Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1883-09-28
MisfelIamenMs.
Country Homes.

In these days Of frivolity, fast Twin.
and the intense craving of the presen
generation for case, idleness and adven
ture, there seems to be entire forgetful
ness of that conservatism which pre-
vailed among the fathers aud mothers
in the homes of our land in former days
Looking back TO period of not more
than fifty years, and witnessing the sturd,
yeomanry Of the country Of that time, tho
occupants of homes where industry, fru.
gality and virtue were cultivated, and
contrasting them with the effeminacy of
the race now one cannot but be i'm.
pressed with the COW iction that there is
a degeneracy which ought to be checked,
if the race is to be kept from becoming
as were those of the Roman Republic ia
its decline and fall.
The species of infatuation which at
present prevails among the people in Il
desire for acquisition of wealth without
regard to the methods of its accomplish
ment with which to make display, has
wrought ruin and desolation in many a
household, which would not have trans.
pired had the teachings and example Of
their ancestors been scrupulously OBJ
served and obeyed.
The feeling which prevails largely
among the youth Of the country that
work is degrading, and that other en-
Payments, which do not require manual
labor, will secure all that is necessary
to give immunity from the earning Of
their bread by the sweat of their brow,
has had n tendency to dcmoralize this
present generation. If n change is to
be made in regard to these opinions, it
must be wrought in tho country homes
by an education Of different character
from that which has so largely prevailed
for the last quarter of a century. The
children must, in their years of impressi-
bility, have instilled in their minds that
honest toll is honorable, and the surest
course to distinction, reward and pre-
fermcnt among their fcllow-men. We
are living in time when the rich are
taught to despisc ard degrade the laborcr
and the mechanic, when capital is en-.
shaving labor, thus creating antagonisln
where there should be unanimity, toler-
anco, equality. Our women become I'M
bued with the idea that they ought 10
be butterflies instead Of bees.
The education of the present day is
sadly at fault, in not including the whole
some lesson of honest industry and con-
tinuous labor as the surest road TO sue
cess and competency. The tendency of
city life, with its vicious influences,
creates in the minds of the city youth
m impression that those who are born to
be slaves are required to work for a iv-
ing. Hence there are seen in cities a
class Of young men, and women, too,
growing up in idleness and vice absolutely
The examples Of the Fisks.
Goulds and Vanderbilts, and other Wall
street manipulators, have poisoned the
minds of large numbers Of the American
youth.
What is needed in these days Of reck-
essness and decentralization is that, in
The country homes, a beginning should
be made in the incubation Of principles
which will bring the youth to understand
how much more profitable aud honorable
Is dignifed labor than the pursuit Of
bubbles, or the chances Of speculation,
however tempting the bait.
The country home is the place where
The good work Of counteracting the dele
.erous effects Of such teachings to which
illusion has been made, aud il is mono
100 soon to begin now, if the country is
10 be saved from tho catastrophe with
which it is threatened.
Let the young people Of the country
be persuaded to life of contentmeDt 10
he paths Of honest toll, an ample com.
peDsation for which is always afforded,
hat the true dignity Of humanity con-
,ists in the encouragement Of labor 10
III its departments, of which none, how
ever humble, need be ashamed, and let
.ho people enter upon crusade against
.bc evils TO which we have referred, and
.hus restore 10 us the habits Of industry
md frugality which our fathers so sodu-
,usly inculcatcd, aud which secured 10
The Nation its greatness and prosperity.