The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1906-04-27
Is the Home Passing Away 2

man once POLITICALLY said of a woman, in
relation to her home, that the soul of the
house vanished when she was absent from it.
If we are to believe severe critics, that is what
is the matter with a considerable percentage
Of homes of the present day-they lack the
presence and guiding hand of a woman, and
the spirit of hospitality and comfort appears
to have departed from within their gates.
According to this view, houses are now too
often simply shelters where the families sleep,
have a scanty, very scanty, breakfast. q
more or less comfortable late dinner, and
where letters and laundry are delivered. Be-
yond these trivial uses, say critics, the idea OF
everybody, including the servants, is to get
out of them-get away from the household
center. Almost any other place is a welcome
substitute, and If there are friends to whom
hospitality should be extended, about the last
thought is. to entertain them in the home.
Invite them to a bridge party given at hotel,
stop and have a meal at q cafe, make an en-
gsgement to meet at a country clubs but keep
away from the home, where the advent Of a
guest would too often disclose lack OF comfort
aud administration in housekeeping arrange
meRts.
Knocking as they are at legislative doors
for the privilege of the ballot and for oppor-
tunity to extend their sphere of influence and
usefulness, women just now. 1t is eontended
by old fashioned members of the sex, do not
appear conscious that they are running weakly
away from the one problem that really con-
fronts them-the preservation of home ideals
and happiness under changed conditions of
domestic service. From having bad many
servants some women have now few or transl
| tory and unsatisfactory ones, and Instead OF
setting themselves 10 the task of overcoming
the evil by increasing, through intelligent ad-
ministratiou. the attractions of the home 10
| family and servantS-since the latter, like any
other class of employees, take no interest IN
badly administered organzaton--too many
women, it is asserted, have abandoned their
posts of duty and striven to substitute outside
attractions for those of home.
In short, many women, it is maintained,
/ have lost interest in their dwellings as places
| iu which to entertain their friends. The home
| is a deserted nest-someumes disordered
| one, where callers, from ceasing to be ex-
| peeted, have ceased to be desired owinn TO
! lack Of readiness 10 receive them. II anyone
| does call the ladies of the house ara out, or
! it they are in, the drawing room fire is out,
which is just the same, aud the guest seeking
| admitiauce receives in lieu of q welcome the
| chilling mot at home or the even more
| freezing "begs to be excused. Calling be-
| tween women at present, It Is alleged, is a
| submerged art and will continue to be until
| the "any-place but home" fad dies out and
the presence aud soul of woman as N vivity
and beau,fy neglected domeiles.
| How far is this view of the old fashioned
woman correct? Is Home, Sweet Home, ="
| becoming poetic tradition, aud should temi-
nine reform, like charity begin at the hearth
/ sioup2