450 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OK, 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



SOCIAL ASPECTS OF THE GRANGE. 



Dull and Monotonous Life of Farmers and their Families The need of the 

 Farmer for Social Intercourse Hard lot -of Farmers' Wives and Daughters 

 Scarcity of Amusements "All Work and no Play" Demand for a 

 Change The Work of the Grange The Grange a Means of Social Enjoy- 

 ment Advantages of the Social System of the Grange Farmers' Wives 

 and Daughters in the Grange The Lesson of Innocent Enjoyment taught 

 Festivals and Pleasures of the Grange How the Order promotes Sociability 

 and Friendship among the Farmers Interesting Details Barbecues 

 Sociables Public Meetings The Lesson of Courtesy What the Grange has 

 done for the Happiness of the Agricultural Class A Great and Good Work. 



THERE is another feature of the Grange that, alone, 

 would make it invaluable to the farmers of America. 

 It is the best means that has yet been devised of culti- 

 vating social relations among them, and in its social 

 aspects, it is a perfect success. 



Few who have not been residents of the country, 

 can rightly understand the monotony of a farmer's life. 

 Day after day the farmer and his family pursue the 

 same appointed round of toil. There is no change 

 save the regular recurrence of the Sabbath, and attend- 

 ance upon religious services where such privileges are 

 accessible. During the busy season constant toil leaves 

 little leisure on the hands of any member of the house- 

 hold ; but when the long winters set in, and several 

 months of forced inactivity are upon them, the mo- 

 notony is often very hard to bear. It is always felt, 

 even by the dullest. 



