Smyrna times., 1877-08-29
Home Luxury" as a Factor.

9enerallZaIlOn IfOul lHSulllCleIlG udItti lS IIle
fault with most theorists. And the COM
mon mistake which moralists make is in
supposing that there is fixed line between
the useful and the deleterous. OF course,
in questions of actual good and evil, crime
and innocence, there must be somewhere
well-defined boundary, if one could only
determine it. Questions of casuistry and
matters of conscience are not, however,
what this article aims to touch. The theme
is more simple and practical. 1t is simply
dress and the mode of living, and the place
of the Home" in its relations to both.
In this country the observer has possessed
the opportunity to determine what may be
the effect of total Indifference to what we
are in the habit of describing as luxuries
and of denouncing as the causes Of all the
evils which atflict society. The majority of
the native Indians of the Continent have
for centuries of contact with the whites, re-
sisted the effort to introduce among them
the amenities of civilization. In the in
stances (which happily are becoming some
thing more than exceptional cases) where
tribes and parts of tribes have been
persuaded to adopt the "luxuries of a
fixed residence, comfortable clothing and
habitations, and the custom of the "pale
face" the result has been most satisfactory.
The Indians who adhere to the " blanket"
costume and the other wild traditions of
their race, remain in debased condition.
The only apparent end to their obstinate
adherence to the savage condition in which
they were first discovered, is in their proba-
bic and not remote extinction. We may
lament this, but we cannot avert it.
The ambition of a sensible white man or
woman, however poor, is to improve the
domestic surroundings, not only in fact,
but in appearance, and to arrange the per-
sonal attire and housefurnishing with an eye
to comeliness, cleanliness, order, and even,
where it can be had, elegance. Every
desire which tends to these results is an
elevating influence.
These ideas are not new. They have
been acted upon by philanthropists in the
erection of comfortable dwellings in cities
for tenants whose means are limited. of
these general and generous movements it
is not the purpose hero to speak. Our
theme is home--everyb body home-whether
that OF millionaire or of day laborer, and
the philanthropists to whom we speak arc
those best friends of men-the women.
The matter is in their hands. Indeed il
always has been and whatever love of the
beautiful man possesses he owes to his help
meet and complement-woman. She is
the priestess of his household and the
arbiter of his destiny. If man would
succeed he should counsel with his wife
and, if he has no wife, think of the coming
woman who is to stand to him in that rela
tion. Upon her it depends whether home
is to be the centre of elevating thoughts Of
OF depressing influences. 1t is unquestion
ably true that some husbands and sons are
impervious to good impressions, and tha
the efforts of pains.taking women are hope
lessly lost upon them. But all women are
by no means perfect, nor are there any be
0 fore whom a better future would not oper
| if they would live for it.
Luxury" then, the imputed poison,
what the women should administer to thei
husbands at home. 1t is to be given OF
homeopathic principles, only so much at
time as the patient will absorb in contin
uous and marked doses. The heart of
G woman is, or should be, in her home; an,
- |
u the aim of her life should be to make tina
u home attractive. 1t is not her husband an
s. children only that she may regard in tn
l. matter. She is not required to practic
y self negation, but may consult her ow
e comfort She must do so, indeed, or ther
l. will be no efficiency in her work. AS t
e Mrs. Grundy y"-who represents all tn
u world outside-if thought of at all, sh
e, comes in last. Of course good report
q desirable; but the following of the fashion
IL and the fear Of unauthorized comment {
L ridicule lead to more domestic unhappine,
le than most other causes. Let the "bette
Is ment" of home THAT is a good old wore
CO be the woman's ambition, and she wi
10 usually find the husband in advance of he
'e rather than follower. For all wome
p admit that men are senseless creatures, an
II have no idea of prudence. But-they d
~ know comfortable and cheerful hom
when they find it.
1t To HARDEN BUTTER.-An English butt,
OF maker Of large experience, who is now on
m visit to this country for the purpose
rs looking over our cheese and butter dairie
ID gives us the following information concer
50 ing method in practice among the be
to butter makers in England for renderir
or butter firm and solid during hot weathe
is Carbonate of soda and alum are used f
or the purpose, made into powder. 7