FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 377 



and. cracking under the inflneuco of the weutlier, and a dilapidated hog pen in 

 disgusting proximity to the house. Stepping inside you find it equally unattract- 

 ive ; no carpet on the iloor, nor picture on the walls ; no books nor ornament, 

 nor anything to indicate that any other than the lowest type of physical life has 

 its wants supplied here. It is no wonder that the children brought up in such 

 a home should learn to despise it, and should choose any other calling than the 

 one with whicli they have learned to connect all these ungainly and unattractive 

 associations. Some one has defined an agricultural college as a place where 

 farniei's' sons arc weaned from farming. We have known not a few young men 

 to go forth from the Agricultural College witli a more intelligent appreciatiou 

 of, and a more ardent love for agricultural pursuits than they would have been 

 likely to attain under any other circumstances, and we have known many more 

 who were most effectually weaned from all desire ever to become farmers through 

 the harsh and unattractive aspect of farm life presented by their early homes. 

 But wherever you sec a farmers home that is the embodiment of solid comfort 

 and liberal taste, the scene of an exalted family life whicli shall be the master 

 and not the slave of labor, and of a bright and happy social atmosphere, yon 

 will find daughters who will not be afraid to marry a farmer, and whom no 

 farmer need be afraid to marry ; and you Avill find boys who Avill not be in haste 

 to seek in other callings a more congenial style of life, but who will stick to the 

 occupations of the farm which have blessed their youth with health and plenty, 

 with individual development and a virtuous growth. 



It would scarcely come within the scope of this address to dwell at much 

 length upon the building to be occupied as a home, either as regards the most 

 suitable material for its construction, its location, or its general plan ; and yet 

 there are considerations of such intrinsic importance connected with this part 

 of our subject that they demand more than a passing allusion, — in fact they 

 cannot be studied too much, or understood too well by those who undertake to 

 build. Every farm should have a good comfortable house suited to the wants 

 of the family and in keeping with the extent of the operations to be carried on 

 upon the farm, as soon as it can be provided. Our wants of course are to a 

 considerable extent what we make them, and perhaps to a still greater extent 

 what the prevalent social customs about us make them. AVe might name many, 

 things that have long since ceased to bo classed as^uxuries and been fully 

 installed as isecessities that a generation ago were utterly unknown. If atiy of 

 us can bring up from the experience of our childhood recollections of pioneer 

 life, we may well know that under our present circumstances wo cannot repeat 

 that now. If then the family lived in one or two rooms and our mothers baked 

 bread in the round iron oven on the hearth, and suspended the kettle on the 

 crane over the blazing chimney fire, never yet having dreamed of "tie-backs," 

 though admirably adapted for such a situation, they toiled on in their humble 

 way in the hope of something better by and by when the forest had given place 

 to cultivated fields of green pasture and golden grain. For us to be satisfied 

 witli such homes, and to have our wives and daughters destitute of all the mod- 

 ern comforts and conveniences which help to ease life's burdens and raise life 

 itself to a higher plane would be a dishonorable retrogression and a stupendous 

 folly. At the same time I would not recommend putting in and upon the house 

 any more to beautify it and render it convenient than your circumstances will 

 permit. Foolish extravagance is no less reprehensible than a stupid parsimony. 

 The farmer's house should be located near the principal thoroughfare, allowing 

 sufficient room in front for a pleasant lawn, which a refined taste can ren.der 



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