Arizona republican., 1892-07-06
THE TWO VISITS.

IuIulSntu, lbltttStul nbIdTN, t'fu WllU my heNd resting on the pillow of. the chair fell to mcditating. had just re. turned home after paying two short visits to dear old friends of my happy school days, who for ten years had been mattresses of their own homes. was trying, as l sat there, to answer the question why it was that had enjoyed my visit so much more at Mrs. Van Dykes than 1 did at Mrs. Barstow's. Both ladies were bright, cordial, enter taining. intelligent and exceedingly hospitable, and l had looked forward for two years to the pleasure of visiting them in their own homes
 They were living in inland cities about 200 miles apart. Both of these friends had married lawyers, who were already earning good incomes, and both families had the entree to the best society.
 The homes of these friends were not only comfortable but exceedingly taste ful and pleasant, and the children in both homes were bright, handsome and merry, with plastic minds ready to be molueu Dy tnelr parents.
 Yet with all this similarity in the so- cial position of both families, in the in. comes they received, in the homes they had built, in the education of the parents aud in their church relations the atmosphere of these two homes was very different, and visit in the one was great contrast to the other.
 recalled many incidents of the two visits, and they convinced me, and more strongly than ever before, that the mother makes the home. Her taste, her methods, her ideas, her example, her influence, her spirit are an i'm pressed upon the household and create it's atmosphere.
 At Mrs. Van Dykes not only was all the household machinery so well oiled that its running was noiseless, but there was no friction whatever in the family. The household arose betimes, in the old fashioned way, and all the children were ready for breakfast when the meal was announced, and they appeared ap- propriately dressed, and each with hap py face bidding their parents, each other, and the guests a pleasant good morning. Then after morning prayer, in which the servants participated, each of the older children quietly disap- peared from the sitting room to attend to a few practical duties before getting ready for school appearing ere long, with books in hand, for a goodby kiss and to hear the last cheery word from mother as they started out.
 With perfect composure, and with no apparent trouble, a few friends were asked to dine ono evening, and most delightful visit enjoyed. The flowers, the glass, the silver, the table linen were exquisite, and the dinner of only four courses wac well cooked, homelike and well served. while the feast of reason, the quick repartee, the witty stories, the bits of political, social and literary talk were not only pleasure to all the older ones, but a source of education and cul- ture to the children. Several such in formal companies we're entertained at Mrs. Van Dykes while was there.
 In every department the household seemed to move along harmoniously and without apparent exertion or undue care on the part of the mother. The home was at all times in perfect order, and yet without stiffness or angularity visi- ble anywhere.
 1 remembered going into one of the children's rooms to look at gift of a pretty picture, and as little Mary opened a bureau drawer noticed how neat and orderly it was as was also her closet, where the shoes and rubbers even were set back against the baseboard with regularity and precision. asked Mrs. Van Dyke when we were alone if. Mary, who was niue years old, arranged her closet and drawers herself, to which question her mother replied:
 Certainly. taught all my children before they were two years old to be or derly. Even at that age," she said, you know they are very initiative, and they love to do little services for their mothers. showed them just how to put their clothes and shoes away in an orderly manner, and how to lay things in their drawers and keep them neatly. Those early lessons they will never for get. l believe" she added, mo matter how many servants one can afford to have it is well to teach children to be self reliant, and to do everything promptly and well. Such teaching saves vast amount of work and of un- necessary friction through life. True it is that some children seem to have nat urally more of a bump of order than others, but the orderly habit can be cul- tivated, If the hanging loop of Mary s coat should give way, so orderly has she become she would not for a moment think of hanging it upon the hook until the loop was mended"
 All this l recalled as sat there, and also what my friend said about her hus- band when l had remarked that 1 had never seen a gentlemen who seemed to make so little trouble about tho house.
 He was a surprise to me in that re- spect," said Mrs. Van Dyke. Il told him soon after we were married that had been accustomed to see men leave everything about for some one to pick up, and asked him how it happened that he was so neat and orderly, He said that when he was about thirteen years old he noticed that his mother picked uI