1' 1-1 K KUKAL .\l£\V-VOKKER 
633 
Some Problems of Life 
A Country Woman’s Reason. 
I am the wife of a country black¬ 
smith. For years we have been mem¬ 
bers of the local Grange. On asking my 
husband what he believed to be the rea¬ 
son why the men of the Grange all sit on 
one side of the room and the women all 
on the other and during the recess the 
conversation is carried on by men with 
men and women with women, I received 
the edifying answer that he guessed it 
was because women talked about such 
foolish things. And yet at all the Grange 
social gatherings we have games which 
are calculated to bring the sexes to con¬ 
verse together: such as basket lunches, 
where a man buys at auction a lunch 
and is to share it with the fair Granger 
who brought it: then we have that re¬ 
markable game where the men are given 
slii»s of paper with topics to talk about 
you ask me what this has to do with suf¬ 
frage for women? It has everything to 
do with suffrage for women. I do not 
believe it is possible for a human being 
to keep track of human events without 
becoming aware of the appalling amount 
of sin and suffering there is in the world, 
and without fervently longing to do 
some tangible act of a remedial nature. 
Before I read so much I was only aware 
of the world’s grief in a hazy, impersonal 
way, as I believe to be the case with 
most country women. I have discovered 
that the ability to talk intelligently on 
the affairs of the country with my husband 
have made me a better comrade for him, 
but at the same time has come the long¬ 
ing to express my approval of the right 
and detestation of the evil, at the polls 
along with him. I never dreamed the 
search toward a better wifehood would 
Spring in Northwestern Pennsylvania. 
with their partners for a specified num¬ 
ber of moments. This is quite a tacit 
acknowledgment that they -otherwise 
would .b.e at a loss, so the game very 
kindly provides a basis for conversation. 
Then we of the gentler sex bring hats 
which the men trim, etc., etc. Now these 
games make obvious one great truth: 
that it is the natural desire of men and 
women to have interests in common. In 
order to do this it is necessary for us 
to revert to play, finding common ground 
only in those things which we shared in 
equally at that great democratic institu¬ 
tion, the public school, like games, cards 
and dancing. The reason that cards and 
the dance have such a powerful hold on 
society is simply that men and women 
naturally enjoy each other’s society, but 
at present have no common grounds of 
interest to insure pleasure in each other's 
conversation. Having nothing in com¬ 
mon to converse about, still obeying that 
instinctive desire to mingle in society to¬ 
gether, what else is there to do but play 
games or dance? 
Two years ago I resolved that my do¬ 
mestic affairs and the children should not 
determine the bounds of my information 
or conversation. I had had the advantage 
of a very fair education, in fact was 
more fortunate in this respect than mv 
husband, yet I had often been aware that 
our companionship was curtailed by the 
fact that his attitude toward life was 
broader than mine. 
I began to read papers and magazines 
uot in the old desultory way, but deter¬ 
mined to acquire a knowledge of current 
events. It was dry and stupid at first, 
but gradually the daily record of events 
at home and abroad became to me like 
some engrossing novel that ran on and 
on with unabating interest. Two years 
have passed and the conversations about 
the really worth-while affairs of the hu¬ 
man family have made us realize that our 
own little family life has been richened, 
broadened and merged into a companion¬ 
ship which was not possible before, when 
my conversation and thoughts were 
bounded by the circumference of the im¬ 
mediate family circle. Didn’t someone 
*ay something once about “a woman’s 
sphere?” 
Certainly such a condition of affairs 
is desirable for any country woman, be 
she in New York or Connecticut. But 
lead me to the ranks of the suffragists, 
but such is the case. 
Because I believe that unenfranchised 
country wives crowd the asylums because 
they are lonely (there are lonely minds 
in the midst of big farrfSSw) and because 
I believe the Great Father intended the 
home to provide complete companionship 
and further, because I believe that we 
will fight the evil out in the world where 
our precious children must go, I believe 
neither New York nor Connecticut can 
long afford to refuse “Votes For Women.” 
(MRS.) BLANCHE HAMMOND IVES. 
Women and Country Work. 
I have been a subscriber to your paper 
for a number of years, and would not be 
without it, though I am not a farm 
manager, in fact, do not even own the 
proverbial back yard. In one of your 
recent issues I noticed the article on 
women helpers on the farm. In my opin¬ 
ion it is not so much aversion in the 
women to go to a country home, as the 
inability of the farmer to pay satisfac¬ 
tory wages. I have personally known 
women, experienced in housework, cook¬ 
ing, raising poultry, able to milk and 
willing to help with any work that comes 
along, even to harness and bed down the 
horses in case of emergency, still the 
wages offered by at least a dozen farmers 
advertising in your paper as well as in 
the New York dailies were only $20, in 
several cases stating that this was con¬ 
sidered unusual good pay. Now any girl, 
quite young and inexperienced often hard¬ 
ly able to speak English, may obtain a 
position in New York, Brooklyn, Phila¬ 
delphia and no doubt other cities, and 
earn $18, often even $20 per month, 
and that in homes which have all con¬ 
veniences, whSle an experienced older 
woman can command a salary of from 
$80 to $85. When you consider that 
those women often do no real hard work, 
in many eases men being kept for such 
work as cleaning windows, beating car¬ 
pets, etc., and then remember what would 
be required of them on the farm for con¬ 
siderably less pay, not mention the 
lack of any amusements, do you wonder 
they prefer the city? in the end it is 
the money question that is the determin¬ 
ing factor. Many a woman is fond of 
farm life and farm work, but cannot af¬ 
ford to earn less, than she can in a 
city position. M. o. 
New Jersey, 
R. N.-Y.—We printed the article re¬ 
ferred to in order to see if any working 
woman would respond. Thus far only 
one woman has applied. The same re¬ 
quest for man’s labor would have brought 
at least 50 applicants. In addition to the 
reasons given above we find that many 
women are fearful about going to strange 
and lonely places among strangers. 
The Value of Latin. 
That discussion of the value of Latin, 
which language the editor is bold enough 
to admit that he knows nothing about, in¬ 
terests me from several standpoints. I 
had Latin in my youth, but I didn’t have 
it very hard and it left no pits. I read 
the first four books of Caesar and got 
what Latin grammar the long-suffering 
teacher could cram down alongside them, 
and I have never regretted, since, what 
seemed at the time merely a concession to 
scholastic custom. In all my previous 
years in district schools I had studied 
English grammar. “Studied,” ye gods! 
What a farce it was. I love; you love; 
he loves. I have loved; you have loved; 
he has loved, etc., etc. I learned to love, 
all right, but neither the text books nor 
the teachers. There were lasses that 
were infinitely more attractive than 
classes. 
When I “took Latin” it began to dawn 
upon me what the text books in English 
grammar were driving at; and I got some 
insight into the construction of the Eng¬ 
lish language. Right there lay the value 
of Latin to me. Later, in higher institu¬ 
tions of learning, I found that the ability 
to understand some technical word or 
phrase because of my knowledge of its 
Latin derivation was 
upon the walls of the 
write this hang one 
printed in Latin. I 
them, and couldn’t if 
forfeit. If my grandchildren—I have no 
children—treasure them as monuments 
to the learning of their ancestors, may 
they never read this. M. u. n. 
also helpful; but 
room in which I 
or two diplomas 
have never read 
my life were the 
There is a cheerful Irishwoman on the 
East Side whose husband is a confirmed 
hypochondriac. “Good morning, Mrs. 
Clancy,” said a friend, as they met at 
market “An’ how’s the family?” 
“They’s all doin’ well,” said Mrs. Clan¬ 
cy, “with the exciption of me ould man. 
He’s been enjoying poor health now for 
some time; but this mornin’ he com¬ 
plained of feelin’ better.”—Everybody’s. 
Buenavista 
Farm Home of R. J. Linscott 
Bolton, Kan. 
T HE oldest and largest Register of 
Merit Herd of Jerseys in Kansas 
belongs to Mr. Linscott. This achieve¬ 
ment has taken years of great care. 
His farm buildings as well as his herd 
reflect that care. As a paint, 
Dutch Boy White Lead 
and linseed oil are the materials he uses. If 
you, too, want to paint for wear and beauty, 
have your painter use Dutch Boy White Lead 
and Dutch Boy Linseed Oil. Then your paint 
will wear lone, keep smooth—free from cracks. 
Materials for a paint test, also booklet of prac¬ 
tical suggestions and color schemes, sent on re. 
quest to nearest office, for Painting Aids No.294 
NATIONAL LEAD COMPANY 
New York Cincinnati 
Buffalo Cleveland 
Boston Sl Louis 
Chicago San Francisco 
(John T. Lewis A Bros. Co. 
Philadelphia) 
(National l-cad & Oil Co. 
Pittsburgh) 
Official Denial 
NO WAR TAX on HOMESTEAD LAND in CANADA 
'l'hc report that a war tax is to be placed on Home¬ 
stead lands in Western Canada having been given 
considerable circulation in the States, this is to ad¬ 
vise all enquirers that no sucli tax has been placed, 
and there is no intention to place a war tax of any 
nature on such lands. 
(Signed) W» D. SCOTT, 
Ottawa Cam, Mar, 1 S, 1915 Supt. of Immigration 
This Season Oranges Are Low 
So this year more people oro eating them than 
ever before. That means greatly increased de¬ 
mand for this most healthful fruit. Florida 
grows the juiciest, sweetest, thinnest-skinned 
oranges. Tampa, the city of climato and energy, 
is center of the orange belt. Plenty of good 
orange and grapefruit land in this section can 
he fought reasonably Write. Booklet aud in¬ 
formation free. 
Board of Trade, 213 Gas BIdg.,Tampa, Fla © 
W RITE FOR Beautifully Illustrated List of NEW 
YORK FARMS. ELLIS BROS., Sprinovitle, N Y 
NEW JERSEY POULTRY F FA(7msT 0C (V.’; 
handle the best. A. Warren Drossor, Burlington, N. J. 
Farms-Homes-H A lj R ft'j i i^ os j Bi ® 0 Hoi Ja ri 1 r ^ s Y 
MOVE TO MARYLAND 
The State for Thrifty Farmers. Delightful, healthy 
climate. Good Land, Reasonable prices. Close to big 
markets of large cities of the East. Send for free 
descriptive booklet & map. / 
STATE BUREAU OF IMMIGRATION, 
62 Hoffman Building. Baltimore. Md. 
5 ACRES5-Room House 
barn, with addition; two hen houses; fruit; mile 
Railroad station and town, and Macadam road. 
Must go. Price only $700: $300 cash; balance, time 
Hntl’s Farm A coney, Owcgo. Tioga Co.. N. Y 
"CONCRETE FOR PERMANENCE ' 
WHY WAS NO 
OTHER USED? 
^.CEHENT^y 
%"st 
The great dam across the 
Mississippi River at Keo¬ 
kuk, Iowa, is built of over 
six hundred thousand 
barrels of Atlas. Insist on 
getting Atlas. Look for 
this trade mark in black 
with yellow letters on 
every bag of your cement. 
The Atlas Portland Cement Co.. 30 Broad St.. NewYork 
CHICAGO MINNEAPOLIS PHILADELPHIA 
