SOLON ROBINSON, 1850 423 



warn us at once, to remove the cause that is slowly dis- 

 easing the human bodies that come within its deleterious 

 influence. But the disease of the body is not so certain 

 as the disease of the mind, that lives within the influence 

 of such vile smells as fill the precincts of some places, 

 some human beings denominate their home, a word that 

 should always call up a sacred feeling of love to hear it 

 spoken. 



Here is the picture of a "farmer's home" I lately vis- 

 ited. Not five rods from the door there is a duck pond 

 daily stirred up by a dozen dirty swine, filling the air 

 with anything but the scent of roses. At the east end of 

 the house, and directly under the window of the "spare 

 bedroom," stands — What do you think? A rose or lilac, 

 or a bed of flowers, or a climbing honeysuckle, to fill the 

 room with sweet odors, as the morning sunbeams find 

 their way through a curtain of green leaves, charming 

 the sense of smell of those who sleep there, and awaken- 

 ing in their minds a feeling of thankfulness to God, for 

 the gift of smell and odors of flowers that give it grati- 

 fication? No. Instead of these, the space is filled with 

 hen coops — useful, to be sure — but out of place, and cor- 

 rupting the atmosphere with a most villainous stench. 

 On the south side of the house, and directly in view of the 

 door of the dining room, and scarcely fifty feet from it, 

 stands a small building, which should always be located 

 far away from the dwelling, and if possible, out of the 

 range of prevailing summer winds, shrouded with ever- 

 greens and creeping vines, and kept in such condition by 

 the use of substances that absorb ammonia, and frequent 

 cleanings, that the sense of smell should scarcely be 

 offended by a visit to it, as it now is while partaking of 

 the morning meal. By the side of the back kitchen door, 

 stands the swill barrel, steaming with putrifying butter- 

 milk and bonny clabber; and just three rods off, is the 

 trough and pen where it is fed to the pigs; and immedi- 

 ately in connection with that, the cowyards and stables. 

 On the side opposite the swill barrel, and within three 



