The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1888-02-25

NO PLACE LIKE HOME.

NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
A writer in an exchange claims that
home should be the best spot in the
world to all people, and asserts that there
never was time when SO many could
have pleasant, happy homes as now:
That mans house is his castle is an old
and very much battered tradition suppos-
ed to be common law But the due and
full understanding OF the precept is not
common. 1t is not always from foes or
disturbances without that the castle
needs defense, for the inner furnishing
and comfort also require to be diligent-
ly looked after. When this is done, for
"castle" we substitute the word "home."
And the home should be in the highest
sense the "castle," for man, women and
child. That good old household word
comes to Us from the Saxon and the re-
lated languages; aud there is no room
for doubt that it is power among all
peoples in whose languages the world is
at home. An old English poet says
"home is the sacred refuge of life" and no
modern poet laureate, or other, has com.
pressed into one line more truth and
poetry.
But home is what we make it. It may
be sacred refuge, or it may be a mere
place of call for breakfast and dinner,
and shelter for the sleeping hours when
there was nothing aboad to keep men
awake. 1t may be destitute of attrac-
tions, tolerated spot instead of COM
Portable haven. If this be the case. the
fault is with those who, by their own
conduct, make it uniD viting. Home may
be a mere prison well furnished or other
wise) for the women of the household,
while the men look abroad for their in
terests and diversions. If the women do
break bounds sometimes and find their
amusements abroad, what truant hus-
band has right to blame truant wife?
And when husbands and wives are runa-
gates, continuing in scarceness, who
need be surprised that the children pre-
fer call outdoors" to all that they can
find indoorsp
While there has been a tendency
among men to seek "club life," and the
women have to some degree retalisted
by getting up societies OF their own, to
only some OF which have the latch key or
other "open sesame" there never was
time when the apparatus for home occu-
patton and enjoyment was more abund-
ant and accessible. Never were dwellings,
of all grades in expense more comfort
able and convenient. Whoever desires to
make home attractive, can with his wife
and other women and girls OF the house
hold do so. The man is, however, most
happy who, at the door as he enters, "re-
LAKES his ponderous strength and leans
to hear" and hastens to do whatever the
mistress Of the castle home directs We
are making no plea, however, for tame
and sleepy stay Inconsistencies. Go
abroad at proper times, men and women,
and children, too; only make home nice
place and much desired to come back to.
But men, women and children have
different views and pursuits. That is all
the better for a complete union, where
neither has anything to conceal.
The strength of rope is in it's many
strands, and united household and
happy one is that in which the thoughts
and pursuits of the inmates are we'll
twined together. Well, Everybody con-
cedes that" some one will say. Yes, but
if the concession is only in words, COM
monplace as those expressions are, there
are people who do not act their thoughts
The proof of this is found in the daily
story Of the faults, follies, and even
crimes of men, high and low, rich and
poor, who did not get their first inspira-
ton for evil deeds at home. Certainly
there are some wretched homes, where the
spirit OF evil seems to be in possession.
But the members of such households
commonly learn their evil out of doors,
and their bad proficiency and united ex-
perience reverse the line already quoted,
that home is a sacred refuge. or few
homes, however, can it be said that there
is no good controlling influence in them.
And in all homes there is room for con-
stantly rising appreciation of the sacred
ness of the earliest bond which binds hu-
man beings together-the family tie.