The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1941-05-02
The Ideal
Home
BY Carrie Daniel Prunty-

Homes Week, April 81 May 3
AS one enters the serious
study of society in it's larger
aspects, he finds his way into
the home, for, whatever is done
for the upbuilding or destruc-
ton of society must have a very
vital and direct bearing upon
the home. THE strength of a
nation. especially of a republic
an nation" says Mrs. Sigourney,
lis in the intelligent and we'll
ordered homes of the people"
The foundation of the nation,
therefore is the home. Tin
turn - has its own foundation.
1t is well for us to look to this
foundation for if it is weak or
crumbling then sooner or later
the entire structure will fall.
This leads tc' the belief that
the permance of the foundation
Oh the home is dependent upon
THREE major propositions. The
FIRST deals with marriage it
self the attitude toward it. etc.
and insists that modern home
life can not be a strong social
and spiritual force until the in.
stltutlon of marriage is entered
INTO with greater care more
thought loftier motives and
higher ideals. In the ideal
marriage would grow cut of an
acquaintance made binding bv
by wholesome experiences Of
mutual enjoyment by members
OF the two families becoming
acquainted, if possible, by the
acqualntanceship ripening irlto
friendship. then into courtship,
ahh' IN due time, into the full.
ness OF mutual Understanding
ana rlpening love to join two
lives together in the sacred un;on
which the church. made blessed
ana the state made legal but
which neither can create or
annul. "
The second proposition deals
deals with the domestic rela-
'lohs after the home is estabils
ed. vi course it is true that oft
times the obligations and duties
OF home life are burdens which
ara grevious to be borne. In
the first place, it is hard to give
up many of the simple interests
enjoyed before marriage. or the
independence felt by having EN-.
ployment, or the association OF
relatives or friends who must
De left in far-distant city. II
5 hard to bear children and t.
ear them, to discipline then
and chaSter them and agonizt
over them. 1t is hard to have Il
20 without necessary or desired
'ood or clothes. desired books
pictures outings, ETC., in order
% keep up assurances, make pay
mentS on furniture or home t.
educate children or pay fol-
operations.
But the beauty of it is thai
responsibility intelligently anc
'heerfully accepte ed change
heir form. At first they may
appear as weights, as burdens
hat press one down beneath
heir lead, but
If the animating principle of
the home is love. those i'm the
! home must be willing to take
the bitter with the sweet, the
downs with the ups, the outs
with the ms Then the burdens
that press the members of the
family down beneath their
lead begin to grow bouyant and
lift families up, and give them
more ambition and determine
ton. The responsibilities carry
the family on instead of the
family's carrying them and
!what appeared at first to be
! weights afterwards became
wings.
The Jhird-and last-pro-
position deals with the home as
a school in Christian living be-
cause its whole life affords OPP
portunities in which individuals
can grow best and in closest ac-
cord with Christian ideals. It is
my belief that religious living
is far too often Interpreted as