The daily star-mirror. (Moscow, Idaho) 1911-1939, 1922-07-15
might get pleasure out of their other
wise hard. sOrdid lives

might get pleasure out of their other.
wise hard, sordid lives.
1t was a grim struggle for the mel
and women who blazed the trails in thu
western march Of expansion. In or.
der not to succumb to the dreariness
that generally surrounds them, these
pioneers had to build up an envir-
Onment of jolliyt and mirth and com
fort. Their efforts and successes In
surrounding themselves with the
things that go to make up a cheerful
environment has become a social
heritage of we Americans; who today
no less than yesterday, use all the
available means for making our envi-
ronment a thing Of pleasure and harm
ony.
The things that were used by our
pioneer fOrebears in creating a cheer
full environment are still used with
the addition of modern inventions and
discoveries that accentuate the ease
with which we are able to build this
environment.
One of the universal expressions of
the desire of we Americans in situat-
ing ourselves in an agreeable atmos-
phere is the use we make Of humor.
No other people like jokes and repair
tee better than we. Put an American
in a trying situation and he may make
no visible sign of being cheerful. Give
him a companion and he will make
light of difficulties by telling jokes.
Almost every paper contains a section
devoted to humor, and sometimes,
people find jokes in the other sections
Of the publication. This attitude Of
joking and TESTING to drive away dull
care is an ever present trait of we
Americans in our endeavors to influ-
ence our surrounding for good.
But we are not a nation Of jokes
alone. There are other things of a
more serious but none the less stimu-
lating nature hat we espouse in our
efforts to shape our environments to
a little milder condition.
Music is perhaps the greatest agent
we have for the changing of environ
mental influences. Go into the modern
home and you will be treated to some
kind Of music. The daughter may be
an accomplished pianist, the son may
be a violinist, or the master musicians
of the world may entertain you
through the victrola or Edison.
Music is the mightiest, the subtlest
force in the world making for pleas
ing surroundings. 1t whispers of love.
and ambition and awakens in
the human heart the sublimest OF In
1t is the one medium that
fails to appeal. The American
home and community is frightened
and inspired by music. 1t is the voice
If loving nature, or whatever you wish
10 call it, speaking to every heart,
and it transports us all to the realm
If peace, content and harmony, away
rom the many discords of life.
Then there are the flowers, trees
%shrubbery and other plant life
hat adorns the average American
lome and community that give us the
spirit of rest and che~erfulness. We
ook at flowers and are imbued with
great sense of relief. A feeling OF
oy takes possession of use and we
re lifted out of the rut of humdrum
fairs. Among the trees and flowers
We cannot feel sordid or sad but Just
lad that we are alive.
Thus we might go On with the other
home and in the community to
lake more glad our environment, the
tterature, the social life and many
Their things that We have to beautify
nd smooth our daily paths. All these
hing help nightly to create a
heerfu1 environment and make life
lore blest and more worth living