Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1870-08-24
Domestic Life.

or involves more important interests, than
the question of our domestic family life.
The home was evidently intended to be the
shrine OF the most sacred affections, the place
Of rest from toll, of retirement from publiei
~, the spot in all the world where we may
throw of disguise, abjure conventionalities,
and suffer our better natures freely TO devel-
op. But the demands of modern society are
50 rigorous that few, even of the most indie
pendent among US, actually realize in any
considerable degree the real blessings of the
domestic freside, The hurry, anxiety, and
pressure of the outer world penetrate into
or homes, chacging them from abodes of
rest % those of severe labor and carping care
The anxiety to make money abroad Is not
more ieverish than the craving 70 spend 1t at
home, and the energy that might in other
channels make home haven of pure and sa
cred enjoyment. is too often employed in ea-
ger efforts 70 compete with others in show
and expense
Every hOusekeeper knows how large an
amount Of manual labor is involved IN our
present style of living. The various appliances
for saving this labor are exceeded by the in-
creasing demands made for it. Highly Orna-
mented dwellings, costly furniture, rich up
holstery and luxurious tables require constant
attendance and supervision and, when We
add 10 this the making and care Of fashiOna-
bic trOusseaux, the natural and artificial
wants of children, and the claims of hospi-
tality and social life, all of which often press
an those neither fitted by natural ability nor
special training 70 fulfil them, we cannot won
der that they are imperfectly performed.
The conscientious sink discouraged at the
greatness OF their task, and the tnoughtless
devo've it upon others. who may lack both
ability aud interest To execute It. With
are fewer hands 10 do 1T and too often do
laestic life consists mainly in q struggle 70
appear little richer than the truth.
Emerson, in a recent work on Society and
Solitude, treats this problem in his own quaint
and powerful manner. He says: cit is a
sufficient accusation of our ways of living,
and certainly ought 10 open our ear TO every
good minded retOrmer, that our idea of do
mestic wcll-beIng now needs wealth to exc
cute il. Give me wealth, says the wife, and
your house shall not annoy your taste nor
waste your time. On hearing this, we IN
derstand how these means have come 70 be
so OmnipOtent on earth" He argues that
this dependence upon wealth for a happy
home leaves the whole difficulty untouched.
Few have riches, but all must have home
and the real blessings of domestic life flow
from far deeper sources than the amount of
money expended on It's externals. The reform
that is needed is 10 RAISE the ann of the house
hold. The primary uses of the home are for
food and shelter, for the physical well-being
of the family. But when these are the sole
ends, and not simply the means by which to
attain a higher life, the whole family is de-
based, and whether 1t revel in luxury or
struggle in poverty, il is alike used for infe-
rior purposes. Modern civilization elevates
the physical nature, ministers to the senses,
employs every energy to bring delicate and
refined pleasures to the eye, the ear, and the
palate To accomplish this she calls wealth
to her aid, and together they form an aristoc-
racy which the mass of mankind are strug
Cling to enter. But they are content TO busy
themselves with the lowest part of human
nature; they do not ascend into higher
realms. To the mental and moral culture of
the family, then. let the household be dedi-
Gated, and domestic life will wear far nObler
aspect, and diffuse a happiness as yet unknown
aad unappreciated. If wealth come or 60, it
can only affect that part of us which we shall
feel TO be subservient it cannot touch our
best privileges or interfere with our highest
happiness.
In our own country, especially do we have
peculiar incentives to this course. Here
every child has the means of education within
his reach, and poverty is no barrier to the
development of talent. The rarest genius,
the bravest courage, aud the truest heroism,
often co exist with the hardest labor and the
severest privatIons. In the culture of youth,
too great pains cannot be taken to instill cor
rect views as to the true ends of domestic
life. Ii is not surprising that the young
men of the present day, seeing the extrava-
CANT style of living, and knowing no higher
aim than to vie with it, should hesitate to
enter upon a married life that is to involve
them in anxieties SO great. But when they
see the happiness that springs from we'll
ordered home, where love is the main-spring,
and mutual improvement and elevation the
great ends of life-where principles of truth
and honor command the respect that is now
paid to wealth and station-they will no
longer be deferred by false pride from enter
ing upon life so rich in its possibilities
Philadelphia Ledger.