The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1876-06-03
Homes.

The clustering meanings that gath
er about our dear Saxon word ''home'
are numerous. 1t suggests to us Il
temple of love and truth, of peace,
consolation, and TEST the centre of
joy and harmony, of all that is hcau-
tiful and desirable and SO we came
to regard heaven as Il home, differing
from our earthly ones only in pcrfec-
ton.
Of every reality in the world we
can in our minds form an ideal, Of
none a more beautiful than of home.
There should he all that tends to cnl-
tivate and refine the taste. Books tn
invite one to sean their contents; mu-
sic to soothe and cheer; well-ch"scn
pictures, an artistic and harmonious
blending Of colors which quickens
the sense Of the beautiful; plants,
s s",% i ;@ess a!i"Ss h qqE $ bios h
trust may be found.
This is our ideal home--bnt, sad to
say, an ideal too seldom realized.
"Every home is a happy one until
you sec beneath the roof said a
writer in the olden time, aud sriev-
GUS it is that the peaceful looking
roofs 50 frequently cover disharmo.
MES and indifference, or gathering
storms. In these uncongcnial abodes,
each member of the household has
his or her opinion on every subject, if
they are strong characters. Each one
Tremendously advocates his side of the
question; bitter, grieving words en-
sue, anger and GOODNESS creep into the
hearts, till home becomes dreaded,
and only meetins-place for food
and lodg ting, where WEAKLY drag the
hours and days. So important are
the seemingly little things in home
life, so many are the causes that pro-
duce these sad results, that it is diff
cult to know on which to dcscant, or
how to make the wei ht Of their i'm
p0rtance felt.
Our homes should be the strong.
holds Of our country, since in their
influence are tho minds Of our future
citizens and statesmen formed, and
girls are nurtured who will raise up
other homes fashioned after the mod
els of those they have known.
Every vocation in life requires
years of preparation. A life work
demands Il life study. But il woman
whose mission and whose work 1t Is
to make the home, too often enters
upon her duties wholly untitled and
unprepared, having given no thought
to the weight her influence will have
there. she neglects her mind, for
getting that tho impetus to improve
ment and culture must emanate from
her. She neglccts her body, forgetfu!
that good health alone begets good
temper. She neslects her manners,
forgetting that hers will leave this
impress upon every inmate, while she
overlooks no fault in Others. She
dcscends to idle gossip, too little
mindful of q woman's home-life, and
forgetting that, as in old Rome the
Lares made the home, so she now is
the presiding and comforting deity.
The training of boys also is rarely
that which will fit them to he loving
and thoughtful. II mothers would
realize this, and educate their sons
for husbands, and to be gentle me-!
indeed. half tho sorrow Of lIome'hft
would be avoided. Were boys taught
to be courteous, kind, and attentive
to their sisters, and were they made
to understand that they had q duty
to fulfil IN the home, we need no Ion
ger say as now, that husbands ar'
also greatly responsible for the to-
universal wretchedness. -, :.
They too often address to thei
wives sharp, discourteoos words
(Which they forget and we Yemen
her," a young wife sadly said to M
, the other day. Fully absorbed il
= their own pursuits, obIivions to tb
= trials and needs Of their wives, the.
offer no word Of cheer to those VIII
have labored YEARLY in dull monoto
1 nv all day. They give no aid in Il,
+, education of children, but deem tl'ei
> sole duty lies in providing pecuniar
/ support !; failing to read III the care y,
+ worn, patient face, from which til
a eitl-bloom has too soon faded, s'len
pleading for a little thoughtful ten
dcrness, a little loving aid. True
they love their wives devotedly; bt
1 love, without the nameless little ter
!, der acts which it should engender,
}. "a the flower bereft Of its perfume
r and. alas! too often such love drive
e away devotion from tho gricve
n heart, while cold duty takes it's place
y All must realize this need Of o.
9 country, all must gticvc over Il
g wrecked lives and hopes Of mai
" households; but to women tue SO
3. row must he keenest, for tie fault
" the greatest degree is theirs, thel
!. alone the power to rectify it. 1t
'e them make it their glory SO to Il
is their appointed place, that from the
X abo.les may cman"tc and descend Il
s. tlueuces that for revolving yea
" shall bless other households.
., As our language is the only Of
rs which contains the word "home
$. would our country were the one vile
g the homes exhibit the noblest pos'
rs bilities that tue word can suggest.
Mt
se ~, ,.,
~ MYRA CLARK GAINS.-Ihe little q
ed woman who has fought the city OF NJ
re- Orleans in the courts for fifty ye'
"a to recover the ownership Of tho pl