Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1897-12-03
DOMESTIC IDEALITY.

persons have no conception of its meaning
1t is a fiction of the dictionary, and as such,
dismissed from their understandings. Others
consider ii as the opposite OF reality. They,
too, are in error, for ideality Is the very
soul Of reality over and above Its low limi-
tations by the senses-realty expanded and
perfected. Every object around us is more
or less beneath itself, debased by its con-
nections, impaired by its circumstances. 1t
has an idea, shut up in its own bosom, bet
ter than its form, aspects, manifestation,
and ideality processes TO seize this original
idea and bring 1t forth, so that we may see
ard love the essential spirit of the thing
itself
Is there an ideal OF home and domestic
life2 Yankee.like, we may answer the
question by asking another. Has God
purpose of gentle, tender love in home and
its offices. II so, then that purpose defined
TO the mind and embraced by the heart, is
the ideal of home. Let US elaborate this
thought.
We see birds nest Admire II as we
may, the mechanical skill and manifold uses
OF this simple but perfect contrivance is
something more TO our eye than little re-
ceptacle for eggs and a nursery for song
birds. 1t goes beyond this fact in its i'm
preston. You transfer a sentiment, a
thought, with feeling lit. Maternal love,
watchfulness and care, music and animated
life, are identified with its peaceful shelter
under the dropping foliage. But suppose
YOU take home where kindred hearts are
dwelling IN serene and growing compan-
ionship-a human home with its Preside,
table and altar-there is something more
about it than the outside senses report, or
the recipient intellect is content to know.
The simplest form of consciousness Is i'm
PEELED to superadd other ideas to it.
Thoughts as solid as any facts, and feelings
thoroughly instructive, and therefore IN
questioned spring up in its presence. Bare
walls smile, the fireside has another warmth
than its fire, and the table spread with
sweeter repast than the body enjoys Ger
tainly the Imagination finds exercise here,
and perhaps its earliest sense of something
beyond the ordinary routine of mechanical
life-of bliss hidden far below the the sur
face of our being-of spirit that replenishes
the soul out of its vast fullness, spring up at
the bidding of this genial sentiment
The ideality of home is seen in the fact
that no true hearted man ever yet found
poet, novelist, philosopher, divine, who
could exactly, fully, satisfactorily embody
its charms. Who ever beheld his wife and
children in literature? Who ever saw his
own Preside in print2 Who ever met with
his own soul, as that soul throbs and glows
at its hearth and altar, in fine essays and
brilliant romances Men Of cold tempera-
ment, men of social misfortunes may per-
chance accept these pictures OF the imagina
ton, and rest contented as the elysium OF
life But not so TO those whom Heaven has
opened the mystery of love. The great
heart of home is always their own private
heart, above and beyond uttterance, await
ing no reveaer, no seer, no bard. Thanks
for this gracious prerogative! The intel
lect retains its royal dignity here, and the
soul is entitled to enjoy this jubilee. We
are proud of nothing on this earth except
this one thing-viz: language can not take
all our thoughts and make them yer by
Quick deeds to this avaricious world. The
whole race of poets stand outside of US in
this untouched and unapproached heritage
oil personal glory. Home, wife, children,
are ours--in sentiment, in perfected con
sciousness, in rapture, in exclusive and Sc
elusive meaning ours, such as no genius
may hope to speak in words.
But how shall we realize this domestic
idealily? The relations of husband and
wife, parents aud children, brothers and sis
tiers, were certainly not meant 10 be free
from the intrusion of disturbing causes.
They are human relations, and as such, sub.
ject to the laws and circumstances of hui
man lie. But the truth of ideality still holds
good. There is room enough in them, with
all their earthly liabilities and intirmities
for the inspiration of noble and beautiful
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES cuDuRh ioi q biCot opu
TO animate them. If man or woman
has no other ideas Of these ties and theil
offices than Just such as are suggested by
observing their outward action, iftAey SCI
nothing beyond the machinery Of house
hold duty and toll, then all ideality is ban
shed from their conceptions. But lool
deeper, see what heart throbs in those bus.
hands and active feet, see what a joy beam
around the Preside, see what charm Their
is 10 homely SERVICE see how mind ant
manner are continually working upward
toward something above the mere form
and usages of conventional propriety, anc
replenishing their freshness and vigor out o
the deep resources that imagination hold
for affection, see this life of love never con
tented with words or deeds, but still seek
ing stronger and more perfect expression
and you have the silent, mighty influence
OF this domestic ideality.
1t is idle to suppose that many person
enjoy the serene presence of this ideality il
their daily being. Great love is almost a
rare as great genius. But 1t is possible in {
far higher degree than we generally believe
Sentiment is not designed to dwell by it
self, to commune with flowers and rain
bows, to waste away in poetic raptures, Il
float in the clouds as on bed of sloth. II
is the twin sister of all strong, earnest pro
found feeling, and 1t is Gods purpose, b,
means of elevated sentiment and impas
stoned feeling, to lift up our earthly rea
tons above the dust and drudgery of dull
existence, and qualify them in this way L
prepare US for still higher companionshir
in the world above.
Then comes the ministry of sorrow tc
our homes and hearts, and then the anguish
beyond tears. and then the solitary Patio,