Jasper County Democrat, Volume 20, Number 35, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 July 1917 — FARMER BEHIND THE TIMES [ARTICLE]

FARMER BEHIND THE TIMES

His Wife Tells Mow She Has Lived for Many Years Without Modern Conveniences. In the American Magazine a farmer’s wife tells of some of her experiences. She says: “My husband does not, or will not, realize that the world has moved, and that what were luxuries a generation ago are necessities now. One of my children died of typhoid fever, the germs of which were, no doubt, brought by flies from the house down the road where they had the disease; for we haven’t a screen door in the house, and only a few cheap adjustable screens. “We sleep on feather beds, because mattresses cost money, and the feather beds -were in the house —a part of the furnishings that I married, when I took my husband for better or for worse. We have chairs with rounds missing, worn carpets, nicked dishes and cooking utensils that have long since outlived their usefulness. “The house is inconvenient, and for that reason alone" housework is much harder than it ought to be, and housework is hard enough in all. conscience on a farm. We have no water in the house. For 25 years I have fetched and carried water. There are two steps between the kitchen and the dining room, whjch, by the way, was formerly a bedroom and has no place for a stove. The ‘parlor’ is across a hats from the main part of the house and is only opened on special occasions.”