The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1873-10-09
OUR HOMES.

From the Sunday Voice.
American homesteads ara affected by
by a peculiar influence. The vasts Of
cheap lands and the rapid growth OF
new sections, with the speedy rise OF
new cities and villages, promote real
estate speculation to a degree I'M
known in the settled and staid dis
tricfs of the old world. Fortunes are
founded, business revolutions effected,
and startling results achieved, by this
swift development OF the natural re-
sources of our immense real estate
domain. This peculiar state of rapid
development, which is so stimulating
to ambition and enterprise, and is at
tended by so many good results, is
not, however, without some infiu-
ences, the effect of which is bad. The
constant change incident to this rapid
transition state, invades the sanctity
of our homes. The spirit of specula-
ton weakens the sacred ties surround
ing the old homestead. Real estate
traffic promotes removals, and the
homestead comes to be regarded in
the light of an article of merchandise,
to be bartered and sold as a part of its
owners stock in trade. The growing
habit of the American people, of thus
making merchandise OF their homes,
in the spirit of desire for gain, is to be
regretted. So far as may be, nothing
should be more sacred, more clung to
and cherished, than the old homestead,
with its thousand clusterins memories
and touching associations each a
gentle monitor, pointing us ever up
ward and onward to a higher life.
The old home! How we should
love it! Hero the faithful parent
wrought and toiled for us, and for us
wrestled with the problems of lifc,
while we, unconscious of life's cares
or burthens, laughed the merry hours
away in ehildhood's blissfal dreams
and playful fancies. Here, perhaps,
more than anywhere else, we may be
brought in daily contact with the
works of dear ones now gone beyond
the. dark river; and every work of
theirs, every loved spot or frequented
path, forms link in q chain of infiu-
ence drawing useYer toward the good
and away from the evil paths of this
world. Reverence for the dead,i and
love for the living, thus combine their
infnences in the voice which the old
homestead unoburusiVely, yet const-
antly and SO sWeetly utters, to guide
US ever Alright. to shield us-from error
and evil, and to lead as safely past
life's follies and snarss. The dear old
home-the sacred hearthstone-the
ancestral tree-the grassy lawn and
merry broOk-the many paths our
trod-these all have voices
given them of God. And when we
have needed those voices, our hearts
are always glad, for they fill our hearts
with the happy leaYen of peace and
purity, of high aims, and aspirations
for the beautiful and true. Let our
old homes be loved. Let the home
stead be cherished, improved and
beautified. Let nature be aided by
culture and art, to develop therein the
highest charms and most abiding Az
Home should be the dear
sst spot of earth. It should be reYer-
ed as the shrine of all the memories
and traditions of the past, the joys of
the present, and the hopes of the fu-
lure. Above all the mercenary
schemes of, this sordid world, let the
Did homestead be respected. Let it's
price be above the value of gold. The
Did hearthstoDe! Long may its
quaint, sweet influence live, and, be
'elt, to bless and give largess to the |
nome circles of this and the coming \
periods of time. B