The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1878-03-14
An Essay Written by Lady Officer Of
Shutdown Grange.

WORTHY MASTER: The question of
show to adorn and beautify home,"
should naturally lead us to think first of
the surroundings of home.
The suggestions for Improvement fire.
quently receive the reply, "It costs too
much money" But this is not the cause
of the neglect in every cise, for many of
those who have money to spare sadly
neglect their premises, while Others, with
n taste for Improvement, have everything
in good order, and with but little means
to accomplish It. A large sum of money
is not required, but simply little indus
try and taste in arranging things, to
make them look pleasant and inviting to
the eye. What change would be
wrought in the appearance of great
many homes, if the gardens and door
yards, which are too frequently filled
with wood piles, heaps Of rubbish, weeds
and grass, were converted into smooth
lawn, with tastefully arranged trees, or
nicely kept fower-yard. Trees from the
seed, or by transplanting, cost but little
effort and no money, and how much do
they add to the beauty and comfort of
lcme!
Flowers add much to the beauty and
adornment of home, but the majority of
farmers wives have their time so much
iaken up with domestic and other duties
that they find Little time to devote to the
cultivation of flowers. But think that
it is part of oar duty, for besides the
attractiveness which they lend TO home,
do they not tend to refine and elevate our
thoughts, and concentrate them upon the
Creator of so much grandeur and beau
ty? In the cultivation of FLOWERS, as
we'll as in everything else that we under
take, we should remember the old adage,
"Whatever is worth doing at all is worth
doing we'll" Whether we plant variety
of flowers or only single rose-bush, we
SHOULD tend them carefully, for if not
properly nurtured, they soon droop and
die, and only the withered stalk is left as
sad memento of our negligence and
carelessness. But this part of my sub
ject will leave for Flora and our worthy
Lecturer, who is great admirer OF flow
eis, and takes much interest in their cul-
tivation.
Pictures adorn and beautify home very
much. 'Tis true that very few Of us can
afford those grand old paintings, those
masterpieces OF. art which come from
the hand of gifted painters, but there are
pictures within the reach of every one,
which will please the eye and taste of the
most refined. Can it be possible that these
bits OF canvas change the appearance Of
roora SO much? True, the peculiar
habits and temperament of the family
circle have much to do with making
home attractive; but wherever you find
family that adorns its home with pic
lures, that loves and cherishes them as
companions, there you will always find
that degree of refinement which is the
secret of congenial, fascinating home.
There is in pictures beauty that pleases
the eye, and calls forth admiration-a
beauty that, by its delicate shades and
bright colors, appeals to all that is eleva-
ted and refined within US. AS we wander
through the rooms of home adorned
with pictures we cannot help but see
what new grace and new beauty they
add to it. A home without pictures is
like stem shorn of its flowers. If you
would make room look neat and invit-
ing, frat and above all else, sob it of Its
naked walls by covering then with mod
est and refined pictures, Il
Books and papers are another source OF
home happiness. BY these I do not mean
dime novels and the trashy literature
which is now so prevalent in our coun-
try, but such reading as will be improv-
ing as well as entertaining. Every one
who can afford 1t should have we'll Sc
lected library, for besides being an orna-
ment to home, it will prove TO be source
of much pleasure as well as benefit.
But with all its other attractions, there
is nothing that adds 80 much to the real
happiness of home-life as cheerful, con-
tented spirit, and the person who pos
scsses s1ch a spirit is truly blessing as
we'll as an ornament to home.
o