Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1905-01-21
CHAPTER v.

rHE WORLD AND THE LIFE OF THE HOME.
the time OF the second empire. In
one OF our pleasantest subprefec-
lures Of the provinces. a little way
- from some baths frequented by
the emperor. there was n mayor a very
worthy man and intelligent. too. whose
head was suddenly turned by the
thought that hts sovereign might one
day descend upon his home. Up to this
time he had lived I'm the house OF his
fathers. a son respectful OF the slight
est family traditions But when once
the all absorbing idea OF receiving the
emperor had taken possession OF his
brain he became another man. In this
new light what had before seemed suf
hcient for his needs. even enjoyable.
all this simplicity that his ancestors
had Lowell. appeared poor. ugly. rijicu-
lous- Out OF the question 20 nsk an en-
peror 20 climb this wooden staircase.
sit I'm these old armcltairs. wall. over
such superannuafe,l carpets. So tie
mayor called architect and Nelson's:
pickaxes attacked walls and deinolish-
Ell partitions. and a drawing room was
made out OF aIi proportion To the rest
OF the house I'm size AMI spl.nior. lie
and his family retired into close quar-
tiers. where peDpl. AMI furniture In
commo,led each other generally. Then.
having emptied his purse and upset his
household by this stroke Of genius. he
awaited the royal guest. Alas. he soon
saw the end 81 the empire arrive. but
the emperor never.
The folly OF this poor man T. not 50
rare ~ mad ~ he are all those who
sacrifice their home life TO the ce-
mands OF the world. And the DANCE
In such n sacrifice IL most mrnacing In
times Of unrest. our contemporaries
are constantly exposed TO IL and con-
ttantly succumbing. How many FAINT
~ treasures have they literally thrown
AWAY TO satisfy worldly ambitions and
conventions. but the happiness upon
which they thought To- come through
these impious immoIations always
rludcS them.
To give up the ancestral hearth. TO
let the family traditions fall into Cies-
uctude. To- abandon the simple domes-
.ic customs. for whatever return Is to
make fools bargain. and such IL the
place Ia society Of family life that II
this be impoverished the trouble u felt
tA4IDuE4lbGN lDt N4lDAt SDflIl /
To enjoy 4 normal development this
organism has need Of well tried indl-
viduals. each having his own value. his
own hail mark. Otherwise society he
comes a flock. and sometimes a flock
without n shepherd. But whence does
the Individual draw his originality.
this unique something which. Joined To
the distinctive qualities Of others. con-
stltutes the wealth and strength Of n
community? lie can draw IL only
from his own family. Destroy the as
semblagc OF memories and practices
whence emanates for each home an
atmosphere in miniature. and you dry
up the sources OF character. sap the
strength OF public spirit.
IL concerns the country that each
home lie world. profound. respected.
communicating to Its members an in
eraceable moral imprint. But before
pursuing the subject further let US rid
ourselves OF n misunderstanding Fam
lily feeling. Ike all beautiful things has
Its caricaturp. which il family egoism. !
Some families are like barred and bolt !
ell citadels. their members organized
FOR the exploitation Of the whole world. |
Everything that does not directly con |
Germ them T. indifferent to them. They |
live like coionists-I had almost said
intrudcrs-In the society around them. |
Their particularism Is pushed 90 such |
an excess that they make enemies OF
the whole human race In their small
way they resemble those powerful So
cieties formed from time TO time
through the ages which possess them |
selves OF universal rule AMI for which !