No. 6. DEPARTMENT OP AGRICULTURE. 359 



Besides proper food, the body ueeds exercise. Bodily activity and 

 bodily health are inseparable'. Exercise is healthful, because the 

 more we exercise the faster we breathe; the faster we breathe the 

 more air we take into the lungs; as it is the life-giving oxygen we 

 breathe that purities the blood, so the more air we take in, the more 

 perfectly is that proces« performed. Hence the purer the blood the 

 better our health must be. Violent exercise, or exercise long-con- 

 tinued, must be avoided, since it tears down faster than nature can 

 build up. Feats of strength are not only injurious, but often prove 

 fatal. It is very dangerous to try to outdo one's companions whether 

 at work or at play. We should be guided by the injunction of Iso- 

 crates, the Greek rhetorician, who, 2000 years ago, said, ''Exercise for 

 health and not for strength." 



After exercising or working the body is tired and demands rest. It 

 is as important to rest at the right time as it is to exercise. How 

 many a tired housewife would find sweet relief, if she w'ould only take 

 time to rest! But she thinks this is impossible, she has a thousand 

 and one little things to do w^iich are so trying to the patience. If 

 the average man would for one week exchange places with his wife, 

 and engage in all the occupations of the day — the mending, the 

 making, the contriving, the caring for babies, tying up cut fingers, 

 binding up burns and bruises, preparing three meals a day, clearing 

 away the dishes, sweeping, dusting, to say nothing of the washing 

 and ironing, baking, milking, churning, and many other things which 

 are to be done about the farmhouse. He would realize the truth of 

 the old adage: 



"Man woi-ks from sun to sun, 

 But woman's work is never done." 



And he would understand far better after such experience, that 

 it is this constant repetition, the drop by drop, inch by inch of 

 woman's work that wears her out. He would also realize the need 

 of more labor-saving appliances, one of which is most necessary — hot 

 and cold water. How very much the work is lightened, w^hen water 

 can be supplied by turning the spigot, instead of carrying from the 

 spring or wagging the pump handle. 



All these appliances cost but a few extra dollars. Why should not 

 the farmer's wives have them a® well as their town neighbors who 

 have so much less work to do. This is a farmer's institute and we 

 speak in defense of our country homes. Why is it that so many 

 people wish to go to town? True, there are educational advantages 

 in town which we do not have in the country, but the country can 

 boast of advantages which town and city cannot — good, pure air, 

 fresh water and food, so necessary to health. These are not always 

 to be had in our towns, and especially is this true in our cities. 



