The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1875-07-30
Door-Steps

IhefOllOWlng Warm-Weather suggestion
comes to us from the country:
\ cOuntry-nousr in summer is delight
fd IN proportion to its piazZas and its
shade-trees. The shade-trees are or noon
day heats, but the piazzas belong especial
~ TO the golden hour" the cleaning and
the moonlight. The house itselfhas to be,
but when one can make the compromise
between the pastoral simplicity of living
altogether out of doors and the civilized
necessity OF architecture it is fair to sup
pose that the happy medium is attained.
And just at the doOr-steps there is this
combination of security and freedom, of
unconstraint and the prophecies, which
satisfies at the same time the natural pro-
~clivities and the artificial tastes. Certainly
the sum mer breeZes and OdOrs have some
thing to do with ones enjoyment; but the
ascetic value of the surroundings is a large
unknown quantity.
One does not often sit solitary on ones
doorstep to watch the stars. There is a
sort of sociability that is of the summer.
Perhaps it comes more perceptibly to US
who have just escaped the rigors of winter;
at any rate, it belongs especially to the
summer time, and takes tone and color
from the surroundings. 1t is a part o
the twilight in the country, and has a
prominent place in every bOdy's "vine
and tig-tree" ideal.
At first the family is attracted to the one
person sitting On the dOOr-steps. The
modern piazza is a mere expansion of the
primitive dOOr-steps. and is the same sig
niticant border country. The cares and
anXieties of life are ito be continued" an
other day, like a serial story in the next
number of the magazine. In the mean
time, there IS the border country, where
there is neither house work nor garden
labor. After the family are assem-
bled, friends drop in, and neighbOrs stop
at the gate. They have something sensi-
bic to say, as, what beautiful roses
you haveG" or, I've brought you some
harvest apples.' Then they come up the
gravel-walk you extend to them the hos
pita'ities of your dOOr-steps, and sOciabil-
ity is accomplished. There are no elab-
crate toilets to prepare, no "iuss and feath-
ers." And to be social without the aid OF
the butcher, the baker, the candlestick-
maker" is beyond belief; one accepts it as
certain spiritual manifestations are accept
ed-as a matter OF experience. 1t was in
this way that our Sociables originated. and
we called them. significantly, "DOor-
steps" 1t is a good name. Gradually we
fnryI ont tho u,aroJo +h,+ ~, ol,ool- -
tempted to indicate. 1t does not limit us
to he outside or the inside of the house,
but only means a hOmely, hOme-like,
hearty hospitality, better than mere sans
sOuci.
The silver moon rolls on to our faint
praises, and we talk cOmmonplaces TO its
accompaniment. Does any body suppose
that on this account we don't know how
beautiful it all is? The light falling softly
on the tree-tOps and in silvery shafts
among the branches; the dim, haZy shad-
ows on the lawn; the lake or river gilt
tering in the valley, and the pale gray
mountains beyond. OF course we know
all about it, but we don't encrOach on the
domains of the poets and essayis ts. So
we talk our cOmmOn-places, and find our
selves refreshed and cheered thereby. |
can't pretend to tell why this is so, but
the knowledge is drawn from observation.
We are literary chiefly in the way of rem
inis cences. Our dramatic recitatives are
often the well-remembered treasures of
our school days. We rescue Sir John
Moore" and Marco BOZzaris'' from OBJ
liviOn. Somebody remembers a little of
Shakespeare or has learned a little of Ten
TsOn, and that satisfies our modest am
~bition.-Scrtbner for august.