98 THE farmer's relationships. 



able. Farmers' houses are not usually built to accommodate 

 large companies. This of itself often compels the resort to the 

 objectionable public hall. It is always possible, however, for 

 heads of families to unite to engage such halls, control the 

 company invited, and b}^ their j^resence exercise all necessary 

 restraint. When gatherings are held at farmhouses, the 

 labo" of preparation, and, worse still, of clearing away after, 

 often falls almost entirely upon the ah^eady overworked 

 womei. of the family. There is often, also, an unfortunate 

 strife to outdo each other, which adds greatly to the labor, 

 and bears harder on the weaker. 



No one can settle these things but tlie farmers themselves 

 and their families, in the light of their sturdy common sense, 

 and their regard for themselves and their youth. But one 

 thing is sure, if rural conditions are to improve, the begin- 

 ning must be made in its social features. The American 

 farmer does not need to work harder but to play more. He 

 must mingle with his fellows for the mere enjoyment of it. 

 And when gatherings are held, they must be so managed that 

 a good time is assured. Grange meetings are good, but the 

 majority of farmers are not grangers, nor can any formal 

 organized meeting take the place of the unrestricted freedom 

 of intercourse at the home. 



And such gatherings do not need promotion in any 

 organized way. Any family can begin a round of " visits " to 

 other families, which will be quite certainly returned in due 

 time Or the more formal course can be taken of issuing 

 invitations for an afternoon and evening, or for the evening 

 alone. There would be more of this if the women of rural 

 households would content themselves with such preparations 

 as are within their strength. Perhaps this is not possible, the 

 vice of "showing off" being apparently inseparable from the 

 make-up of a good housewife. But in some way tlie social 

 conditions of rural life must improve if fathers and mothers 

 are to be contented, or the brighter youtli to be retained there. 



I do not think it an ignoble view of life to consider its 

 main end rational enjoyment, for the higliest pleasure unques- 

 tionably comes from labor profitably directed, interspersed 



