The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1879-08-08
A HOME:
And How One Was Made.

An eminent writer wisely suggests
that all education, science, art, enter
prise or travel, as well as commerce and
modern advancement, is at last to make
a good home; that all that human effort
has to offer as desirable aim and end
rises no higher than that. I have
stated, as near as 1 remember it, the
substance of the proposition, without
undertaking to follow the exact express
sion used.
Now If this is true-and what intelli-
gent and considerate mind will not, on
reflection, concede tit must be of
some interest to follow the process by
which this is achieved in many cases
here in the great West. Let us remind
all, however, of the self-evident truth
that the characters of home differ as
widely as human tastes and resources.
One writer declares that when man
begins to think how the perspective of
his parlors will strike his visitors he has
Eost the most comforting idea of what
makes home-a shelter from storms
without" "Do you think" he queries,
~that any rich man enjoys his grand man.
sion with half the zest that Sanford and
Merton did their cot, when they sat I'M
der the little roof constructed by them
selves to listen to the rain pattering
upon it?"
was once called upon by an educated
and wealthy friend to walk over the site
and the foundation of contemplated
grand mansion, from which vast satisfac-
zion was anticipated.
Built for family so few in number
that four adults and one grandchild
constituted the household, yet, under a
sudden accession of fortune, a huge
palace was projected, and, after reason
able time, completed.
On returning from abroad, was in
vited thither ence more, and together
my friend and myself explored the
grand halls and all that made up a SUI
perb establishment of the kind. Forty
odd sleeping rooms constituted one
feature; library and study on each
wing, and q magnificent lady's boudoir
IN the center of the edifice, making
other points in the survey. Of course,
i had to congratulate my friend on his
ambitious hopes realized.
Nonsense he exclaimed; "my wife
and myself often wish we were back
again in little two-room cottage. How
Horlorn is the position of the two ladies
there in the middle of this great castle,
and the doctor-his father-in-law-and
myself quarter of mile away on each
side"
/ believe that the idea of shelter, of
comfort, of S9aa1g9,ess, is apt to domi-
nate all to some degree, for recollect
that in that immense palace of the
Tuilleries comparatively small apart
iment was shown near the center of it
where the ladies of the kingly house
hold were accustomed to gather by
themselves often, at evening, for needle
work and reading; and later, at night,
into which small iron bedstead was
rolled from the adjoining room, which
Che King appropriated, in accordance
with the simplicity of habit learned in
camp life and out in the great world.
Tbe Gear Nicholas INDUCED the same
caste, rs his sleeping apartment and
simple ieathern mattress at the present
time shows; so that, to recur, the sim
plest habits and surroundings may very
likely be those to which, on reflection,
the greatest may turn to or sigh for as
they are compelled to remember how
little is really essential to constitute
comfort, apart from needless display.
But what makes home here in the
West2 Discardlng all unwarranted
ideas of costly architectural taste or dis
play, and with determination to make
Che magnificent world of nature around
supply all deficiencies of the grand or
beautiful, we set forth to appropriate
the forest, the flowers in their season,
the gorgeous hues of sunrise and sun
set, the sparkling and singing streams,
and the shining expanse of lakes. All
these, and vastly more, we were sure of
with health and strength. Let us see
how fairly our anticipations were justi-
fed by the result.
1t was frosty November morning,
one year ago, when, with axes and
hatchets, we-my two oldest boys and
myself-made our first essay to find the
site which has since been the center of
90 many hopes and so much of happi
ness, and which, out of the whole world,
Che wide, wide world" we were to rec
ognize and cling to as home" Alight-
ing from the little wagon which mad