The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1894-06-28
THE IDEAL HOME.
How to Make 1t place of Peace,
Haven of Rest

HOW TO Make 1t "Place of Peace,
Haven of Rest
The essential nature of home, said a
great writer. is that lit is a place of
peace. a haven of rest into which the
Earring turmoils of the world outside
cannot enter Whenever disagreement
or dlScord comes it ceases to be a home
and is only a part of the outer world,
which you have rooted over and lighted
fire in. So far as it is a sacred place,
temple of the hearth, watched over
by the household gods, before whose
faces none may come but those they
receive in lOve-so far as it is this, the
roof and fire are types of a nobler shade
and light-shade as of a rock in a weary
land, light as of the Pharos in the
stormy sea-"
How few of us think of our homes in
this noble light.-the symbol of that
greater home that is prepared for us in
our Fathers Kingdom. In how many
households is home the place for bicil
ering, for dissension. for vain argu-
ment and fruitless discussion. Some
times it is the wife's fault She brings
to the family table, into the sanctum
of her home. all the petty turmoils that
beset her life. 1t may be that the work
has gone awry in the kitchen, that
servants have been obstinate and try
ing, yet she has no right to detail such
grievances so that all the family shall
be annoyed by them. 1t is clearly her
duty to bear such troubles and settle
them as best she can, without InhFt.~g
them the subject of fruitless and con-
tinuous discussion and complaint, just
as it is her husbands duty to settle
all his business affairs and matters
about the farm, without making them
the subject of family grievance.
This does not prohibit people from
cOunselling together. but it prohibits
the continual discussion before all the
household of tiresome and unpleasant
subjects, in which there can be no
profit. There are great many people
in the world whose affairs go con-
trary," and who believe they feel"
things more than ordinary. and these
are not always of the feminine gender.
They are, however, always selfish peo-
pie, who are not likely to be cured sud
denly of their selfshness Vital
changes in the moral and spiritual
nature, like changes in the physical
nature, are of slow. steady growth.
Repentance may be sudden, but a genu-
inc change in character and life is
gradual.
1t is only the exception when the
home is sacredly guarded from all
bitterness and intrusion of the outer
world. The JOY and rest of such
home cannot be exaggerated. This
does not exclude hospitality. but it
means the entertainment of congenial
friends from love and sympathy, not
from a desire for Ostentation and show.
1t means hospitality in the noblest and
grandcst sense. One of the greatest
joys of home is the knowledge of the
sincerity and genuine sympathy which
the household receives from one an
other. Here. at least. is someone who
will not fatter us. but will give us ad-
vice. untainted with selfish motive. and
speak the simple truth either in com
mendation or criticism. 1t may be that
our best efforts have brought only fail
can look for sympathy and love. thongs
all the world may have turned from u.s.
If home is what it should be. it makes
but little difference whether the house
that incloses it is a poor cabin or
stately mansion. Home is where true
hearts are bound together by mutual
sympathy and kindred interests, where
diSSensiOn cannot come and where no
one attempts to arrogate authority.
but each is left free. 50 far as individual
lives and opinions may be. 1t is true
this is purely ideal state. but it is the
ideal toward which all happy homes
must tend. In so far as one person in a
household exercises the love of domin-
ion over another, in 50 far do we fail to
reach the ideal. Each one in the ideal
household must yield something of his
individual will and preference for the
common good of all. Where any one
rules automatically over others the
household becomes a prison and not a
home.-N y. Tribune.