The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-03-06
Mr.. snurreon,s HomeLife.

IRON the AtaAAl OF AlAitdldt Leigh Hunt.
Mr. Surgeons HomcLife.
81 am one Of those who cannot rest unless
tbev have something TO do" In this Sig
,rcaut sentence from the preface TO his last
'rs1 Memories OF Siambourne.o MIR.
snsrceou has shed good deal of light upon
his public career and his home life. lie was
r,aluess possessed of that subtle something
which we label genius; but mere genius
counts for little unless il be applied as a
6e.or in realizing the product Of labor.
Nothing comes Of genius if it only wields a
wand: genius must ind something 20 do
and 40 tiff 1t is to enrich the world with a
harvest worth the gathering. Few men
COUNTED less upon genius than MIR. Sturgeon;
Il was ever persistent toiler, and denied
himself for many years the rest and recrea-
f0n which are held 10 be essential for re-
pairing the waste OF nerve power and the
YEA. ana tear of brain and muscle. Had he
enek for the w0rkingman's demand OF
eelt hours a day he would have secured q
daily average Of eight or ten hours for recrea-
taa. something 10 do greeted him on
r,ur. and something % be done marked
feuadnished chapter Of each days history.
long before Miss Hayergal sung m her
Hymn OF Conservation,
Take my moments and my day.
Nr ,purge0n had made the surrender, and
sr.-hi 20 crowd into the waking hours of day
an. ugnt thoughts and plans which blossom
al into the fruitage of grand life work.
The home life OF man who converts his
house into a workshop is in danger Of being
sl0In Of all d0mesticity; but such was not
.te case OF Mr.. SpurgeOn. Home 10 him was
home I'M the most sacred sense, and its
charms were those Of his own creation.
Uung the time the delirium ragged in his
frst illness be bosOught his anxious and de-
voted ministrants 10 take him home. So
long as be was under the delusiOn that his
friends had left him where his sickness
seized him, he could find neither rest nor
s0IaCe. The hunger OF his heart for the
sanctuary Of home refused 10 be appeased
until IDS mind was satisfied that the familiar
objects 20 which attention was directed were
really in his own Norwood home.
The charms of home and the potency Of the
home spell are described in one of the chap
iel- Of his most popular book, "John Plough
mans Talk"
"Ihat word home always sounds like
poetry % me. 1t rings like peal Of bells at
q Wedding, only more soft and sweet, and it
chimes deeper into the ears Ofmy heart. " -
ike % see the smoke out Ofmy own chimney
better than the ire on another mans hearth:
there's something so beautiful in the way in
Whichit curls up among the trees. \
home should be a Bethel, not a Babel. If
had no home the world would be big prison
tome. IL does not matter whether it
means matched cottage or manor house, home
5, home, be it ever so homely; and there is no
Pace on earth like ii. Green grow the
lolseleek on the roof forever and let the moss
flourish on the thatch. SWeetly the sparTOws
CMuup and the swallows tWitter around the
closen spot which ismy JOY and rest. When
yll are out friends do their best; but still il is
ru l0me. Make yourself at home they say,
leau,e everybody knows that to feel at home
= ~ feel mt ease.
East and west, Home is best
Why, at home you are at home, and what
more do you WantF
With such an estimate Of home, and with
such a fondness for It's charms As is expressed
iu The above sentences, we do not wonder that
ile writer made OF bis home a sacred retreat
where sancuned affection ennObled 1.-THE COM
mon round, the daily task"
Throughout the home at WestwOOd there
was everything 90 minister 20 comfort, but
there was nothing supertluOus for display.
Good taste ruled IN all the appointments; and
A. The furniture and the pictures there was not
even "a suggestion OF redundancy. The draw
in-room Ofthe previous occupant was turned
into a well-stocked library, and the billiard
room became "a study, IN which most of Mr..
Surgeons time was spent. Here his
secretaries were engaged; for il sery-
al The purpose of an EDITORS sane
mm and tine official headquarters for
ue correspondence Ofthe president of the Col
.ese. ile Orphanage and the COlpOrtage AssO-
0au0n, and the pastor of the Tabernacle
church. How many letters were received and
dispatched daily there is no official record 10
snow, but the yearly aggregate must be
uch0ned By tens OF thousands. workshop
ru.y; still, 10 the head Of the house il was
bone; and despite the absorbing nature of the
WORK. be detached himself from the pressing
il.lmDrance with the utmost ease 10 attend
ual the cOurtesies claimed by kinsfOlk and
aalaintances. At such periods Mr. Spurgeon
lalal the freedom ana bu0yancy Of man Of
extensive leisure. His line social instincts
found iuil play in the social circle; and he had
Ue rale art Ofmaklng bis guests feel at home
and appear nc their best. His power of con-
1elsat0n was prOyerbial. but he never showed
amy ambition 10 play the hero. Natural, and
og-Hs.ns an aflectation, no company could be
duh where he was either host or guest As
maker OF history he had many a good story
go Tell, as an OmnyOr0us reader, no subject
could be started winch left him a silent
listener; and as keen observer Of men and
ungs, he was always ready with something
% iae point. Smiles and tears very soon re-
le4Iel bis souls response 10 a Weli-tOld story.
Ills slmpathies were intense, and the love he
Dad for his domestic pets was one of his most
Prominent characteristics. He once had
famous cat. and "Dick's" affection for his
Master often made him welcome visitor TO
zoe study. His dog punch was beauty Of
la genuine pug variety, who reyeled in
l9ll and seemed proud OF the patronage his
Master iayished upon him. In the farm
SOCK ln the miniature homestead Mr..
Surgeon had a genuine pride: for Mrs.
surgeon found in their care an ayocatlon
N-lel secured an immunity from the distress
lls anguOr which her sutierings often en-
Jailed. Flowers and ferns and fishes in the
eis9uatOries eXerted a charm OF which both
~ ald Mrs. Sturgeon never tired; and 1t
vas more OF feeling Of pleasure than OF
Ii47 which invited them 10 descant upon
tsI beauties 10 appreciatiye visitors. A
S-'A around the garden with the master Of
'nl"ooa has been a priyilge 10 many well
'1e visitor, whose memory Is not likely 10
surrender The incident; it is something 10
-lIon With pride.
v'p'ai, and the fare was always simple.
.-'ol econ was most moderate in all mat
s oi eating and drinking. Under no cir
INSTANCES did he touch alcohol in any form
Whatever
i-e famous diversion Of his earlier years
"@ game az lawn bowls on a Saturday
.iloon, and in this he Oll0wed the example
es-'sl OF thc old Puritans. 1t was a matter
appointment and regret when he was not
~ 10 indulge in the healthful exercise.
,4'se Of work is scarcely recreatiye. Yet
' was the only recreation Mr.. SDurgeon