St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1918-07-19
Open Doors to Happiness

The following interesting
paper was read at a recent meet
ing of the w. c. 7. I. by Mrs.
J. Vinton Scott, and is well
worth perusing:
The home is the most import.
ant institution in the world, be-
cause il has more to do with the
formation Of character than all
other influences. II is the place
where we are trained for life.
Our homes are made up Of
many doors: First, we have an
open door of happiness where
the strong influences for right
eousness that have blessed the
world have come largely from
Christian homes. We know
many a person has been kept
true to principle in the battles of
life by the influences of a godly
home.
The key to a happy Christian
home is Love, which is another
open door to happiness. There
should be unselfish love between
husband and wife, and between
parents and children. In ones
married life difficulties, per-
plexities, and disCouragements
will arise. but an open door to
Happiness is let neither husband
nor wife harbor the thought that
their union is a mistake or a
disappointment. Let US deter.
mine TO be all that il is possible
to be to each other. Also let us
continue the early attentions
and in every way encourage each
other in fighting the battles of
life. | believe "A little time
should be taken to study TO ad-
vance the happiness Of each
other.
Another open door to happiness
is that neither husband nor wife
should attempt to exercise over
the other an arbitrary control.
and not try 10 compel each other
TO yield 20 your wishes. II can.
not be done and each others
love retained. IL takes n great
deal of kindness, patience. for
bearing and courtesy I'm order 10
succeed in making this one door
to happiness.
Here is one of the largest doors
TO happiness: The handling of
money. The happiness of thou.
sands Of homes is marred be-
cause the problem of handling
money IT, not correctly solved.
To ne ntrriagc is a partner
ship 70 which the individuality
of nciti party is lost. Both
give thor bgst for the benefit
and happiness Of the firm. and
both snO, d share in whatever
dividends result from their NUT !
ual toll. whateyerlt be happiness, |
comforts. or money. And yet |
some wives are constantly sub |
jected TO humiliation ia regard |
10 money. There is no reason for
il even from the standpoint of
iusticeand fair play. 10 say moth
ing ofrcligion. This reminds me
OF an illustration of what some
women are compelled 20 endure
and of the niggardlinoss of some
husbands, A story is told of /
"A Southern negro who went To |
his pastor for advice as to how |
he could stop his wife's cxtraya. |
gancc. llc complained that /
every time hc went into the /
house she would poster him for
money; il was a nickel for this, |
a dime for that and a quarter for
something else, and he just F.
could not endure il any longer, !
"Why." said the pastor. what |
does she do with all this money" |
How much have you given her. |
"No. sub, | dunno foh de life of |
me what she gone done wild dat |
money. amt give her none |
yet" "
Whatever may hc the iudiyid. |
ual financial ability of husband .
or wife In any particular case |
there is no justice in taking away /
all a wife's independence, i'm /
money matters. or compelling /
her To act rs a suppliaut and a /
beggar i'm the home where she |
spends longer hours and i'm more /
nerve wearing employment than |
the husband
Now one more great open door /
TO happiness whore angels love /
TO enter through and delight to
manifest their presence is n
home where parents surround /
their children with am atmos.
phere of cheerfulness. courtesy /
and love. A home where lo,eI
dwelIs and where j. is expressed |
in looks, words and i'm acts
This atmosphere will then be 10
the children what air and sun
shine ara 10 the vegetable world. /
promotiug health and yigor of .
MIND Ig5 nldy.
Tho I..tlapl E.rkara a., ]