. They are just as in
telligent as the men, and would, if the ballot
were given them, vote quite as inteligently
and couscientiously as their husbands.


But there are few of our number who are
really favorable to female suffrage, though
several like to argue on that side. have
noticed that those sisters who profess not to
believe in woman suffrage, almost invariably
exercise their right to vote both in lodge
and in grange meetings. This is all right,
Of course, but l am constrained to ask if
they are enough interested in the welfare Of
lodge or grange to cast their vote for suitable
officers for said organizations, why not be
enough interested in the welfare Of state and
nation to try to elect suitable person for
governor or president? We are no more
represented in our political elections by our
sons and husbands, than we are in lodge and
grange, and the principle of the ballot is the
same in the one case as the other. If the
men feel it to be policy or duty to accord us
the power to vote in one place, why not in
another?


Men are not all tyrants though some bit
terly wronged women think so. believe
many of them are working for what they
believe to be the true welfare OF woman when
they become convinced that the true inter-
eSts OF woman as well as those of man de-
mand the right of suffrage, believe they
will be willing to accord it to her.


think l have wandered somewhat from
my text in pursuit of that iynis fatalIS,
woman's rights, but to rcturn,-Our meet
ings are never dull. There is some harm.
less mirth and raillery, and great deal OF
really sensible talk Once in a while we
have INDUCED in some amusing game, as
"What is my thought like? or the like
but not often.


We have lately adopted n very sensible
resolution among us. Finding il TO bo q
great deal of work to prepare thousand
and one kinds of food to entertain our
friends, we have resolved that in future We
will not exceed four kinds of food, aud there
may be less kinds if we choose, but there
must not be more than that. These soca


reunions are not to consider what we shal


eat and drink, principally, but for socia


enjoyment. As some Of us live six or sew


en- miles apart, our visits are usually mad,


in the afternoon, extending into early even


ing. If we were nearer together, we might
make them in the evening, aud so dispense


with refreshments, if we chose.


do not know as there is anything uu


common or remarkable about these re-
unions, but we have enjoyed them much, and


have never felt the need Of euehre to pas
, away time. When we do Qf that time eyei
, comes) | shall think our time can be more
proftaby spent at home about our work, ol
reading some literature that shall help tC
cultivate our minds so that we may be intel
ligcnt enough to not be Obliged to resort tC
euchre to hide the poverty Of our ideas.


Sometimes some amusing game that ex
ercses our wits or excites our mirth may b,
just the thing, but should not be iuduged il
TO any great extent by men and women VIII,
, are old enough to appreciate higher enjoy
, ment. Ia. b. BOYCR.
! FayStoa, Jan. I.