The courier., 1901-11-16

tions which are incontrovertible proofs
that somewhere and somehow, some
one has failed in the discharge of re-
sponsibllity or blundered in the per-
fOrmance of duty.
Then there is an intermediate class,
also the direct product of home infiu-
ence-and too large a class it is-Of
those who are a sort of human parasite.
They live on others. They are good,
that is, they are not criminals-they do
the world no special harm, but they do
the world no specific good. Their vir-
tues are negative, and as there is no
thing they can do for themselves or
for others, they are truly good for
nothing
Every rerson enrolled in either of
was once somebody's son, somebody's
daughter.
Accepting the statement that the
home is responsible for social condi-
tions, it follows that the home maker
is responsible for the home and its
output; hence it is impossible to over
estimate, magnify or exaggerate the
Importance and responsibilities of the
home-maker.
We look upon generals of armies and
commanders of fleets as occupying i'm
portant and high positions: but what
Of the individuals who determine the
veal or the woe of the future homes
and society-those who contribute to
the current of the life of a community
the strength and vigor of true man.
hood and womanhood. or who vitiate.
taint and weaken it with corruption
and inefticiency? Verify il is no trifiing
thing to be a home maker. Honors.
titles, wealth, fame are but baubles
compared with such jewels as Cornelia
boasted of, for sons and daughters
with characters shaped and made val
liable by home training make the
world richer, better and brighter. and
are jewels that shall shine on through
their influence long after bits of gold
and gems have flashed in their last
ray of sunlight
In the home there is a division of
labor and duties as immutable and
fixed as the law of sex. The husband
or father builds from without. and the
wife or mother from within. In dis
cussing the ethics and duties of home
ii is necessary in the outset to concede
that upon the one who builds from
within depends the larger share of the
inspiration and responsibility of re-
suits. She it is who ministers to the
body with food and clothing. who
forms and trains character, who makes
the veal or the woe of the inmates.
Hence it is that problems of the home
are distinctively 'woman's problems"
which man cannot settle for her. She
must work them out for herself, not
by shirking duty, not by pointing out
the failures of private or public agen-
cies. as schools and churches. not by
cowardly fleeing responsibility or shift
ing it to hired underlings.
There has been more or less interest
in the Schley investigation to deter
mine what constitutes efficiency or in
efficiency in an officer holding po-
sition of high honor and responsibility
The home maker, whether she will or
no, is sooner or later arraigned before
a tribunal from whose decision there
is no appeal, and compelled to give in
her evidence. She must show to what
extent and in what direction she has
influenced society.
One source of imperfect homes is a
false notion of home and married life.
One who by the marriage VOW assumes
the title of home maker simply to be
supported and taken care of, that is.
accepts a valuable consideration with