Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1905-01-26
hidden goodness.
CHAPTER X.
THE WORLD AND THE LIFE OF THE HoME.

CHAPTER X.
THE WORLD AND THE LIFE OF THE HOME.
TN the time OF the second empire, in
one Of our pleasantest subprefec-
lures OF the provinces, little way
4 from some baths frequented by
the emperor, there was a mayor, a very
worthy man and intelligent, too, whose
head was suddenly turned by the
thought that his sovereign might one
day descend upon his home. Up to this
time he had lived in the house OF his
fathers, a son respectful OF tue 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-
flcient for his needs, even enjoyable,
all this simplicity that his ancestors
had loved. appeared poor, ugly, ridicu-
lous. Out Of the question to ask an en-
peror to climb this wooden staircase,
sit in these old armchairs, walk over
such superannmted carpets. So the
mayor called architect and masons;
pickaxes attacked walls and demolish-
ed partitions, and a drawing room was
made out Of all proportion to the rest
Of the house In size and splendor He
and his family retired into close quar-
ters. where people and furniture in
commoded 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 Of the empire arrive, but
the emperor never.
rare. As mad as he are all those who
slcriilce their home life to the de-
mands Of the world. And the danger
In such sacrifice is most menacing In
times Of unrest. Our contemporaries
are constantly exposed to it and con-
stantly succumbing. How many fami-
" treasures have they literally thrown
away to satisfy worldly ambitions and
conventions, but the happiness upon
which they thought to come through
these impious immolations always
eludes them.
To give up the ancestral hearth, to
let the family traditions fall into des-
uetude, to abandon the simple domes-
tic customs, for whatever return Is to
make fools bargain, and such Is the
place In society of family life that if
this be impoverished the trouble Is felt
throughout the whole social organism.
To enjoy a normal development this
organism has need of well tried indi-
viduals, each having his own value his
own hall mark. Otherwise society be-
comes flock, and sometimes a flock
without shepherd. But whence does
the individual draw bis originality,
this unique something which, Joined to
the distinctive qualities Of others, con-
stitutes the wealth and strength Of a
communityf He can draw 1t only
from his own family. Destroy the as
semblage 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.
II concerns the country that each
home be world, profound, respected,
communicating to Its members an in
efaceable moral imprint. But before
pursuing the subject further let us rid
ourselves OF Misunderstanding. Fam
lily feeling. like all beautiful things, has
Its caricature, which Is family egoism.
Some families are like barred and bolt
ed citadels, their members organized
for the exploitation of the whole world.
Everything that does not directly con-
Germ them Is Indifferent to them. They
live like colonists-I had almost said
intruders-fn the society around them.
Their particularism is pushed to 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 and for which
no one outside their own community
counts. This is the spirit that has
sometimes made the family seem a re-
treat of egolsm which 1t was neces-
sary to destroy fer the public safety.
But as patriotisA and jlngoism are as
far apart as the east from the west, so
are family feeling and clannishness.
Here we are talking Of right family
feeling. and nothing else In the world
can take its place, for In 1t lie In germ
all those fine and simple virtues which
assure the strength and duration of
social institutions. And the very base
Of family feeling is respect for the
past. for the best possessions Of a
family are its common memories. An
indivisible and fnalienable
capital, these souvenirs constitute 4
sacred fund that each member Of a
family ought to consider more pre-
cious than anything else he possesses.
They exist in dual form, in idea and
In fact. They show themselves In Ian
guaga habits Of thought, sentiments,
even instincts, and one sees them ma
in portraits, furniture, build
ings, dress, songs. To profane eyes
they are nothing; to the eyes of those
who know how to appreciate the things
Of the family they are relics with
which one should not part at any price.
But what generally happens in our
day! Worldliness wars upon the SEN
timent Of family, and know of no
strife more impassioned. By great
means and small, by all sorts Of new
customs, requirements and preten-
sions, the spirit Of the world breaks
into the domestic sanctuary. What are
this strangers rights, its titles? Upon
what does 1t rest Its peremptory
claims? This is what people too often
neglect to inquire. They make a mis-
take We treat the invader as very
poor and simple people do pompous
visitor. For this incommoding guest
of a day they pillage their garden.
bully their children and servants and
neglect their work. Such conduct Is
not only wrong; 1t is impolitic. One
should have the courage to remain
what he is In the face of all comers.
The worldly spirit is full Of imperti-
nences. Here Is q home which has
formed characters Of mark and is form
ing them yet. The people, the furnish
ings, the customs are all in harmony.
BY marriage or through relations of
business or pleasure the worldly spirit
enters. 1t finds everything out of
date. awkward, too simple lacking the