The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1910-03-25
Home
Circle
Depart
nlent
WHY Is 1T?

WHY is IT?
AS we passed along the street on a re-
cent Sunday we counted twenty-seven
young men, most Of them in their teens,
Just budding into manhood, lettering their
time away. As we looked into their
faces, many of them lighted up the bea-
con rays OF poor cigar or the pernicious
cigarette, we recognize them as young
men blessed with comfortable homes, in
dulgent parents and loving sisters. We
ask ourselves, why is it? Why do these
young men prefer the unclean resorts,
comfortless streets and mixed society, to
the upholstered chair, the pleasant and
comfortable surroundings of the family
circle at home? Who can answer? Dare
we charge the parents in degree respon-
slble for this state of affairs? Are these
things as they would have them? Do you
shut up your homes lest the sun should
fade your carpets, and your heart lest
laugh should shake down a few of the
musty old cobwebs that are hanging
there? If you want to ruin your sons let
them think that all social enjoyment must
be left at the threshold when they come
home. When once home is regarded
as only suitable place to eat. drink and
sleep IN, the work is begun that ends in
gambling houses and reckless degreda-
ton. Better let the fire burn brightly in
the winter and the doors be thrown open
in summer and make the homestead de-
lightful with all those little arts that
parents SO well understand. Half an hour
of merrlment within doors, and merri-
ment of a home blotS out the remem-
brance of many a care and annoyance
during the day, and the best safe guard
that can be taken with them into the
world is the unseen influence of bright
little home sanctum. Let parents ponder
over these few suggestions.
A boy goes along the street at night
and sees fine house beautifully lighted
up and hears music, and says, II wish
was in there, but have not been invited"
and SO he passes on. Here is the church
of God, lighted up with festivty and holy
mirth, and the world passes along out
side, hears the music and sometimes
wishes it was inside, but says that it is
not invited. Oh, invite the world to come
in! Go out into the highways and hedges.
Send ticket of invitation printed in
these words, Come, for all things are
ready"
There is vast difference between a
house and home The house is but the
building and furniture, the outward shell
ter and gathering place of the household.
The home includes the kindly family
affection, the thoughtful care and ready
sympathy. and mutual confidence and
trust OF the members: A true home
breathes the atmosphere oflove. A child
should be made to feel that his home is
indeed a home, the happieSt place i'll the
world to him, not merely an outward
shelter and resting place, but a center OF
enjoyment by love, the thought and re-
membrance of which shall be the safe
guard of his life as he goes forth to the
world, giving strength and proportion 10
his character, and turning his thought to
all that may prepare for the heavenly
home when the scenes of earth shall have
passed away.
We often think, when sorrows heavy
mantle is thrown over us, that life is all
shadows Do we ever find it SO! All no!
AS the golden rays of heavens own light
shine from behind the clouds after storm,
SO does the light of Gods countenance
shine back of the clouds of sorrow and
gives peaceful soothing, calm to the
tired heart. However deep the wound
and fierce the conflict, sooner or later we
realize that HE knoweth best, and doeth
all things well. "
Mothers, how do you rule? By love or
the much and often unjustly used rod? Is
it love to rule so that the child is obedient
through fear of your Be more patient
Give a word of commendation, kindly
little smile when your boy does the best
he can. He will remember it in after
years and, sitting by his own tireside, with
his little ones around him, will tell them
o. his mother who was ever ready to
smile away the clouds and make his little
heart swell with gladness.
If there is a mother who reads this
column that ever expects to whip her
child again, let us ask you something.
Have your photograph taken at the time,
and let it show your face red with vulgar
anger and the face OF the little ones with
eyes swimming in tears and the little chin
dimpled with fear, looking like piece of
water struck by sudden cold wind. If
that little child should die, we cannot
think of a sweeter way to spend an
autumn afternoon than to take that pho
tograph and go to the cemetery, where
the naples are clad in tender gold, and
when little scarlet runners are coming
like poems Of regret, from the sad heart
of the earth; and sit down on that mound
and look at that photograph, and think OF
the flesh, now dust, that you beat. lust
think of it. We could not bear to die in
the arms of a child that we had whipped.
We could not bear to feel upon our lips
when they were withered beneath the
touch of death, the kiss of one that we
had struck.
The term ''old maid is fast dying out
of use. Instead we hear the more elabor-
ate title Bachelor Grip used in speaking
of girls who have lett the luxuriant bowers
of pirlhood and are just emerging into
womanhood. We do not hear of the
sour old maids, but instead the dear
bachelor girls" The young men are GER
tain that she is Just the one to go to when
they are in trouble. The girls claim her
as their "big sister" Her life is one of
beauty. one of devoted consecration to
the right Hope links her to the future
and memory to the past.
\
Saws father of small family to us,
"My boys and girls do not leave the door
yard after seven O'Clock unless especially
detained" We know OF others that