The Florida star. (Titusville, Fla.) 1880-1917, 1908-09-25
BETTER HOME LIFE.
Reform Urged by the President
IN American Families.
PRESENT STATE NOT IDEAL.

President Roosevelt, In khaki attire,
attended the garden party given on the
grounds OF John Weekes, Jr. at Oyster
Bay, N. T., the ether afternoon for the
benefit Of the Nassau hospital and dur.
ing his stay remarked to a number Of
men, women and children who had
copyrighted around him that he de-
plored the conditions existing In Amer
lean family life.
he had visited and enjoyed many
exhibits on the grounds and was then
escorted to q Swedish and Norwegian
weaving booth. decorated with red,
white and blue. He regarded the
Weaved goods displayed there with in.
tent.
'Ts this still done in Swedenr he
asked.
When told 1t was he remarked:
II hope the Swedes who come here
to live will keep their work up. want
TO see all the good customs Of the old
countries transplanted and thriving
here. I want the Germans who come
here to keep up their clubs and soci-
eties, where the fathers, mothers and
children visit together. I have worked
10 bring about a general observance Of
such a system. 1t has been hard work,
however, but ! still have hopes.
Here In America" he went on,
raising his voice so all who had
grouped about the booth could hear,
''our husbands and wives live too far
apart.
eff a man joins a club or organiza-
ton his wife will have nothing to do
with It II a wife belongs to a society
nothing apparently will induce her
husband to have anything to do with
t. We must have q better family life
here In America and learn lessons from
Sweden, Norway and Germany. These
countries give US some Of our best cit
liens.
~Look at prosperous Minnesota,
where men Of Swedish and Norwegian
parentage are rival candidates for gov
ernor. It's good-very good. hope
we have more OF It."
When President Roosevelt was inter
viewed the next day he declined to
state directly what ideal club and
home conditions he Is working for In
America as announced In his informal
talk at Mrs. John Weekes' garden
party.
Late In the evening, however. Secre-
tary Loeb stated that he had become
fully conversant with the presidents
wishes along the social line and be-
lieved that 1t was one Of the most
important pieces OF work undertaken
by Mr.. Roosevelt.
By stating that he had been working
for a social condition In which entire
families would belong to the same
clubs the presideot Is said to have
meant that he had constantly advo-
Gated such a condition and had shown
marked consideration to organizations
made up OF entire families.
The president believes that the grow
ing divorce record and the constantly
increasing extravaganza In America
are due to a growing Indifference tc
home life. He believes that men and
their wives are being educated to have
absolutely diverse lines OF entertain
ment and that the condition can be
remedied by providing a society sys
tenn that will arrange better for theil
mutual interests.
"The splendid social systems I'm Ger
many, for instance. or In Denmark o'
Sweden, or the societies among the
Jewish people," said Mr.. Loeb. care
what the president hopes to see estab
lished here. He wishes to see II made
popular for entire families TO TAKE
their evening entertainment together
to see places provided where they cal
meet other families amid enjoyable
surroundings.
THE president has worked hare
along this line. He never has heSitatet
to 20 out of his way to address socie
ties made up OF men and women boil
and help them plan to extend thei
work. Often he has given such socie
ties preference over much larger organ
izations composed simply of men.
His present plans for farmers
commission has this point chiefly II
view. BY providing agreeable meet
ing places for the families in farming
districts. the president believes. tn
boys aud girls will grow up to low
country life ami not he so CONSTANT.
drawn TO The cities"
The president. II was explained. be
lIeves that the farmers families Of tn
country should combine, much as the.
have combined in Denmark, and pro
vide themselves with many benefits Il