ISMK.] ESSAYS. 57 



impression, and devclopnienl, whether for iijood or l):id, has 

 been less marked than in other departments. 



If the farmer were to enter in this year's fair the counterpart 

 of animal, fowl or produce which he took to the old cattle show, 

 with no record of pedigree, feed or method of growing, he 

 would tind himself absolutely nowhere ; though his exhibit 

 would doubtless be ranked properly by expert judgment given 

 deliberately. He could bank nothing on his being a friend of 

 Deacon Smith, Farmer Jones and Neighbor Brown, acting as a 

 committee and endowed with the weakness of human friend- 

 ships, prejudices and enmities. 



His wife, however, might carry the selfsame bedquilt or rug 

 that her ancestors did and stand a good chance of drawing a 

 premium. This condition may have exceptions; but a close 

 study of premium lists and exhibits shows that the modern 

 agricultural fair has developed faster in all other departments 

 than in the household branch. The same time-consuming bed- 

 quilts of 9999 pieces, and ephemeral, gone-by fancy-work fads 

 are listed as commendable accomplishments to be encouraged by 

 money premiums. 



It is decidedly non-progressive to encourage women and girls 

 to spend time on what is neither useful or decorative or without 

 money value. 



Why, for instance, should a premium for " the best bedquilt 

 made by a girl under 12'' be continued as it is in ninety per 

 cent, of lists? You would not expect the city girl to sit and 

 sew together inch pieces of print. Her mother would teach her 

 sewing by allowing her to cut out a simple garment by the con- 

 venient and cheap paper patterns and helping her over the 

 puzzling {)laces and stitches. If I think too much of my 

 daughters' health to com{)el them to " sit on a cushion and sew 

 up a seam " like the lady of long ago, why should other country 

 girls grow round-shouldered slaves of the patchwork quilt. 

 Yet one society in this State offers a one dollar premium for a 

 single block of patchwork. 



There yet exists a trace of the old notion that farmer folks 

 must he different and do differently fiom other folks. It shovvs 



