Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1913-12-25
The Home Circle
Thoughts from the Editorial Pen

4 Thoughts from the Editorial Pen 4
One of the high brow magazines
lately had a mastery article on in
tensive living, which cut right down
to the core Of the things that are
wrong in our present economy of life.
1t is not my intention to enter into
discussion of the article, but to
speak few of the thoughts it in
vokes. For we are all prone to turn
the searchlight inward upon our own
personal experiences and observa-
tions when some great, vital thing is
presented to us.
The important point made in the
article referred to was this: that no
one should live in a house too large
for his own personality; that no one
should possess anything he is unable
to humanize-to make his own.
II
1t minded me of two women l had
known, who were sisters. One of
them had wed man who was rich
in gold but impoverished in the
things that really count. The other
had married man who was just the
reverse of her brother-in-law
was in the mansion of the one
for a few days once. 1t was rich,
pretentious, ornate, and it represent
ed the highest achievement of the
decorators art. | was shown over
the entire place, and told the cost of
everything. l sat at meat around
what was probably the most expen-
sve dining table had ever seen, set
with the finest of linen and glass and
gold, for silver was not rich enough
for this wealthy couple, The forks
and knives and spoons were of gold,
the table service was of gold.
The cup from which l had drank
my breakfast coffee had cost $25.
The meals were elaborate and eXpen-
sive, and were served by trained and
liveried servants. Yet the mistress
of all this junk-for such it was
had fine lines of discomfort around
mouth and eyes. And she kept up
an incessant nervous tapping with
her foot, that caused one who was
an apostle of repose in manners feel
an impulse to throw a costly vase at
that tapping foot.
The master of the mansion puffed
out his chest and talked theoretically
of their house and possessions. Yet
in the light of this recent article on
intensive living l can now see that
they really had no possessions of any
sort, poor things!
was not surprised to learn the
next year when / was in their part OF
the country that they had sold the
mansion, lock, stock and parrel, pic
tures-I was about to say books, but
recalled that they had no books
their Oriental rugs, furniture, drap'
cries, napery, gold, china, cut glass
carriages-that was before the da!
Nhi
liveried coachman, or at least the
livery, etc.
They sold for a big, round sum
too. And then they bought another
mansion, of which, in time, they
tired and sold in the same way. Ant
that poor, rich woman had not one
little old rocking chair that was real
ly her own, for she never had any
thing long enough to humanize it
to have it become all her own.
If she had possessed rocking
chair it probably would have squeak
ed, for that was about all her per
sonality ever did. Poor soul, she wal
too wealthy to enjoy any comfort.
| y
But the other woman, her sister
ah, that is a different matter. On'
went into her home, for such it wa'
in deed and in truth, and sat dowI
with a sigh of pure delight. ! dC
not know what her furniture cost
| do know that she had not one rar'
or expensive thing in her house; IL
fact, things may have been somewha
shabby, for l know there was no
much of what the world calls riches
But / know that there was peac
and harmony and plenty in her home
the plenty of content. And there
was not one stick of furniture, pic
ture or a book--for books there wer'
aplenty-that their owner had no
humanized and made her own.
The last time l went into tha
home it was empty-empty of th
best beloved. All around me wer'
mute evidences of the presence o
her who was gone-the little low