, 1922-10-06
The Old American Home

IT'S THIS WAY, we have travelled too far and
l. too fast Of late. We have gotten too far away
from simple and wholesome things and too much
entangled with Jazz. And what has it all done to
us. Simply filled us with unrest and dissatisfac-
ton with everything that does not have a bass
drum and saxophone = syncopation, with bright
lights glowing all around.
After q hectic summer of wildness and speed,
bored, jaded, surfeited, with little left untried why
not journey back with us to the time and place of
real things-the old American home-as it existed,
before speed was put into everything and before
the American dollar was set up on the affairs as an
object for worship in place of the things that had
been exalted by father and son for previous gener-
atoms.
The picture may be a honely one, yet out of sim
liar ones the real men of America have stepped, to
command armies and nayies, govern states and ma
tions, ~electrify the world with eloquence, portray
character and hold audiences spellbound, arouse
the world and turn it from sin and inquiry and
do all the great things demanding character and
leadership.
1t is a chilly fall evening, like now. A bright
fire is blazing in the large open fireplace. The
father and mother and the children, and there are
plenty Of them, are gathered about. On the large
center table a lamp rests. There is a milk pan fill
ed with russell apples, and another with popped
corn. Later the mother will fetch from the pantry
still another milk pan filled with doughnuts, and
the father with all proper dignity as the head of
the family will fetch a pitcher of sweet cider from
the cellar. The scene now being properly set. n
book or magazine is brought forth and some mem
Der of the family, whose turn it happens TO be, be.
gins TO read aloud. If it be a younger member crit
lc1sm is offered by the elder ones, on matters of
pronunciation. defamation and other points
which constitute correct reading. No one is i'm
mune and no one is offended. Authorities or rules
are produced from the book shelves and the point
settled and accepted.
At the conclusion of the story if it be a story,
it is thoroughly discussed and a synopsis fixed in
the mind of each hearer. oftentimes relatives,
friends, and %neighbors drop in. The evening pro-
gram is not changed on this account. but proceeds
without reference to the addition to the circle.
The program is not always the same. 1t may be
an PNoniOp of school lessons Soponano NOV ,,oaJ
more light on fractions" Another may have to he
perfected in a piece that is to be spoken at Fri
day afternoons literary exercises. Perchance a
stubborn history lesson brings out a wonderful col
lection of knowledge the family did not know was
possessed by its members.
Again the evening may be given over to work,
pealing and corning apples for apple butter, of
which wholesome spreading a considerable guam
tity was required in a family of growing children
against the arrival of the ensuing spring. This
work was made as pleasant and attractive as any
Dther family evening affair. And besides there was
the next evening to look forward to, when the
apples would be cooked down with cloves and Gin
namon and other spices and cider. in a big copper
Kettle with a roaring fire under it. The ~neighbor
children would be there and everybody get a turn
at the long handled stirring paddle.
Maybe on some particular fall evening, it hav.
ing been announced from the pulpit of the Metho.
dist Episcopal church the previous sebbatb morn.
ing, 1t would be mothers turn to entertain the mite
society" and that would be an event. Mother would
wear her "black silk, and father would be brave
and handsome in his prince Albert that he wore
only on Sundays and at funerals. On this occasion
the children could "stay up" until the late hour of
10 o'clock, which hour marked the departure of the
guests.
Another occasion of some moment was when the
Ladies Sewing Circle met in the afternoon with
mother aud put over a lot of clothes making for
the poor and needy, and in the eTenings the hus-
bands OF the members came for tea. 1t was quite
a time but lacked the thrill of the mite society"
Oftentimes there was an evening of music. Girls
and Boys in such homes were mighty keen to learn
TO play musical Instruments and to sing. And it
mn No InCOn1Tnnn him % L. 1t
fairly good church choir in many of the neighbor.