The Blackfoot optimist., 1916-11-30
ru 1uxCz1on OF xu rAamY


The whole social fabric 10 based on
the grouping Of human beings in famil-
les, an arrangement which 10 in har.
mony with all the conditions and wants
Of human life, and which tends TO fos-
ter those habits and affections that
are essential to the welfare Of man
kind. A prosperous community must
be an aggregate Of happy families.
There being little true happiness in
the world that is not intimately con-
nected with domestic life. The formal
bond of the family is marriage and an
essential condition Of its right develop
ment is, undoubtedly, distinct abode
which should be, not mere shelter,
but home, where the highest standard
Of ethics should abound.
Jane Adams says: 'In reality the
/ idea of home reaches back so much
further than the four walls, and is so
much more deeply implanted in the
human breast than the ownership of
land, that we do not need to fear any
form of community life will permanent
ly supplant the love Of home.
Elwood says the two most important
institutions Of human society are the
family and property; the third in i'm
portance is the state. The family is
the primary social institution.
The early Greek and Roman families
consisted of the man, his wife and
slaves, and was recognized as the mod
ell Of the monarchy, the earliest as well
as the simplest form Of government.
When, by the birth and growth of
children, and then by the death of
the father, the original family is brok-
en- up into several, the heads of which
stand to each other in coordinate
| rather than subordinate relation.
We have in these, the prototypes of
the more advanced forms Of govern
ment. AS Of old, the tendency of the
| present day is to make the individual
| the unit of society, but, really the
| family is now, as then, the simplest
| social structure In society, and from
it all other social relations are evolved.
| The primary function of the family
is perpetuity Of mankind, in other
words, the birth and rearing of chill
| dren is the essential function of the
family. But not only to increase the
number of the human species, but to
develop through the children the high
est ideals and purposes; to make each
succeeding generation more efficient
than the last; to inculcate in the ris.
ing generations principles of loyalty,
honesty and charity hitherto unknown.
that were task worth while-worthy
the untiring efforts Of kings on their
thrones; men of letters and those in
the humber walks of life. "Discipline
knocks men about with ruthless jocu-
larity."
A man who fails and will not see
his faults can never improve. Hence,
he is not credit to the family and in
a larger sense, failure as citizen,
for in modern civilization as well as
in the olden time the family is the
nucleus from which all social condi-
tions emenate-motley sort. elf the
king will not train himself how shall
he demand obedience of his subjects!'
This is the sort of man of whom
Lord Lytton sang.
"All things are thine estate, yet must
Then first display the little deeds,
And save the world; be strong and
trust
High instincts more than all the
needs.'
Hence the Importance of self dis
covery in life's conduct. 1t is true
that every human being has some su-
preme possibility in his makeup and
in the rearing of the child this fact
should govern the parents attitude
toward the future head of family.
We are told that William Pitt was born
with definite aim in life. From a
child he was made to realize that Il
great career was expected Of him, wor.
thy of his renowned father-that is the
keynote-train the initiative desires
wisely. Imitation may lead to emula.
tion and often does. For instance,
John repeats the language used by his
father as parrot might do; this is
imitation. But John may be taught to
admire his fathers ways, principles,
purpose; to think about them and to
desire that they may appear in him.
SELF his imitation has now become
emulation.
While emulation is one of nature 3
great provisions for the development
of the human race; while one function
Of the family is, assuredly, the conserv-
alton of material possessions, through
the transmission by the family from
parent to child, it's economic equipment
yet of even more Importance, is it's
function of transmitting the spiritual
possessions of the race. What are the
spiritual possessions which we would
instill into the very being of the fam
lily? We are told that each family has
it's own dialect, literature, ideas, be.
iefs on government, law, religion,
moral standards, artistic tastes and ap.
probation. All these are largely trans.
mitted in society from one generation
to another.
The gracious light in semi-sphere,
Created by the living soul,
| Encompasses the visions whole
OF worlds afar and atoms near.
And so the world within the flesh,
The larger gains and grows apace
To truth 8 ideals and beauty's grace
With understanding ever fresh.
Yet must the wider life emerge
| Within the laaaar WILLING nm