The Wilmington morning star., 1947-04-21
Letter Box
PRESERVING THE AMERICA,
FAMILY IVAN
TO THE EDITOR:

maps more enduring than ~ Per-
and for that reason w. others
vital interest at stake. nave a
lowing observations are Ig 10
ted with the hope that ,, ou'nt>
evoke local discussion and rS Will
structive suggestions. con-
The American family IL
become a national probIern aa
1900. Prior to that time mir Gaal
OF immigrants flocked 10 tbia .'OHS
try, with ancient cus,oros 'oua,
religious rites more bindina Sao
law. Their problem was ec6ro nasa
and in union they found sts a"'nlc
to solve it. Modern mstbods 'is !.
destroying the integrity Of fsnm 1'
had not been invented, And "N IL.
old ones we're still the nrsra -s
tive of the fathers. "
1t was not until after 1qm
women were placed on envo .a'
with men, as respects the wy
vacations and ~avocations. 1 rrs,
then no woman was perni,4.l
to enter a bar room witbn,t
shawl on her head Or a bstob.s
in her hand to retrieve = da~oIY.
Until then no lady was a,lo,.S
at a public banquet table for ts.,
that she would be polluted rsM
the fumes OF tobacco, whiskpv
strong words. At a Lord Mayo-,
banquet in London, Ambassados
Choate arose to speak and IonL'
ing up at the ladies in the "a.
lery said that at last he know
why the Lord created mar a ltIs
lower than he angels.
AS respects children. thev ver,
not placed on equality with tbsn
parents, OF rather they did mi
get a superiority complex urtT
the schools, movies and motor,
began to dominate their lives.
In answer to the question, "How
can we strengthen the American
Family" the following suggestion,
are submitted:
Ancestral Home
The ancestral home, in the hand,
Of the patriarch or parents d
character, for ages has been
powerful magnet for family UNIV
In rural regions the planta.u
or big house set an example for
the little house. and millions Of
Americans got their manners,
morals and a little education there.
The ancestral home. be it ever 30
humble, should be preserved.
City Families
In big cities. the ancestral home
has a short life, but certain racial
and religious groups. hold family
members together from the Bal,
terry to the Bronx. Since the ban
On immigrants, New York has
recharged its battery or drawn
its manpower mainly from The
! South and the West, so that TOW
even Wall street is but an e2
tension Of Main street. Native
Americans who flick from The
country to the city survive best
in the surberbs Or by a tickle.
home.
Small Town Families
Families of young couples in
small towns, as well as city, az.
broken up more frequently by
financial troubles than from Other
cause. They do not keep then
yearnings within their earnings
they have too much or too little
! money; they frequently risk all Oh
a new business, which may have
only a nusciancc value. For thei
own protection a city license
should be required, based on
certificate from a bank or Cham
Der of commerce that there is
need and a reasonable chance o.
success.
Farm Families
Families on farms, or in range
Of other jobs, are the most io'
tunate, and Of most value to ne
nation. To make farm life more
stable and to instill in chlldreN
that they should not lightly oresA
home ties, or burn their bridges
behind them should be the COZ
Germ of parents and teachers
Trust Companies and Bank
Trust companies and banks lay
the economic foundation Tor lam
lies and business. They are ms
logical advisors, and give aoVS'
freely to the little man, II az
will seek it, as do most busIneSs
men. In small towns they see d.
know all, and tell less THAN III
dividual advisors and execu'0is
Since their own existance depenO'
upon the prosperity Of their cur
toners and the community us!
have a strong incentive to sci"
Family Quarrels
Family quarrels, if kept prlya"
and allowed time to filter, uSua!
" clarity and vanish. The o..
family solicitor of Dickens da"
and later in our country, saw
many families by his intlmaa
knowledge of the members as
skill in avoiding publicity. In E4 IL.
land he is supplemented BY %'
Kings Proctor, who repreSs4rr
society as a whole, and qulsr,
investigates martial cases peru
the final decree. We should es'sg
lish or designate a c~onfidenas
legal advisor or mediator Ii eaT
county and in small towns ne
better able to settle disputes ''S'
family relations courts.
Church and State Il
The church and state shou'
use every agency at fhelr IO,D
mand to preserve the AmerI. ~,
family as the foundation Of
nation: 1t is the instrldns g..
through which respect lot ~,
thority is first instilled, the Tisns
of others proclaimed, stanoa.~
of conduct established. hasty Lp