Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1905-04-06

Here we are talking Of right family
feeling. and nothing else i'm the world
can take its place. for In 1t lie in germ
all those fine ana 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
intangible, indiviSihlc and inalicnablc
capital thcS" souvenirs constitute Il
sacred fund that each member Of a
family ought TO consider more pre-
clous than anything else he possesses.
They exist in a dual form. In idea and
in fact. They show themselves in Ian
guage, habits Of thought, sentiments,
oven instincts, and one secs them ma
tcrializcd in portraits, furniture build
ings, dress. songs. To prOfane ewes
they are nothing; 10 the eyes Of those
who know how to appreciate the things
of the family they are relics with
which one sno-ll NOT part nj any price.
But what @"Ucrliiy happens in our
day: WorldircaS wars upon the SEN
tlmcnt Of family. and l know Of no
strife more impassiOncd. by great
means ana small, by all sorts Of new
customs, requirements and protein
siOnS. the spirit Of the world breaks
into IN" domestic sanctuary. What are
this strangers rights, its titlcsG Upon
what does it rest It's pcrcmDtory
claims: This I" what noopic too often
neglect ~ inquire. They make a mis-
take. We treat the invader as very
poor and simple people do a pompous
visitor. For this incommOding guest
Of a day they pillaEc their garden.
bully their children and servants and
neglect their work. Such conduct IS
not only wrong; 1t IS impolitlc. One
should lave the courage to remain
what he is in the face OF all Corners.
The worldly spirit is fun OF impcrtl-
ncDcCS. Here is home which has
formed characters Of mark and is form
ing them yet The people, the furnish
ings, the custUm8 are all i'm harmony.
by marriage or through relations Of
business or pleasure the worldly spirit
enters. II finds everything out of
date, awkward, too simple, lacking the
modern touch. At first it restricts it.
self 10 criticism and light rallery. But
this is the dangerous moment. Look
out for yoWsclf-hCrc is the enemy!
If you so much rs listen to his reason
ings tomorrow you will sacrifice a
piece Of furniture. the next day a good
old tradition. ana so one by one the
family hCirloomS dear to the heart
will 90 II tho hric-a-brac dealer-and
flial plcty with them.
In the miGSt OF Your new habits and
In the changed atmosphere your friends
Of other days. your old relatives, will
Ire CNpatriHtCl. NOur next step will
he to i0y thcm aside in their turn. The
worldly spirit leaves the old out Of
consideration. At last, established in
IN absolutely transformed setting, even
you will view yourself with amaze
ncnt. Nothing will be familiar but
surely IL win he correct at least the
world will he satisfied. All, that is
where YOU are mistaken. After hav-
ing made you cast out pure treasure as
70 much junk 1t will find that your bor-
rowcd livery fits you i'll and will hasten
10 make you sensible of the ridiculous
ness Of the situation Much better
have had from the beginning the cour-
age of your convictions and have de
Tended your home.
Many young people when they marry
listen to this voice Of the world. Their
parents have giycn them the example
of modest life, hut the new genera
ton thinks It aftirms its rights to ex.
/ Istence ard liberty hy repudiating ways
/ in its eyes too patriarchal. So these
/ young folks make efforts TO set them
selves up lavishly in the latest fashion
/ and rid themselves of useless property
/ at dirt cheap prices. Instead of filling
their houses with objects which say,
Remember" they gaInish them with
quite new furnishings TINT Hs yet have
no meaning. Wait, | am wrong; these
things are often symbols, rs II were, OF
a faciie anu superficial existence. IN
their midst one breathes certain
heady yap5r Of mundanity. They re-
call tie life outside, the turmoil, the
rush. And were one sometimes dis
posed TO forget this life they would
call back his wandering thought and
say, "Remcmber" In another sense
do not forget your appointment at tho
club. The play. The races The bong