The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1877-02-07

tions will soon Be vacant because
the boys have been poisoned by reading bad
books, such as they would not dare show
their fathers, and would be. ashamed to have
their mothers see. The impure thoughts sGg-
gested by these books will lead to vicious
acts; the boys will be ruined and their places
must be filled. Who will be ready for one
of these vacancies? Distinguished lawyers
useful ministers, skillful physicians, success
full merchants must all soon leave their
places for somebody else to fill. One by one
they are removed by death. Mind your ten
points, boys; they will prepare you to step
into vacancies in the front rank. Every man
who is worthy to employ a boy is looking
for you, if you have the points. Do not fear
that you will be overlooked. A young per-
son having these qualities will shine as
plainly as a star at night.
Mems Part I'm Home Making.
Most of the preachments we have seen
from the text of happy homes have been
aimed at the women. This is natural
enough, for they are the home makers of the
world; and in a future number we shall
''join the chorus" and also say something to
the young folks about their part in a work
from which no responsible members of the
family can be excused. But just now we de-
sire to nudge the heads of the households,
and ask them how they are performing their
responsible parts in the realm of home.
Most men seem to think they have little to
do in creating an atmosphere of home"
Their fort lies in breathing and enjoying
the atmosphere after somebody else has
made it-and not a few can't get along and
make known their authority without "rais-
ing breeze" in it. Men are too busy, too
much preoccupied, too impatient and
thoughtless, and, it must be said of some
of them, too selfish to do their fair share of
that pre-eminently millennial work, the
Is
reigns supreme, and amiabilitp affection,
cheerfulneSs, JOY and peace are the natural
conditions of family life.
Now, in certain things man has been a
constitutional shirk from the time of Adam
If the scientific gentlemen have left us
any Adam-down to this day. Men will
fight for their homes, and make slaves of
themselves TO their business to maintain
them; but like the proverbial man who
would die for woman, but would never
bring up scuttle of coal, they can't tell
what their children are studying at school,
who their mates are, what they are learning
of good or evil, nor hardly anything else
that a father ought to know concerning his
offspring. 1t is so sad fact as to spoil the
satire, when it is said that many a father
finds the Sundays and holidays too few to
enable him to become acquainted
with his boys" But we maintain that
man who hasn't time to be a father to his
children, with all that includes, has no right
| to have any. He wrongs them, robs himself,
puts an unjust responsibility upon the
mother, and neglects his highest duties, hui
man and divine.
There are so many ways in which father
may contribute to happy home life that it
seems strange the number of houses should
so greatly exceed the homes. 1t takes so lit
tie to make children happy at home that it
is wondrous pity so many little ones are
! miserable, or uneasy, or diScOntented. If
| for an hour after the evening meal the father
| should give himself to his children, would
the mother wear out so fast or the children
| be so lawless. troublesome and uneomfort-
able? What a ministry for good to both
parties is papa's frolic with the
babies What an interest is added to
the books, the drawings, the games, or even
the studies, if father enters into them! What
| boy will sly off to play surreptitous games
with his mates, if his father takes hand at
| whist or eucher with him around the even
ing lamps-with mother for partner or spec
| tator? How much il lightens the drudgery
of piano practice for the daughter if papa
calls for and praises her efforts. 1t is strange
| that with such sweet companionship, such
pure affection, such unselish enjoyment,
such natural happiness as may be had with
the children, men do not give more time to
their homes
Aside from the children, and in homes
where haply there are none, men still have
a more direct part than most of them are
ready to bear, in making the daily life pleas
ant. We hardly need say that man should
set the example for the family in patience,
| cheerfulness, courtesy, forbearance, and all
the amiable moods and graces that are the
soul of home happiness. The sort of men
who display all their suavity and politeness
on he street or at their business places, and
save the storms and sulks, and sourness, and
all the evil brood of devilish dispositions
that they characterize by the convenient
euphemism of moods" well, we have our
opinion of themi-and if they will come
within range we don't mind express
ing il privately, but are afraid il wouldn't
look well in print The whole tribe of home
tyrants-men who make the entire house
hold revolve around them as the center
whose tong ues are chronically "furred'' in
the morning. and nerves so upset IN the
evening that the family must keep silence
while they read and smoke; who cant
bear the noise of innocent and natural
mirthfulness; who have to be toadied and
tended and humored-they ought all of them
to be doomed to pass their days in shabby
genteel boarding houses, without sight of
| wife or children. with hash for breakfast.
warmed-over pancakes for lunch, and lean
mackerel and centennial hens for supper.
with the lodger overhead always
learning the trombone, and servant girls
that steal the hair-oll. They don't deserve
| home, and no man does who will do moth
ing to make it. For mans rights do not in
clude the right to all the comforts of home
without any of the work, or worry, or self
sacrifice, or thoughtfulness and well doing
incident to its creation and maintenance. A
good many men think they have done their
full duty If they pay the bills more or less
grudgingly. But one might as well try to
warm a room with fireplace and pair of
silver Mated andirons and no fuel or fire
as to make a home with money. The
money simply makes place for the home;
TO complete ii the man must put in himself,
and the best part of himself at that-Golden
Rule.