Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-23


1t, as all beautiful things, has its carl
cature, which Is called domestic sell
fishness. Some families are like clos
ed citadels, where they are all or
ganized to exploit all outsiders. All
that which does not concern them
selves directly is Indifferent to them.
They are in the position of colonists,
l might say intruders, In the society
where they live Their exclusiveness
is carried to such an extent that they
consider the whole human race as
enemies. They resemble those power
full societies, formed from time to
time in history, who quietly take pos
session of the empire of the world,
and for whom nothing counts but
themselves. 1t is that spirit that has
made us consider the family as the
lair Of egotism, which should be de-
stroyed for the good of society. But
as there is an abyss between the spirit
of a command and the spirit of party,
so there is an abyss between the spir-
1t of family and the spirit of the fam
lily circle.
Now, it is of the spirit of the fami-
world equals 1t in value. For 1t holds
in germ all those grand and simple
virtues which assure the durability
and power of social institutions. At
the very base of family spirit is found
the respect for the past, for that
which a family has best are the SOU
venirs held in common. Intangible.
indivisible, inalienable, capital, these
souvenirs constitute a sacred deposit.
Each member of the family ought to
consider them as the most precious
possession. They exist in a double
form, in idea and in fact. One finds
them in language, the ruts of thought,
the sentiments, instincts even. And
under a material form we see them
represented by portraits, furniture,
constructions, costumes and songs. To
profane eyes this is nothing; to the
eyes of those who know how to APP
preciate these things of the family
life, they are relics which should not
be abandoned at any price.
But what is passing in general in
this world where we live? Worldli-
ness makes war with the family spir-
it. All the struggles are poignant:
| know of none more passionate than
that one. By grand means, as by
small ones, by all sorts of new habits,
eXactions and pretensions, the worldly
spirit makes Eruption into the domes-
tic sanctuary. What are the rights
of that stranger. His titles? On what
can he base his peremptory claims?
That is what we generally neglect
to ask ourselves. We are wrong.
We act with regard to the invader as
the poor simple people do in regard
to a very splendid visitor. For this en-
numbering guest of a day they will
pillage their own gardens, stuff their
guests domestics and their children
and neglect their own work Unjust
and awkward conduct. We must have
courage to remain what we are, before
no matter who.
The worldly spirit has all the i'm
pudences Here is a simple home
which still forms characters of mark.
The men, the furniture all remain as
they were. By marriage, by business
relations or pleasure, the worldly
spirit enters into it. 1t finds all old,
awkward, foolish. 1t lacks moderni-
ty At first 1t confines itself to criti.
cism. witty raillery. But that is the
most dangerous moment. Watch out
for yourself; there is the enemy! II
you allow yourself to be Influenced
the least in the world, tomorrow you
will sacrifice a piece of furniture, the
day after good old tradition and, lit
tie by little, the dear relics of heart
interest the familiar objects, and with
them filial piety, will be sent to the
dealer in bric-a brac.
In these new habits and the changed
surroundings your old parents, your
country. You will take step further
and dress them up in their turn;
worldliness suppresses the old. Thus.
provided with an altogether changed
frame, you will be astonished to sec
yourself in 1t. That will not remind
you of anything, but it will be correct,
and the worldly spirit at least will de-
clare itself satisfied. Alas! that is
what deceives you. After having
thrown away real treasures like old
iron, it will find you borrowed under
your new livery, and will hasten to
make you feel the rldicule of such a
situation 1t would have been better,
from the beginning, to have had the
courage of your opinion and to defend
your home.
Many young persons, when they mar
ry, cede to the inspirations of the
worldly spirit. Their parents had CIV
en- their example Of a modest life.
but the new generation thinks it is
affirming its rights to existence and
liberty in repudiating a style too pa
triarchal in their eyes. They, there
fore, to install themselves in the latest
mode at great expense, sell the use
full objects at ridiculous price. In
stead of filling their home with objects
which say, Remember" they fill It
up with altogether new articles to
which no thought belongs. I am mis-
taken. These objects are often like
symbols of easy and superficial life.
We breathe among them I know not
what pungent worldly vapor. They
| a. I,