The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-23
FAMILY HOMES.
The Nations Hope The Naeaei From
Which Flow the Streams 81 Good o

Which Flow the Streams 81 Good or
Evil.
From the fact of mans being a Gre
ated being, and created with innate
capabilities subject to error or righteous
ness as the spur of education is used in
q wrong or right direction, it behooves
US all as kindred in the great brother
hood of man to study the means best
adapted to secure the happiness and
well-being of all Nations are formed
of FAM lies, and families are the nuclei
from which flow the streams of good or
evil uniting in a mighty river which
SWAPS national destiny TO sink it in the
aglSated waters, or float it on the still
We tiers of peace, unity and prosperity,
AID anchor the Ship of State in the
E.nd-lOcked harbor of honesty, justice
and right Large streams from little
fountains flow" so nations are the out
growth Of families, and as the families
are. SO IS the nation. Families, then.
are the primal sources from which
light ard shadow illumine the moral
! heavens, or blot out in darkness the star
| of progress. The little family steam
engines united to form the mammoth
COrliss engine, is what runs the ma
| tional machinery for veal or woe, and
hence the prime necessity of the little
engines being constructed on the best
principles known. Now it is patent
that man in the constitution of mind is
possessed of certain passions; that these
| in development take precedence of the
] hut
very imperfectly under self-control.
| These passions unrestrained and fed bad
food during childhood and youth, are
the prolific source of numberless evils.
which subsequent moral development
fails to efficiently cure. They are blind,
and therefore incapable of controlling
themselves, and consequently there can
be no doubt that parental care in this
particular receives much less attention
than its importance demands. After
coming under the influence of the moral
facult es. they may by timely effort be
restrained, and this should be the great
effort of parents, but parents are not
competent to guide children and youth
until able to govern themselves. As
rule children of such parents are wilder
and more ungovernable than their
parents, for parental anger and brutality
only increases the difficulty in both.
/ Like parent, like child" is an old
axiom which is based on hereditary
| transmission. Govern your own passions
and the way is opened to govern those
of children. The preliminary step in
this direction is, man and wife should
have no secrets between them. A broad,
open trail of honesty and truth begets
confidence in each other, and the eX-
ample may be transferred to the men,
bers of the household. Daily practice
openly thanked with love and charity,
| eXerts soothing and powerful influence
on the young.
To be open, frank and social with the
children, correcting their faults through
uneXceptiOnal example with verbal eX-
plantations of causes and effects, will
secure their love and confidence, and
consequently their obedience to all
reasonable requirements. As every
person sooner or later is thrown upon
his or her individual resources, it be-
comes matter of some moment that
individuality supported by a rational
self confidence should occupy prom
inent position in the formation of
character. To bring into activity this
confidence, children must be given OPP
portunitieS for its exercise. Throw
them upon their own Judgment in small
matters of interest to them, and they
will speedily acquire habits of reason
ing which lead to sound conclusions
and cause them to depend more and
more upon themselves. Thus taught,
when rudely thrust into the busy world
without, they have a rudder to guide
their boat, and are able to command
the friendship and respect of those
about them Lacking self-contidence,
they would he subject to the visions of
credulity, and oily tongues and cult
waited baseneSs would overreach them,
their money absorbed by INSCRIPTIONS
robbers or cheating scoundrelS dressed
in the ample cloak of hypocrisy. Self
confidence calls for the exercise of
reason, and reason augments the stock
of knowledge already stored away for
future use.
Human nature is daily called into
active exercise, and this reading of
character affords shield against pre-
tenders, and adds more protection to
the home fortress against careless
marauders. But the family cluster
around the hearthstone requires esthetic
adOrnmentS within and without, so far
aS is consistent with financial ability to
add to the quiet enjoyment of home.
Pictures on the walls, musical instru-
ments and games of amusement will
al RI on 10 fha #
and make children cling more tena-
ciously to fond parents. Cross words.
bare walls and no means of rational
amusement dulls the brain, sours the
temper and leads to rash acts inconsist-
ent with LIES more urgent needs, re-
eiprocal love and pleasant surroundings.
The family should be provided with
useful books, and the center table
should hold few selected newspapers.
and the boys and girls be encouraged to
write for their favorite paper, to keep
thought stimulated and educationa,
progress on its joyful march. Encour-
age social relations with neighborS,
friendly discussions of proper and i'm
portant subjects, and utilization with
the Grange As new propelling power
to the expansion of intellect in behalf of
suffering humanity. There is nothing
like frequent meetings of neighbors
and friends to cement friendships.
open new roads of thought, improve
conversational powers. and enlist our
sympathies in behalf of the down.
trodden and oppressed. Legitimate
education in all its multiplied bearings
on agriculture and the best good of the
race should be literally encouraged.
But above all things let parental ex-
ample harmonic with truth and