The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-04-19
ENGLISH HOME LIFE.
In Every Respect the Family Is Gov
erned by Law.
Husband and Wife-Parents and Children
They Have BOytsh Boys and Girl
fsh 6irls-EducatiOnal Meth
Ods-HOusehOld Religion.
Minneapolis Tribune

Law Ielgns IN the ~ plcal EngllSn mouse mold.
And there law is enforced with military IN.
iformity. The family is an institution in
fact as well as in name. Parents, children,
servants, guests are all under Law. And the
family IS law abiding community. The
coming in and going out; the uprising and
the down'sitting, are regulated by law. In
the houses of the wealthy and noble, not
unfrequently the statutes are printed and
posted in conspicuous places so that the cas-
ual guest may govern himself accordingly.
Perhaps in all the bedrooms as well as IN
the great hall there will be framed cards
hung Hp on which are printed the hours for
prayers and the daily meals. This reign of
law begets a strict and valuable economy in
every direction. First of all it saves time.
Dinner is ready to the minute, the family
all the family-are as punctual as the cook.
The carriage is on time or otherwise the
coachman Is discharged for unpromptness
and he forfeits certificate of good charac-
ter. The children 90 TO school on time, and
what is OF in hnitely more Importance they
90 to bed en- time. There are 10 sleeping,
lolling children yawniDg, or no sleeping,
snoring children irritating the nerves OF
guests when they should be in their beds.
Servants have their time and seasons;
their days out and their holidays, and no
household crisis is great enough 70 cause the
housewife to venture upon diplomatic meas-
ures to abridge these privileges. The servants
rise on time and retire at an appointed hour,
and these regulations are as inviolable as the
order ofhatnre. Children obey aud behave
by law. 1t is the law OF the family that the
children shall be dutiful and affectionate.
No child answers back. / was never in but
one English family where noticed undut-
full or sulking children. Obedience is rem
deIed with alacrity and delight. English
children are wholly possessed Of the belief
that TO obey means power; that only weak
and willess people disobey when duty com.
msDds. And English children have level
heads upon this vi al subject.
RULER AND PRIME MINISTER.
The mother is the head of the house, and
the father is the head of the mother. He is
the source OF all law and the mother is the
source OF all order. The mother executes the
behests of the husband. He determines the
expenditures OF the household. She makes
them. Diaries for the engagements OF the
family are kept. Household expenditure
books are as necessary to we'll ordered fam
lily as fan to q we'll dressed lady. By this
is not meant it is ornamental; by no means
:
is essential TO complete toilette. 1t is like
mariner log book. The expense books are
in every family, and are pcs Ell weekly or
monthly, and are examined with business
care and exactness By The husband. There
is DO mean advantage taken by the wife on
the score OF good fellowship" No more
would vile excuse inaccuracies and care
lessr ess in her accounts than in those OF the
grocer or baker. All the family bills of ey-
cry cescription-all the wages TO servants
even those to coachman and gardeners, are
paid by the wife. The hou sshold has bat
one expense bvok.
Tie elder children have their own allow.
snces. And these are never extravagsnt. Ex-
travsgance among the wellbred English is
deemed vulgar young lady in a middle
class family, say where the family expendi
lures would be from 50 coo to $40 600 year,
would probably have an allowance OF from
$3.50 to $3.50 per year for ali her personal ex-
peDsss. This allowance would include
C othiDg, travelling, charities, and in short
all personal expenses whatever. Usually
children yet at school have annual allow
aDces to meet their extra expenses, aud all
children are allowed given sum weekly for
spending money.
These allowances are supplemented by con-
siders bic gifts from the parents. The birth
day and Christmas presents are often in the
form of money or clothing, and party dress
es of en- expensive sort are usually q little
pleasant surprise, just before the night of the
company or bell This reign of law has q
much higher usefulness than To serve as al
eCoDomizsT of time. This latter is certainly
81 i'm portant element aud one to be wisely
conceived and used. But only fancy what
peace and bliss; what absence OF care and
friction are in the gift OF this reign of Law.
What saving of hot tempers and explosions
of irritabllIty under a regime where there is
no expenditure Of strength. English chill.
dren grow up with their nerves intact They
do not know they have any nerves, bat ali
the same, and by reason thereof, they have
nerve.
PARENTS AND CHILDREN.
The English in their homes are q charm
ing and eDgsging people, aud no mistake.
Tie father il supreme in authority, and this
law Is one of love. 1t is never vexatious.
The wife and mother finds herein her o Vn
sc cUrity and Der utmost happiness The
raj is as lucidly defined and as firmly fixed
as the husbands and fathers. What q con-
ditiou If temperaDental and practical re-
pose this IL? No time and 10 strength was
ted and misspent over disputsble rights and
PREF o. atives The mother is the ostensiole
al q obvious authority in the house. She
ex, cutss the father will Children and ser
wants come 10 her for orders aud lar before
her tbelI grievances. The husband is never
iretted with such de ais. Nor is the wife,
W INC OlneA MAUI deabeu W aA tue uetalIe
OF the politics of the town or the losses and
gains Of the days business. Their functions
are distinct AID they keep TO them.
All social civilities are observed, ADD do
mtsuc proprietlss are never violated.
ScoldiDg, fretting and fumlpg in the family
are labeled "vulgaI' by genteel pc )ple and
SO this banishes them from its precincts.
All advances are made on the part of the
children. When the parents and children
meet OF breakfast s3ns and daughters alike
make oveItures OF affection. The mother
and the father are kissed b7 tbs children,
who seem to consider il favor TO bs accord
ed such . privilege All soDs and daughters
so long as they abide under the parental
roof are subject to the law OF the honseh I'D.
They seem 10 feel that The least return tn
can make the parents 10 dutiiulnsss snd af-
I, ctioD.
The hUst and snd aud wife are uniformly
q N 80 a In terIna - andas ~ NJ.