Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-09-28
The Fathers Part of The Home
T~oTurun

II6lI4uS
We hear so much about the hand that
rocks the cradle rules the worid. ina
Il Is high time 10 ask a little more aoOu'
the fathers influence on the. home
everybody seems TO know all ABOUT the
duties Of mothers Writers and speakers
are very fluent on mothers responsible
fty. but what about the MANI
I have frequently heard Il said that
very busy men in the marts OF uane
and commerce do not see their yonhs
children very often. unless 1t be on sun
day
They start early and stay late. so that
the young ones must get acquainted on
sunday or holiday 10 know much OF thel'
own father.
He has his particular duties unques-
,fonahlv as we'll as the mother. When
the Lord called Abraham on tne plains
OF Mamre, he told him a good deal anon.
parental responsibility he was pleased
With Abrahaui. when He said: Il know
nv servant. Abraham. that he will COM
nand MS household after him.. To do
whstg
mat they may be trained in Justice
and judgment" The moral and CIVIC
training OF his children was laid on Aora-
ham. unGuestionahly-
when Elrs sons brought contempt ant
shame on l<A dEls VIA AA1 NAA~ --~-~ -
70 Elf Your sons have made them
selves vile and you restrained them not
F1Ys wife was not mentioned Poor wo-
nam she had 10 bear her burden OF sor-
row. no doubt. but Eli was the man, the
'ather who was reproached and on wnon
blame rested.
When we know. as we do, that the fail
are in home raising is laid TO the lack OF
mothers good influence. We certainly
info he HmFw of fathers
hat the poor woman should not be blam
"A for what she ought not TO bear. and
.speciailv when she Is helpless 10 make
a change In such disastrous home innu-
snce.
This nation is a great collection Of
aomes-good and bad. Out OF these homes
10 the children to make or mar their
swn fortunes. but equally TO make OF mar
he destiny OF the world Where bad men
rIle the people mourn. Where good peo-
lie are in the ascendency. there is peace
md good government I contend that a
mia should be instructed TO be gooo
.itfzens as well as to be a good doctor.
axver, merchant or farmer.
That part OF the business certainly falls
n the fathers sphere What the boy
sees his father do. he viii. nine times out
VI ten. try 70 do.
n he hears his father speak i'll OF peo-
he. sees him smoke drink or gamble
lrou may set Il down that smoking, drink
M and gambling are not as bad as the
sunday school teacher tells him they arc
chfId's habits in the home are the
result OF the parents example IheS
an be as much Ike their parents as they
an be. until they grow large enough o.
bid enough to compare their parents Wit
he parents OF other peoples children
When girl becomes ashamed OF her
unother or a boy Is convinced that his
father Is a bad man. socially. morally snc
religiousiy. that home is wrecked all but
n name. perhaps. 4 sad sight before
aigh heaven
The greatest business IN this world Is
he making Of true and good homes. and
he father has as much 10 do with II
perhaps mOrel as the mother
No mother can command obedience
,mouR her children with an Indifferent
~ ueglectful husband. He can pull
sczn faster than she can build up by
Ter counsel and entreaty.
Il is q fun job for both of them II
seeds their united care and perfect har-
alony Of purpose. In these days Of dis
anion. discord and divorce. with pub
sshed accounts Of disagreement, etc. u
shows exactly how the trouble began IT
"a selfish desire to pull things their
way. each pulling against the other. that
makes the trouble generally.
Did you ever see two big old oxen cross
nx a bridge where they didn't want to
rog They pull back. they push sideways.
hey struggle under the yoke, they kick
n each other.
All that was necessary was to go along
quietly. but that wouldn't do.
have seen them wriggle. push, pull
AGAINST and kick al each other until the
stronger one pushed the other one off
INTO the water, and then he went over
BOARD in the crash That represents do
nestle trouble nine cases out of ten We
80 not properly appreciate the fact that
father owes equally much to his
offspring as the mother. He cannot shirk
l. He cannot delegate IT TO another.
II Is his part Of the contract and he
must perform II or shirk Il with all that
sinking and neglect stands for in family
government.
II Is the indifference and apathy OF the
parental instinct that induces a father
% do things and say things before
children that will work TO their final de-
,sy In mind and morals. II they copy his
habits OF example. that has flooded the
world with sorry people. that has given
he courts all they can do and filled fails
md convict camps with the degenerate
md the evil minded II has been tt
Ak ideas OF justice and morality, inner
ted from their forbears, which has made
70 many exiles from justice OF incsrce-
'ated 50 many young and old men behind
prison walls.
II has been indifference 10 civic virtue
which has filled the land with political
corruption and ballot box suffers. and
SUP young voters have reached a place
where they expect to succeed only by
saking advantage of the other fellow.
We need a revival Of public honesty I'm
elections and purer methods in politics.
and Il must come from the precept and
Example Of the fathers OF young men
They must show their IOve for better
shings. or the country will go from bad
% worse.