Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1872-02-15
The Welcome Home.

daughters ever give due thought to the
i home welcome as it influences the lives Of
their male relatives I? In this home
coming the words spoken constitute OILY
small part of the welcome, for by skill
full but seemingly careless arrangement,
every article can be made to wear happy
smile Of greeting.
Was it ever your fortune to go near a
public table where the unsociably turned
chairs Indicated each place as taken IL
so, you remember the slight and unrea-
sonable feeling of resentment you expert
enced, as if it seemed a concerted plan,
aimed directly at you, and infringing in
some way upon your right. The whole
table proclaims, You are not wanted
here" So with our husbands, sons, and
brothers. if, upon entering home, the as
pect should suggest chairs turned face to
the wall, and, perhaps, in addition, the
room cold, dusty, and dark, the memory
of some warm, bright saloon just past
would prove so inviting that the home
stay n ighhss be shortened 10 a nasty meal,
and a speeding to some place where every
thing said "welcome."
Too many fall into the error of suppos-
ing that only wealth is needed to attain
the desired home effects.
have handsomely furnished rooms but
it requires the taste and judgment which
belong to innate refinement to beautiiy the
plain homes in which so many OF us find
true comfort and happiness.
As a general rule, affectionate mot
fussy) consideration for the comforts Of
others, fair amount of womanly tact, a
good deal of quiet sunniness of temper,
and,a habit of looking out for fresh sources
of simple pleasure; these, with attention
to certain practical suggestions, such as
we shall venture to offer here, will enable
any mistress of a household to develop its
best possibilities in the way OF home en-
jOyment.
In summer let the warm, heating light
be partially excluded from your rooms;
not too much so, however, for even In
summer the Erebus-like darkness SO loved
by fy-hating housekeepers is especially
disagrecabe to most men. Arrange TO
have as much GOODNESS as possible In con-
nection with fresh air, and assuredly have
place to lounge. Men love to lounge,
remember
Our woods and gardens furnish so many
rare pleasures for the house that but lew
need 90 without the grateful presence OF
bright flowers or green leaves; II agreea-
BILE to the entertained, let the sweet voices
of singing birds delight the ear; and SO
make a binding network OF pleasure,
weaving in beautiful threads for every
sense
Goodness, indolent pleasures, and com.
fort, in summer, are the essentials OF
home enjoyment to many tired business
men.
Many wives whose duties confine them
so closely at home that they find no OPP
portunity for intellectual and improving
intercourse with others, would gladly en-
joy pleasant converse with the home-com-
ing man; but all day he has had 10 Keep
his brain in active employment, ana en-
gage in tilt of wits with his fellows 10
earn or keep for his loved ones this nome,
to which with longing for rest and qulel
he now comes. In such cases, ana es-
pecially in summer, let him rest.
In winter such repOse is not SO neces
sary, for nature then usually demands ana
VIII have more active occupation III any
difference is made in the two seasons, 40
TO when home must be made more aliur
Ing. let winter have the preference:
Then let the house be VAIN ana ofigh..
Nothing is SO cherries in winter as
cold, dark room. Many people who can
easily afford the pleasant luxuries OF ne,
daily make themselves uncomforiapie oy
ssparing fuel and gas, thus driving nus
bands, fathers, brothers, and sons 10 seer
grateful warmth, light, and brightness IN
The many gay resorts where all these ii1lis
attractions are so well understood anu
literally employed.
1t seems quite necessary, at this season
OF the year, to have interesting ana ar Is
Ifactive amusements in this evening. 80
tastes were all alike it would be qul.e
easy to make arrangements for the pleas.
ant entertainment of all. But when every
one cannot enjoy reading and intelec' ,1a
conversation, provide according 10 'no
several desires.
A mother studying the wants OF iarge
hiainlly of boys, may chance to leas soc /"
oook Of poetry open at fayori'e se'e''