Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-12-12
OLYMPIA WASHINGTON TERRITORY FRIDAY, DECEMBER H. S9

were welcomed III close proximity
as another essential condition Of
realizing the best results. When
upon each 100 acres of land within
a circuit of few miles permanent
home was fixed, then there was COM
munity of strength. Then q school
was necessitated and soon grew to
be the main object of interest in the
neigL borhood. The meeting house
was also required, and no sooner re.
quired than it became public con.
Germ, and us much necessity to the
social and religious life of the COM
munity as was the private dwelling
to the domestic life OF the family.
The people labored for living, net
for wealth. The public endeav-
or was to make the place q good
neighborhood to live in and bring
up their families, and not place ill.,
yiting to speculation or schemes of
large profit. The country store, the
custom mills, the blacksmith, the
school master, minister and doctor,
could answer all public require
ments, and with these, society could
progress from generation to genera
ton in the same simple and perma-
nent form. The people were con-
tent with simple competence, very
few aspired to be wealthy. Frugal
industry, the only soil in which the
virtue of children can flourish, en-
sured hardy, thriving, conscien-
cious posterity, the reliable uncor-
rupted material that has always dis
tinguished New England churches
and given tone to New England civil
lization. MY Fathers House"
then meant more than the movable
tent of the nomadic Arab, or than the
miners cabin, built for temporary
shelter, ready to be abandoned VIXEN
richer diggings invite to new field.
1t meant more than board, house
built on wooden foundation to, ce
occupied until the next turn of the
political wheel shall remove its oc-
cupants. 1t meant a place to live,
q place to rear family in comfort
and purity, place to be contented
and happy, in the enjoyment of
friends, neighbors and society, and
in being a factor in the simple wa=
chinery iraugurated for the public
veal. Then "My Fathers House,
however rude and and unsightly in
the style of its architecture, however
humble in its interior appoint
ments, and external adornings,
was the most potent of all the insti-
tutions of the country. Itself was
the State and the Church in minia-
ture. Itself was the mold il which
was cast the destiny of generations.
Itself was the focus of domestic love,
of tilial affection, of religions power
er and Of permanent happiness.
Home, sweet, sweet home; be it
ever so humble there is no place like
such home. But alas! alas! &C. My
Fathers House," in these latter days
of revolution and change, has come
20 be the exception and not the rule.
Railroads, manufacturing, mining,
numbering, trade and navigation, have
alluded the sons of the farmer
everywhere from the homes and the
habits OF their childhood, and
turned their feet into the perilous
paths of excitement, of adventure,
and of speculation. Fathers and
mothers have died, children have
lost their attachment for the family
estate; tits sold and the proceeds are
divided among the heirs, scattered
from Maine to the Pacific. Passing
now over the hills and along the
valleys of Now England and other
older States, you see everywhere
what was once MY Fathers
House." But when you enter the
mansion you hear not the name OF
the old pater tamitas. The family
name survives only in tradition.
The family altar, on which, in the
days of yore, burned the incense OF
Puritan worship, is either broken
down altogether or on it is smoking
the sacrifices of the Roman Catholic
faith. Who lives in the old Whitney
Homestead, built by the grandfather
of Deacon Whitney, 60 years ago
Pat O. O.Flaherty. He rents it o1
Mary Miles, factory girl. Mary has
worked in factory at Lowell these
20 years, and saved her money. Dea'
con Whitney's boys, one lawyer
in Chicago, one large Landowner
in Iowa and one u lucky miner IL
Colorado, did not want a New Ham
shire farm. The daughters, too, are
we'll married in the West and have
no use for the home farm. SO wher
Deacon Whitney died. his wife wen
to live with her son in the city; th'
estate was sold 10y the administra
tors, Mary Miles bid it in and drew
on her savings deposit. Pat pay
her II per cent. and will soon owl
it. 1t is no longer "Mv Father
House," the heirloom of genera
tians to come, but a merchantable
commodity, valued not as the sea
of lineal distinction and the focus o
, social and moral influence in tn,