Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1894-01-25
THE EVOLUTION OF THE HOME.
Papers read before the Woman's Club
of Ellsworth, Dec. 10, 1898.

| Published by request of the Club
! MRS ALMA II. WHITTEMoREs PAPER.
Amid the ever-recurring movements of
! time, 1t Is interesting anl should be In
structive, to cast a backward glance now
and then into tha rempte past and note
the progress of mankind since Its earliest
beginnings The developments of society
and the achievem ants of mln, In the light
of civilization and knowledge. aided by
the masterful hand Of science aud the arts,
present wonderful contrast to the uude-
veloped conditions of prime.sl man, wan
dering In tribal bands over the earth,
struggling with wild and hostile nature.
Historians have told the story of the
advancement Of the human race. from its
earliest and most chaotic state of society,
down TO the enlightenment Of the present
time; picturing In vivid yet truthful Ian
| guage the rise and fall of empires, the
formation of government and the spread
of christianity.
onr eminent New England historian,
| John Fiske, says Very little has hap
| pened in the past which has not some i'm
mediate practical lessons for us and when
we study history In order to profit by the
experience of our ancestors TO find out
wherein they failed. in order that we may
emulate their success and avoid their er-
| rors, then history becomes the mobiles, and
most valuable OF studies"
| OF the various institutions which have
| been preserved 10 Us. or which have
evolved from the conflict OF the ages
! there Is none SO sacred. aud none OF great
er value to man, than the home. There
| ought to be. and usually is, tie formed
In childhood which survives change, wild
ening associations and absorbing interests
| The nomads OF the race, changing cease
lessiy from spot to spot, recognize none
/ =. :.a.csI .'"d~r associations which cluster
about the roof-tree ramliar % e.~'se-,
| recollections. These Arabs OF the desert
| strike no deep roots into the soil OF life
| from which might spring 5eautifu! foliage
and refreshing fruit. They dwell as II in
| tents upon the shifting sands or in an
/
| Reared under such Influences a. 10 call no
| place sacred. and no possessions holy.
| how little know they of that wealth OF af-
| fection waiting to be garnered by the low
| ers of permanent home! That hearth
| stone which II magnet for the precious
| offspring which no wealth can buy or pow
erty forbid. ought to be a. stable a. any
thing can be this side Of heaven, OF which
| 1t is foretsste
| Permanence is an adjunct Of ciyiliz,
tton. 1t began when primitive man KIN
| died the household fire by rubbing To-
| gether two dry sticks. or by sparks struck
| from hint. With the establishment OF the
| nreside and the possessions naturally
| clustering about 1t, permanence becomes
necessity; agriculture. science aud the
arts flourish, and society rapidly grows.
Il is only the isolated family life aui
| the permanent home that sccord wiki the
| spirit Of our republic. Cooperative in
| du,tries and prodi-sharing hsYe grand
| Geld of operation. But communities and
| partnerships belon. to mechanical forces,
| not to the sanctitie, OF affection. la it,
centre, home ought 10 be fixed, isolated.
| inyiolate.
Dear to the Unfolding hear. OF woman
are the four walls Of her home. Here are
| born her babes. here they grow 10 ma,u-
| rity, here they lesvc her for LIES duties.
| aud here the angel of death Summons her
loved ones, or herself 70 a heavenly home
| The charm OF any home j. In its ludNii
| uality. Coleridge said that ar: il man
| added To nature Home j. man and Won
| so added TO house. Thi, house. il IL 4,
| to be home, must De mirror repeating
| their united thought, sentiment, purpose
and taste How much Whittier tells 10
that one most poetic phrase when he
| speaks of his old hom. NJ step IS on
| the conscious noor."
The true ,me i a place conscious Of
| wise, beuignant personality; instinct with
| lives that, are noble and beloved "The
Masking OF true home" says Frances
| Power Cobbe. 'is really the peculiar and
| inalenable right Of women-a right which
no man can take from them. man can
build castle or palace, but be he a. wise
as Solomon, or As rich As CrU .us, he can
not turn it into home" And yet man
needs home, If possible, more than WON IN.
He is in more danger without its anchor
age than she. The forces of her nature
| will always draw her strongly towards the
| light, even though its beacon shines from
some happier womans freside; while
afar off into darkness.
There IS. In the heart of every man,
cultured as we'll As ignorant, an innate
tenderness which responds with thrill Of
the heart to the simple lines
One little hut among the bushes,
| One that | love
still fondly to my memory rushes
| No matter where rove
The poet Longfellow says:
Each mans chimney Is his golden milestone,
Is the central point from which he measures
| every distance,
| Through the gateways Of the world around him"
| 1t is alleged that the isolated home tends
| W StIhsuH5ss. 4NpL ~ generous
nurture. Home should be living foun-
tain fed by unfailing springs, not q sealed
we'll of self-interest Its Overlooking
waters make of social life an oasis even in
desert places. Here come the homeless
who are hungry and athirst to learn how
much more blessed il Is TO give than TO
receive. Here the old, yet ever new, ex-
pressions Of love sparkle in loving out
burst. These words of sympathy and
affection tighten toll, sweeten rest, and
beautifully enrich home life Then ton