New-York tribune., 1902-01-28

DECADENCE OF THE HOME.
WOMEN ASKED TO HELP STEM THE
TIDE OF SHAM AND UGLINESS
IN MODERN LIFE.
IN MODERN LIFE.

There are few homes in New-York to-day
Future historians will speak of the fiat
dweers' as We refer to the cliff dwellers' 1t re-
oures viyidness of imagination amounting almost
10 mental alteration think Of fiat a home '
said Douglas Vok yesterday IN his talk on
'Cienuineness in Arts and Handicrafts" before the
women's conference of the Society for Ethical
Culture.
The idea of permanence is at the very foundation
Of home" Mr.. Volk continued. 1T must have an
atmosphere Of memories and associations. 1t must
he a place in which Joys and griefs have been
lived. The fat has none of these. The home feel
ing has been killed by modern machinery. and the
word to-day means only place for sleeping and
eating Healthy home occupations extinct and
young people know how to do nothing. because the
machine enters into everything. Even healthy
physical exercise is prevented by labor saving ap-
plances' in many instances while In others the
time saved by the appliances is used up in mad
struggle TO get more"
Mr. Volk called on his auditors to try by their
own example and efforts to stem the tide of sham
and ugliness that is sweeping over modern life
Sincerity and individuality in adornment have been
banished from the home,'' he said. by cheap
chine made limitations of things that
appropriate. A Parthenon frieze is stamped
cooking stove and the design that once adorned
the robe Of a Greek maiden is applied to the
border Of q dustpan. There can be no beauty that
does not possess the four elements-intention.
fenuneness. order and variety-and the
depend on mechanical means the less beauty We
shall have. The olden handicrafts possessed those
qualities because the human individual expressed
himself in them. and to-day our museums treasure
them because Of their beauty.
Contrast the work done by the Navajoes fifty
years ago, when they raised their sheep and
spun and dyed the wool with vegetable dyes, with
what their descendants doing since traders
began TO supply them with hideous, garish yarns
and demand up TO date designs. The charm of the
old work is absent, as beauty decreases in proper
ton mechanical means are used. Uglness be
comes inevitable the moment that the commercial
begins rank the chief motive.
I do enter into the question Of abolishng
machinery. That would be foolish and idle. But
wish consider its relation to the beauty Of life
Articles that the product of machinery
smooth regular and cold. They are wearisome in
their want Of variety, in their endless repetition
Work that has the human quality grows more
beautiful as it grows old. Machine work is ugly as
soon as il to be new
Mr. Nolk said further that the recent reaction In
favor Of arts and crafts was most hopeful sign.
but the new interest must not be allowed to de-
generate into artistic fad Properly de-
veloped, Il may be a powerful factor in opposing
The greed for gain that characterizes mercantile
life. But IL must be honest. A little handwork on
e machine made article IS the worst OF shams'
After the lecture the members and guests were
regaleo with what they were assured were hand
made" sandwiches, dainty and delicious. and cakes
ana tea