The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1879-06-21
LA SALE COUNTY GRANGE.

was most Hospitality entertained by the mem
bers Of Pomona Grange of that town was thu
following capital essay hy Mrs Rowland en-
titled
social Culture.
| Among all the functions gwen 80 man, The
greatest and the one from which the most hap
piness can be derived, Is the social nature
Man, though placed in the garden of Eden
surrounded by everything beautiful and all
that heart could wish, yet. like prisoned bird
Iplning for liberty 50 his soul was longing and
warming for companiOnship, and God madt
woman, ga little lower than the angels, v
wisely knowing that the two natures the one
with protecting power, strength and manliness
the other with cOnliding love and quick per
ccption Of the good and beautiful, would the
more fully understand and appreciate all these
things so pure and fresh from the hand OF
their Maker With this primitive pair social
culture began, and in the home circle eftoday
Is where it should begin. Mental and social
elsewhere, yet it is just here where it is most
needed to build up and develop the future
character of man and assist in the higher ec
walton of woman Children hunger for new
ideas; they will learn from the lips Of their
parents what they deem drudgery TO learn from
books, and even if they have the misfortune to
be deprived OF many educational advantages,
they will grow up intelligent If they enjoy in
ILL.,; a, ,f
the conversation Of intelligent people.
We sometimes see parents who are the lite
of every company which they enter, dull, 81
lent and unnteresting at home among their
own children, |: they have not mental activ-
lty and mental stores sufficient for both, let
them first use what they have for their own
household \ silent house is a dull place for
young people, place from which they will es.
cape if they can. How much useful informa-
ton is often given in family conversation and
what unconscious but excellent mental train.
ing in lively social argument, Let me relate
an incident coming under my own obNcrva.
ton, Being in company with "a number OF
friends, some one spoke of the rare converse
tonal ability of mutual friend, young girl
about eighteen years OF age. The question
was asked, how did 1t come about? The re.
ply was, the parents made II Il point to talk
over the political, social and religious topics
OF the day and argue thereon for the purpose
Of mental and conversational education 1t is
PLAINLY evident that few, very few, feel the I'M
portance of this daily training.
There is "A great mistake somewhere Ilus.
bands and wives, parents and children, broth
crs and sisters, are too silent towards each 9TH
cr They do not take sufficient pains to nour-
ish and cultivate the social powers. Society
demands that our young ladies shall be stylish
ly dressed and have a smattering of book
knowledge and music. Though this Is right
to certain extent, It should not so wholly en-
gross the mind as to dwarf and beittle its ca
pacity for future development and growth and
make il content TO live On in the lower strata
of life
| The home is our first school-we grow IN
in 1t and graduate from it with characters
more or less established but education IS not
completed. There are many American house.
wives who think they must put their minds
hearts and very souls into their kitchens and
pantries INTO their sewing machines and ward
robes, without giving thought to the ever
growing beauty, strength and fullncss that
should be developing in the inner life Is not
the life more tDan meat and the body more
than raimentY If one does not progress he
must, as one of the laws of nature, 20 back.
ward. The world IS advancing: If we do not
keep pace with il we are tagging on behind
II We do not add day by day to the culture
and knowledge that we have, we are losing that
already gained. our school DAYS are over, but
our education has rs il were only begun. We
have the key with which to unlock the treas.
ures OF knowledge, and it remains with us
whether or not we let it rust unused Blossom
time is only the commencement of natures
beauty, and 10y no means shows the fullncss of
charms that comes from growth and fruitagc.
| Another means To social culture is III the
warm, cordial greeting of friends, the genuine
hospitality at our homes and tiresides. The
habits OF society are calculated in Il measure
to Ntilc social enjoyment and hospitality bv
conditions inconsistent with ordinary circum.
stances. by making il task To entertain friends
To entertain such in fashionable manner is
to make parade such us few housc.kecpers
can do with ease and comfort 1.-THE few dav.
preceding and succeeding the visit are neccS
sarily days of toll and undue anxiety. it is
reasonable Ia infer that there will be IA tcndcn
cy to avoid making and receiving visits as
MUCH rs possible, If we can educate ourselves
To initiate some of the worthy women of our
land, their example would favor increased so
cial intercourse, increased kindly relations and
allow more attention to mental and social cul
turc less worry, less undue anxiety. less toll
less illhealth and less fear of a sudden visit
from friends We each know how much more
we enjoy ourselves and feel at home at some