Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-27
Home Cultivation.
CThe Observations Of a Philos'
L-riaod ~ OiirS1

(The Observations or RnhosoPhiSai
Friend OF Ours)
Somehow or other, man and woman
kind seem to hive a great deal too much
of eyes and ears, as we'll as tongue. They
not only see and hear and say great
many things that they ought not, active
": but, passjvely, they make a great
deal too much Of being seen and heard
and talked about. They live too much on
the STAGE poor players, strutting ana
frettlng their hour; more or less beheld,
| approved applauded, and then-exeunt
omnes. And their real life is what they
can buy with the poor pay they get for
playing kings and queens and heroes
uncomfortable rooms, hard fare, and
mean company, and Indifferent refiec-
lions. Still, far the greater par OF US
know nothing of life, but as we live and
move and have our being In the pubic
eye and ear, and count all the rest OF
the thing nothing. The consequence OF
this fact OF human nature is that the de-
velopment and growth Of the general
human being Is as one Of a crowd, out
side, adapted altogether TO its environ
ments; and the inside individual Is lost;
his life is divided up, scattered; nothing
but leaves; no heart, no fruit, nothing
particular.
The little fellow says TO his teacher:
Mister, If once nothing is nothing, twice
nothing ought to be somethin'! still,
tisn't so; numbers don't help; only make
nothingness more conspicuous, and whole
companies are still nothing and vanity. If
the Individual is uncultivated, there is lit
tie hope Of the family or the society. In
itrI ID hat al
tie, MAKO a family and society that is
all the same; that has no life Of its own
but is only an imoge and exposition OF
the idle, superficial, heartiess world. And
its elements scatter like chaff blown
away over the face Of the earth, when
the so.caled family and society goes to
pieces-in or out Of the course Of nature.
Man is very regarious-mlserably gre
garoug-and he throws away ms exist
cnce in his love of crowds. ana the Irsl
effort ne makes towards MS own lree-
dom, and to vindicate his MANHOOD, is 10
get out Of the crowd and realize himself
as thing worthy OF respect wnetneF a
TOOL or a genius. Our mutual dependence
on and slavery to one another IS pltIul'
because it comes OF conscious helpless
ness and dement,. We hide ourselves m
C;owds disguise ourselves in conyen-
tonal livery, and count it a triumph
more to be desired than the grace or
| Heaven to please the general world. IL
| is no little matter 20 steal out or the
| crowd, go by ourselves and feel our in
dividuality and native dignity-and,
/ along with that, our responsibility. II Is
| often the very best thing that can nap
| men 10 US to be- TIL own absolutely by our
| selves: so that we can't have any COM
pany. Then we are apt TO make an ac-
| auaintance worth having; and make
| beginning CT character, profound self-re-
| spcct.
| general world. is very powerful 1t is
| most perVasive, penetrating, and exact
| ing As lcrg as we own ii. Ii reaches our
| our Utmost being, and least ana greatest
effort and leaves US no place or home
| nothing that we may call our own.
! Solomon says: A man OF understanding
| separateth himself, and seeketh and In
| termeddeth with all wisdom. The mper-
| sonation OF divine manhood commends
| the closet for the gathering up the loins
| II the mind, and raising the soul to It's
| highest privileges; and warns against
| the throng making for perdition. so he
was much alone; seeking the very foun-
| tain of life.
And yet man is positively social; and
| we are wisely. as well as naturally, MEM
| bers one Of another. We live on congenial
company; and we dry and die all alone,
| or in uncongenial company The Guilt
| waited, pious, and well-cared-for homo is
| the necessary nursery Of the individual
| IL the home is all open 10 the common
| thoughts ana influences, the malaria OF
the commonplace world, what can the
child be but n-place-commOn In
its Utmost soul, and coarse grained, as
scalawag cattle? If the home is a sacred
close, guarded against the Vulgarisms
and vileness Of the general world and
shielded against its Influences, cherished
with gentle graces and pure affections,
and fed with high and honorable
thoughts, It's household words, decent
manliness and womanliness, the fear of
God it's controlling power, and the hope
OF Heaven its inspiration what may IL
not expect for its inmates? Are they not
likely to be recognized as gentlemen,
faithful people, princes in all lands?
The home idea, as hen gathering her
brood under wings the father plying his
children, the shepherd caring for his
sheep, the loving, sympathizing friend,
laying down his life for those he loves
the gentle and considerate father and
son--all the dearest graces of home-are
the charms OF the Christian faith and
philosophy. THE sparrow hath found he-
home and the swallow a nest, where
she may lay her young; even thine affairs
y, Lord OF hosts, my King, and my God"
Articles of virtu, bric-a-brac, curios
all the entertainments that art and lit
erature can supply and money can COM
mand, and snowy attentions, are poor
and lame substitutes for the natural
graces and warm affections and Joys and
high delights that flourish and are found
only in the home where love and piety
rule The soul may starve in the midst
of splendor; in the fulness Of its suffi-
cheney be In straits.