The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1885-08-14
Beautifying the Home.

If there is any form of extrnva-
gnnce that is pardonable, it is that
which naaniiests itself in the beautify-
ing of the home. Money spent in
making home attractive, in adding
to It's comforts, and even TO Its luxu-
rues, is money spent not unwlsely.
Such outlay does not rartake of the
selfshness Of mere personal aiorn-
ment, nor the qualification Of desires
and wishes that have no higher aim
than ones own happiness, for the
.hone is not for the individual, but
for the family. Whatever makes
the home dearer, and sweeter, ard
more to be !cnge6 for than any other
place on earth, must elevate its char
actsr and bring it nearer its heaven
ly ideal-the eternal home above.
And among the surroundings of the
ideal hsme, we cannot forego tho
love of the beautiful. The glowing
imnginations of even the inspired
poets confesse,lly fail to give us all
adequate description of the beauty
which everywhere surroHnds the
homo Of the redeemed soul. In the
sublime visions of the soer of Pat-
mas we read Of city whose walls
are of all manner of precious stones,
its gates Of pearl, and its streets Of
pure gold, with river clear as crys-
tai Stunning through it, and its in-
habisants wearing white robes and
crowns upon their heads. The home
that God provides foI Us above is
beautiful, and he has given us a
beautiful world to live in here. If
our hoRes are bare and cheerlets as
dens in the nounlaius, it is because
there is no effort TO draw into them
tho beauty Tint surrounds them like
The atmosphere. ne hive seen
many Z country home wholly devoid
of ali aIornment, with daisies and
buttercups nodding within reach o.
their wiutlow sillr. aud lovely maple
ieavet futterinc down right through
the open door. / decd, il is fact
that in spite of rural romanccs, the
average country home has less Of those
simple yet tasteful decorations which
are found in humble homes wilhid the
city's dust and din. Perhaps famili-
aritv with he beauties Of the woods
and fields makes them valued less; but
it does not atone for ugly walls ard
barn-like rooms.
And it is mistake to suppose that
home decorations necessarily invol We
large outlay Of money. One Of the
few good resultA Of the aesthetic
craze is that many have learned that
the ordinary things used By mankind
may be handsome as we'll as ugly.
If the aesthetic school have brought
deserved rldicule upon themselves foT
| many OF their abqurditjes. thsy have
1lls6 done some good in awakening a
more general interest in the matter
of home decoration. It would be
surprising to those who hsye never
tried it, how far few pence will &c
with the aid Of deit fingers in adding
to the attractions Of the horle. A
picture frame, or q cup oruther h 'use'
hold utensil costs no more If wreuehl
arListically than If made aiter th'
most clumsy fashion.
Some housekeepcrs with unlimiret
means at command, and on abundance
Of material around them fail to make
a room neat or attractive, willis a'an,
a cottage with nothing but such ma
terial as nature throws down at IL
door blossoms into home nf tsst
and beauty under veritable fairy I'm
gers. There is far higher aim il
view, t,o, IN this matter If home dec
oration than Tie mere pleasing Of th'
eyes.
We cannot live IN the midst o
things which are truly lovely. with
out partaking jn some MEASURE o
that character ourselves. il il na
{ beneath the dignity cf tho most higI
. and cultivsted nature tp confess pa.
ionate ioye for the beautiful. for "
f, worship God from WON all benut
eniauaIes. Ksthefcism IS not TO i
/ scorned Il a few Ivpdish men has