The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1915-08-17
GOING HON (.

There Is no picture W1lch tOucnes
the hearts of men more closely or
tenderly than the figure of the tired
man or woman going home at the
end of the day. The fierce heat Of
the sun has passed the intense high
light OF midday has softened into a
restfu glow, the strain OF effort Is
over, and the passion Of work has
given place to the peace o. deserted
fields and streets. 1t was normal
instinct which sent the worker forth,
eager and alert, in the morning; 1t
Is the response to deep craving
which sends him home at nightfall.
The reward of labor is the rest which
it achieves, and the JOY of rest is
the sense that it has been earned.
The alienation of day and night
is a symbol Of the order OF life in
which work and rest succeed one an
other in a beautiful and health-giying
rhythm. The worker goes cut of him
self when he takes up bis tools; he
returns to himself when ne lays them
down at the end of the day. He
pours out his vitality a. the water
pours out of a hidden spring: If he
is real worker and rot a mere
drudge he gives himself in the toll
of his hand and his brain, and when
night falls his WEAKNESS IS not mere
fatigue of body it is a depletion Of
vitality. Before he can give him
self again he must find Himself, and
when one goes home he finds him
self.
To a vast multitude of men the
thought of going to home makes the
heaviest burdens bearabl,, the most
crushing responsibilities a spur to
effort, the most complete surrender
of ease and pleasure, not q sacrifice,
but a price gladly paid fer a happi-
ness which is beyond rrice. The
strain of the day is forgotten at the
door which opens into the peace Of
perfect understanding, the pressure
of hours and tasks is relaxed by the
sound of voice which is musical
with love and faith and reace In
such 4 homecoming the.a is not only
the supreme reward for 'he work of
the day that Is ended; there is also
the renewal of strength end courage
for the day that is to bring new strife
and toll.
The joy of going home is not in
the ease and comfort that are waiting
there: it is in the peace that flows
from love, the stiffness that follows
the tumult of storm, the clear atmos-
phere in which the dust Of the high
way is laid and the worker sees
again the ends for which he is striv-
ing: in the quietness of such a home
the toll of life is not only sweetened,
but its spiritual meaning shines clear
again after the confusion of details
mas NdnlSutu. NuutT lIr neat anu
burden of the day the strongest man
sometimes wonders if life means any
thing but prolonged strair of muscles
and brain; in the stiffness OF home
its blurred ends, its ultimate achieve
ments. shine like stars above the
highway when the dust has been laid.
The home is not primarily place
for work. but for life: work lies be-
low and beyond It, but the companion
ship which transforms Louse into a
home is a sharing of the rewards of
work-freedom. repose, refreshments.
vision. There are houses full of con
venhences and Injuries in which no one
is at home: the men and women who
live in them are homeless To such
men and women, as TO the men and
women to whom marriage is a mere
social contract and the family a mere
social arrangement there :, no going