The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-05
HoME-SEsIkIsk.S,

A stranger wandering -aaong the streets OF
Richmond at this time must think US a migra-
tory people-and in this sselterng heat they
couid hardly be blamed were all, who are able.
to seek some cooler cline Everywhere, in the
sections populated BY the middle classes. the
cards "To Let or For Rent meet the eye
One is APT Ia say This Is the annually recur
ring season of home seeking" and pass indif-
ferently But there is story hidden be
meath the surface that awakens sympathetic
response in the hearts Of all who pause to
search fer the deeper meaning of this move
uaeut
nfse yrUTuTet sIEus MuTefy Speak u the Unit
versal longing of the human heart for a home
they represent the quest for more congenial
locality convenient dwelling; some
place whore the family may abide in the great
est degree Of comfort and the largest measure
Of happiness These men and women are NOV
ing. most of them perhaps. because where they
live there is some inconvenience some dis.
comfort, some disturbing element that causes
the place 10 miss in some degree being home
They are searching fer somewhere else that
win eliminate the thing that mars the COM
plete happiness of the home, or that viii add
some element of comfort and convenience to
The life of the family. These men and women
not restless and dissatisfied by nature-not
professionally perpatetc. thinking of the
health and happiness of little ones or the larger
good and JOY of the family life.
1t is pathetic fact that few who long for
home claim ownership OF the house they
call home. At soue time each heart has held
iha- dream OF a homo all ones e~Hr-If naglaa-
iion has drawn the details OF it's ideal home,
and thought has followed swift in its plans TO
acquire it, Through the passing years the de-
sire has never lanquished. the dream faded
away. But the years have passed, and spite of
economy and scheming, they are still without
rooftree and hearthstone their own they are
still hunting for a house to call home: the
nearest they can to 1t 1t by leasing a real
ization' OF their dreams with the resources OF
the day. Some succeeding, and. with added
ability they are seeking something little bet
ter still Others have failed, and-the pity of
h'--are in quest Of the best the remnants of
failure and loss permit them to acquire,
So moves the procession on, reading the ad-
vertising columns OF the daily press; searching
the bulletins of the real estate office walking
the streets in quest of Il home, where body may
rest in comfort and heart abfde in peace.
There compensations for the homeless
they who rent but do not own--ln the fact that
brick walls and pine floors do not make the
home. II possible to dwell in a palace
whose gruesome skeleton grins always at the
mockery OF domestic happiness. ii were pos
sibe 10 iBhabat hovei where loye<and content
ment create an Eden. despite the absence OF
the material things that make for comfort
Happy he whose domestic relations are so con
genial; whose deep affection. given and return
sd, is so sweet and tender whose heart is so
held by the divine spirit OF contentment that
everywhere. anywhere, the family life is
lived Ia home Many of those who search to-
day for homes will find them, whether they
succeed In finding Just the house they wish or
not, When they move 1t will be TO a new home
away from THE old one. and niay the year be
Drowned with blessings many and a peace di-
vine