728 ANNUAL REPORTj OF THE Off. Doc. 



We certainly can bo glad (hat our oyos aro not eon fronted at all 

 times, turn which way we will, with brick and stone or concrete walls 

 with their square ourtine, and with paved streets that become 

 monotonous to the extreme as are the eyes of those that are city bred 

 and whose lot is not cast in such pleasant ])laces. In the city we 

 can look only upon the things as weak, erring humanity has con- 

 structed it, but in the rural districts we can look upon the works of 

 God as he has provided it in nature; but the hand of man can do 

 and does a great deal to mar this beauty or add to it as he provides 

 for himself a homestead. 



In erecting new homesteads, or in making considerable additions 

 to or alterations upon existing ones, it is of much importance that 

 the general outline and positions of these buildings be taken in con- 

 sideration so that they may add to the beauty of the landscape, and 

 also that everything be made as convenient for the toiler as pos- 

 sible. Finances or the making of money is not all that is important 

 in one's life, enjoyment and comfort should have a place as well. 

 Inconvenience and ugliness is sometimes more costly than conve- 

 nience and elegance. Let, however, utilitj^, economy and comfort 

 first be secured, and along with these, as possible of that pleasing 

 effect which arises from just proportions, harmonious arrangement, 

 and manifest adaptation to the use the buildings are designed for. 



Of all the buildings, the cottage in w^hich the wife and children 

 spend a large portion of their life, should be made the most attractive 

 and as homelike and pleasant as possible, thus implanting into the 

 hearts and minds of the young people a desire to spend a large por- 

 tion of their lives in these pleasant and agreeable homes, neglecting 

 to make the home attractive and comfortable may be to a great 

 degree the cause of the tendency, now so prevalent of the movement 

 towards the towns and cities. Without a doubt the rural districts 

 have less temptations to place before the young people with which 

 to contend and which they would necessarily have to overcome than 

 they would have were the}' thrown into city life. This alooe should 

 be sufficient reason to induce an}' i^arents to beautify their homes and 

 make them as elegant as they can possibly afford to do. There is, 

 however, nothing that adds so much to a homestead looking neat as 

 the lawn surrounding the cottage. This should also come in for its 

 share of care in the laying out of it, as well as in the planting of 

 shrubbery and shade trees. A well arranged and nicely trimmed 

 lawn adds so mnch to the attractiveness of the liome that scarcely 

 too much attention can be given it. 



A neat home, however, to be kept thus needs a careful husbandman 

 as well as a prudent house-keeper. For the husbandman it is highly 

 important that he keeps everything in order, a place for everything 

 and everything in its place. So also must he carefully manage in 

 order that his farm may repay him for all his trouble and care. He 

 should be active and wide-awake, in short a good business man. But 

 he alone cannot make a success and keep everything in good order; 

 he also needs the assistance of the one who has charge of the affairs 

 in the house. 



Carelessness in the house and thrift upon the fields will not make 

 a pleasant home. The woman can do a great deal to make farming a 

 success, and most of all in making the neat and beautiful homestead 

 attractive. Without a doubt there is no more pleasant place to 

 spend ones whole life than in the country home. 



