The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1892-01-13
The society at Home.

One of the dangers that threaten
home life Is montony. We are an ac-
tive people, but our activities have a
tendency to divert us from our home
life. Business, pleasure, church and
clubs-all have a tendencyto send to
bers of the family, whose chief inter
est Is notin fact that they are members
of the family, but members ola firm,a
church, a committee, q club, or ofsoci-
ETY.. Home Is the place in which to
make arrangements to carry on the
outside business. Too many homes
have no common centre Of interest.
The several members of the family
have as many outside interests as there
are persons in it; and all too frequently
the work or play, of the one member
is not treated by the other members Of
the family with the courtesy that
should be extended, If only because
such an attitude would be polite. We
know that outside intimacies develop,
not because the members Of the family
prefer to form outside intimacies, but
because the human heart Graves SYM
pathy, and must have it, and it Is not
always to- be found within the shelter
that we call home. Husbands and
, wives too often form themselves into
a committee of ways and means; the
financial management Of the family Is
the subject they discuss constantly
when togeter; it is allowed to absorb
every interest, even in families where
a settled income would seem to make
q wise division an easy problem. Not
only do the financial affairs become
the absorbing subject when husband
and wife are together, but they form
the all-absorbing problem when they
are apart. The friends, the fads, the
outside interests of the children be-
come of secondary importance. At
the table, in the FIRMLY room, where
ever the family meet, this ever-present
subject may be discussed, yet no sub
jecthas greater need of a time and sea-
son, as well as a place, for discussion.
Friction, annoyance, impatience, are
the attendant ills, and these all sap
family life. The effort to make the
family life interesting is q common
duty imposed on each member of the
family. The pleasures, the friends, the
interests of one should receive the po-
lite attention of all. To treat the sub
ject that interests another member Of
the family as if it were not worthy the
consideration of intelligent people is,
to say the least, not polite; TO show q
patronizing or a tolerant interest is ev-
en- less polite. A stranger would re-
ceive more courteous treatment. And
vet what is love worth if it is never to
express itself? We should make a pos
tive effort to know intelligently the
subject that interests n to whom we
are bound by ties of love and of blood.
1t is this social apathy and indiffer-
ence that makes family life monotonous
We are surprised at ourselves when we
stop to measure the difference in u
manner at home and in society; yet
where is our love? We know it is in
the home circle, and we know that if
we contributed a fraction of the men
tai activity, gave out a ray of the brill
fancy, at home that please the people
we meetin society, we should give a
charm to the home life that it cannot
possess without our contribution.
We should not ''love Caesar less, but
Rome more" The plaudits of the
crowd are louder than the silent ho-
mage of love. This silence is a mis-
take, and a little clapping of hands at
home might kindle that which moves
the outside world.
Is there a sadder thing in life than q
family drifting apart? The same roof
shelters them at night; they gather a.
bout the same table; family occasions
may find each member present, some
what bored, somewhat anxious to has
ten away to other interests, still all
with love enough, added to q sense of
duty, to compel their presence. There
is love enough to develop an anxious
feeling in case of sickness, and tears
at death; but oceans could not seperate
families as completely a. the lack of
interest, the lack of loving study, so
necessary to helpful, intelligent, loving
inspiring family life.
! [Christian Union.