The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1902-10-24
OUR AMERICAN HOME
BY REV. +. G. Cowgirl

DIR. Cowgirl, at the Centenary M. E.
church last evening, spoke on the
American Home, it's past and present,
its glory and peril. Among sother
things, he said that democratic con-
ditions and ideals had enabled young
people in a merica as almost nowhere
else to found the American shome
upon affection. This was the true
foundation for the domestic establish
ment. 1t meant in the home IAN at
mosphere of self-denisl and patience,
and intelligent and sympathetic CO.
operation in the government of the
family that must produce the lest
tion, the law of heredity has the best
chance to endow the children with the
finest qualities of their parents. 1t
has been to the advantage of American
home, Furthermore, that it has been
midway between want and wealth.
The most of our people have lived I'M
til recently Cd the farms or in vii
lagos. under conditions which made
the whole family little cooperative
establishment in which all contributed
to the family support. Sons worked
with their fathers, and daughters with
their mothers for the general good.
and all practiced selfdenial. This
meant that habits Of thrift and econ
omy were formed by the children, and
they were to a considerable extent
qualified by experience to do for them
selves when the time came for them
to have homes Of their own. 1t result
ed also from the conditions just de-
scribed that parents Were to great
extent the companions of their own
children and had chance to Undue
them thoroughly with their own
spirit. Among my most precious
memories are the memories of CONVEX
sations and fellowship with my father
in the field and about the stable, or
on load of grain going to market, or
returning home from town. 1t must
be remembered, too, that the sanctions
of religion have been realized in the
American home to very considerable
extent throughout all our history. Our
forefathers in New England were very
strict, doubtless too much 80. But
that had vastly better results than the
religious indiffe renee and laxity in
m any modern homes that are supposed
to be religious. Then when the strict
ness of the puritan home in New Eng
land was relaxed, there came on, wave
after wave, the great religious re-
vivals that have swept over the coun-
try and village life in America.
| Some great changes are taking place
in this country which threaten the
safety and purity of the American
home We have been very prosperous,
and while prosperity affords opporrun.
ity to parents to do many things fol
their children, rich parents are liable,
unless very devoted to their children
and intelligent In their devotion, te
leave them without practical training
! for life, and habits of industry, an6
I economy which more moderate cir
cumstances compelled generation o.
two ago. Parental wealth often lead
to idleness and dissipation on the par
of the children. 1t means also that q
the family ceases to be little com
munity working together and practic
ing self-denial for the common good
the parents cease to be the companion
and comrades and confidants of til
: children as they once were, and los
3 power over them. Then, too. wealt
bringc its special interests and man
: avenues of culture and enjoyment, /
the use of which parents are liable I
: neglect their children. In Thousand
: of cases the children are really with
out the oversight and parental prov
g dence they need because the father
at the club and the mother Is bus
. with her art or music studio or socii
= functions. The crowding of Peep
/ ! who are poor into tenements whel
family privacy aud individuality a