The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1879-06-22


ties and tranquilizlng the State. A little
brief popularity may be won by the former
course, but when the popular fury has sub
sided and men begin to see the effect OF the
unwise and Incorporate work that popularity
will be swept away.
HOME AND HOME INFLUENCES. =.
It is commonly said that domestic attach
ments are much stronger among Northern
than Southern nations. We cannot say that
this is true, for certainly some OF the most
exquisite instances OF Alial piety, OF marital
devotion and family affection are handed
down to us ID the poetic traditions OF Rome
and Greece But, perhaps, this feeling OF
kinship and family affection 10 not ell that is
meant to be comprehended 10 the express
sion, domestic attachments. Beside the
affection subsisting between members Of the
same family, which attaches merely to indi-
vlduals, the expression conveys all that
wealth Of sentiment and peaceful happiness
which attaches to the place called home and
constitutes the home-life a locality and an
experience for which there Is no adequate ex-
preston In any Of the Southern tongues.
DR.. Draper attracts attention to this fact In
one Of his histcrico-ph philosophical works, In
illustrating the Wide difference between
the steadfast, earnest patriotism of
the Northern nations, springing from
their In door home Life, and the more
limpassioned but not less devoted love
OF race and country Of Southern peoples,
who live more lib the open air and beneath
the azure Of their undimmed skies. Imagine,
says he, the word home eliminated from the
English language or Its equivalent, helm,
from the German. How much OF the history
and social habits and traditions Of these peo-
pies would have to be erased and rewritten
What loss OF tenderness, Of holy association
and ennobling influence, Of song and story
and legendary lore would 1t involve.
Yet, says he, strange as 1t may
seem, there are many languages into which
the word cannot be translated, and which are
utterly barren OF any forms Of speech that
can convey It's holy and tender meanings.
The Frenchman, for example, must speak Of
his home simply as bis "house." II be ten
der you bis hospitality and the sacred pro
lection Of this wine and fig-tree," no matter
whether he do 80 as mere matter Of cere-
monys or humanity, or from the promptings
Of the deepest affection, the poverty OF hts
tongue will permit him to say no more than
Ego with mi" or come to my house." For
his home, as distinctive place, q place Of
rest, of peace, OF love, the scene and sane
tuary Of his hollest affections and associa-
tions, he has no word whatever.
What better illustration could be offered OF
the great difference between the social and
domestic habits and customs OF these nations?
In this respect the Americans copy after the
Northern nations; even here In the extreme
South, with our large Gallo and Latin popu-
lation, and under the same climatic intlu-
ences that maintain III Northern Europe, and
there are no people who have stronger home at
tachments or who attribute more Importance
to home influences than our native creoles.
In fact they cling to their old family houses
and preserve their family relations with I'M
usual tenacity, and 1t Is the rule with them
to find several generations living together in
the same home.
The beneficent effects OF these influences,
especially upon young men and boys, cannot
be over-estmated, and they should be care
fully fostered In all Christian homes. Many
are the ways in which home ties can be
strengthened and made more enduring for
children, and surely this is as important and
necessary matter In the management OF a
household as the accumulas ion OF books and
objects Of ornament, or the tasteful and COM
Portable furnishing OF the different apart
ments. We remember once to have read Of
q certain farmhouse. years ago, In which
great blank book was kept and
labeled Home Journal" Every night some
member Of the family made an entry In it OF
the important events Of the day. The father
noted down the sales Of his crop, or the
increase Of his stock, the birth OF a colt or
! calf, or the loss Of some favorite animal.
The mother said something, perhaps, Of
baby's eye-tooth. Mary gave short account
OF the last dance or concert; or Tom noted
down his triumphant examination and grad
uation; or John scrawled an account of the
last battle royal between Towser and Mrs.
| Thompson's cats.
| Later on there was full account Of Mary's
wedding, written by one of the young girls,
and still further along was written on q
blurred sheet and In q trembling hand
| "Father died to-day What device could
have served better than this to bind together
the brothers and sisters Of this family; to
keep alive In their hearts the memories Of
their old home, and perpetuate throughout
their lives their kindly and ennoblng intiu-
ences They never lost an opportunity, we
venture to say, in after life, to 60 back to the
old home and turn over reverently the leaves
Of the old book and review, with smiles and
tears, the happy childhood and youth whose
history 1t chronicled.
But there are innumerable other devices by
which these ties may be strengthened. One Is
the keeping Of anniversaries public hol-
ldays, but the anniversaries Of home events,
mothers wedding day, the children's and
parents birthday. It is by just such
means, the observance Of these domes-