Evening journal., 1897-11-24
EVERYDAY HAPPINESS.
1t Is Found Mainly in the Modest
Homes.

IL Is Found Mainly in the MODEST
Homes.
Since The days Of the wise men Of
Israel. and as far back as the records of
the sages Of other lands can be traced,
q medium position in wealth has been
considered the happiest Yet, in spite
of sages and philosophers. few men in
the world have been content when they
achieved the modest competence and
the moderate position in society. They
still went ON laboring and achieving
in most cases until they had attained
the greatest wealth and the most ex-
tensiye social power that they could.
Only when they reached old age and,
like the wise man of Israel, desired
chiefly to be delivered from vanity and
lies" did they realize how little power
great riches possess.
The greatest happiness is certainly
not attained on social thrones, but In
everyday homes, "far from the mad
ding crowd" In the pretty villages
throughout the length and breadth of
the land are thousands of modest
homes, with every evidence Of compe-
tence and comfort displayed in we'll
kept lawns. the ample. well-cultivated
vegetable gardens and fruit orchards.
There is no pretcnsion Of external lux
ury in these low-gabled houses, with
their vihe-covered porches or ample
veranda. strewn, perhaps, with chill
dren's toys. They. are the homes Of the
everyday men and women, who are
bringing up their children in thrift,
honor and self-respect. The homes Of
those for whom light labor spreads
her wholesome store" The boys are
probably preparing for q trade. pro-
fession or the counting-room. The
girls also look forward to the time
when they viii be ware-earners or lift
the load of household cares from the
beloved mothers Shoulders. 1t IS
quite likely they will marry, but if
they are self-respecting American
girls they 90 not consider marriage in
the light that a foreign maiden usually
| does-as n consuIamation to be gained
by sundry schemes and plottings. Only
few American mothers descend to
the vulgar acts of the matchmaker in
order to secure homes for their mar
riageable daughters. When the ac-
ceptable lover comes along and the
girl is wooed, every one is pleased, and
recognizes the fact that the highest po-
sition to which woman can be called
is TO be mistress of a happy, well-or-
dered home. There are misgivings
only if those who go to a new home are
not wise and frugal. for every one
knows that an unhappy marriage
brings with it the greatest sorrow and
almost the greatest shame that a wom-
an can know. American girls who are
wise no longer eater into matrimony
lightly. as their grandmothers some
; times did because it was something Of a
disgrace to remain unmarried. They
perceive that a self-supporting woman
at whatever age, occupies a far more
enviable position than the neglected
wife.
A small windfall of good fortune is
: appreciated in the everyday home. II
means n vacation to the mountains OF
b seashore, which has long been a Gov
p eted pleasure. 1t means new set oi
books or a substantial sum in the bank
| 10 guard against an evil day. Perhaps
, it makes it possible for the son OF
. daughter TO attend college. 1t is only
in an everyday household. dependent
f on a moderate income. that littl,
e windfall of fortune brings additiona
- pleasure. The man Of wealth can ado
b nothing to his pleasures by the addi
S tions he receives to his income. He al
= ready has everything he desires whicl
= money can buy. A few hundred o
I, hundred thousand dollars added to hi
fortune means little to him, but 81
: many dollars to take care of and count
n IN. Y. Tribune.