Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1901-02-10

The following very interesting paper
of which Mrs. President Perry is the
author, was read at the last meeting
of the w. G. T. U. by Mrs w. NJ.
Ogle President of that organization
TRUE LIVING IN THE HOME.
The question that was Old ages old.
when Pontius plate asked it on that
most terrible day in all the world 5
history, is still echoing through the
centuries-"What is Trurh ?"-what is
it?
The truth has been revealed to us
through Christ. and it has made us
free, but still the question in one form
or another comes knocking at the in
dividual conscience. How much of the
truth do I apprehend? What is the
truth for me with regard to a particu-
lar course of action? Knowing the
truth, how far and how often do l ap-
ply it? What is my standard OF true
living? No one should Iay more sen
sitive heed to these questions and an,
swer them more honestly. than the
mother. The man may be the head of
the family but the woman is the heart
of it, and most often determines the
character of the 1lcme life.
There is but one ideal for the true
life, whether it be the individual life
or the life of the home, which is only
the individual life multiolied The
one pattern is the Christ life If we re.
call that one perfect life and listen to
its harmony we stlll hear sounding
persistently through it three dominant
notes-simplicity, sincerely, self-sacri-
flee. These same tones must be heard
in every harmonious life. This IS the
chord to which every true home life
must be tuned. We may add sweet
ness and depth TO our harmony by
adding sympathetic interest, beauty,
and ease, comfort and culture, but this
chord must lie at the foundation. Most
clearly from our American homes
should these tones be heard. for in
simplicity, sincerity, and self-sacrifice
was our American home life founded.
Whatever faults our Pilgrim Fathers
may havs had. these were their vir-
tues; rigid they may have been, but
simple they surely were; over jealous
perhaps, but no one has ever ques-
toned their sincerity, "a masterful sin
cerity" Dr. Storrs called it. And their
self-sacrifice was patent to all the
world when they gave UP home and
country, friends and lands, comfort
and wealth for what they believed to
sympathy with Ghem? How far have
we departed from these, their virtues?
1t was said, in substance, in recent
sermon preached in this city: You
may honor your New England ances-
try by your societies of Sons and |
of the Revolution. Colonial |
DANES, and Mayfower Descendants
you may gathe; their colonial furni-
ture and ancient china, but yCu must
also initiate their virtues" From one
of these virtues we are departing, and
at a rapid pace. Every day our mod
ern life grows more CCmD Dlicated, as,
to ? cer.l!n extent it must
We can no mere return to the primi
i've life of two hundred years ago than
We can replace the virgin forests of the
Massachusetts, coast or the Indian
.ribes of Connecticut. But since COM
olexity of life brings with it grea:
angers, what shall we do about it?
lust this: we can make uD our minds
1t once and for all to assume the least
lumber of COMPLEXITIES consistent
With existence and progress.
Mr.. Charles Dudley Warner, in his
,ook of very delightful essays. entitled
The Relation of Literature to Life,
las pertinently defined simplicity as
making the Journey Of this life with
ust baggage enough"
Judged by this definition we Of this
PRESENT IlIlt are any JNluS DuI Simple. |
Ne sing I'm pilgrim and I'm a
stranger; l can tarry, can tarry but a
light" and declare that we nightly
,itch our moving tents a days march
learer home" but while We sing We
the sentiment Of the song by
oading ourselves with increased bur.
lens in the way Ot more elaborate
lress, furniture and decorations. and
,ocial obser".uces. It does not take
/ long memory 70 recall the marvellous
Increase in there things in a quarter
yes. in q decade. Now, we
III have z standard Dt true living, an
deal home life. unto which we have
Tot attained, Ne confess. yet which we
,elieye IN a. true ard beautiful and
wen possible. But it Is impossible for
IS to reach this ideal if we are carry
ng too much unnecessary baggage.
here used to be on our streets an old
olored woman who collected rags and !
'apers. She bad four or five sacks, OF