Year: 1877

A close observer of American life
said to us the other day that great
change had come i'm the last ten years
TO the home life Of the country. And
in answer to our Interrogation he pro-
ceeded to point out the character of
this change.


One point which he made was that
great many games of SIX II and chance
were being played i'm New England
homes to-day which were not known,
or If known, were forbidden by pa
rents ten years ago. Our own Obser-
vatiOn comedies with his on this point.
We know that chess within the last
ten years has captured for itself high
place in popular regard. 1t speaks
well for people when such an intel
lectual game can become popular. For
it takes brains to play chess even mod
erately well, and none but clever and
thoughtful people would like 1t. We
notice also that cards are no longer
abjured as they once were In house
holds. Whist and euchre are domi-
ciled to-day in homes where q decade
ago their names could not have been
spoken safely save in a whisper.
Checkers are not perhaps universal,
but they are more fashionable. They
have fought their way into high life !;
and whereas they once found their
friends in the village tavern and in the
farmers kitchen, they are now admit
ted into the parlors of the wealthy and
refined The games played with his
torical cards are also numerous, and
pleasantly exciting. And you find
them in almost every household.


Now all this Is very pleasant and
hopeful Itreveals to the thinker the
fact that home life Is more vivacious
and happy than 1t used to be; that the
long, dull evenings are being enlivened
with sprightly and stimulating amuse-
ments, and that the home circle Is
charged with attractions which 1t once
sadly lacked. These games are help
ing to make the homes Of the country
happier, helping to make the children
more contented with their holmes, and
i'm doing this they are helping to
make the country more intelligent
and more virtuOus. BY wise parents
these games are looked upon as essen
tiaI. They help solve the problem of
home amusements and recreation
and this, as all parents know, Is
one of the gravest problems they have
to solve.


Parents, make your homes as happy
as you possibly can for your children
and their mates. Fill them with fun
and frolic and the cheerfulness of
spirited social life. Play these games
with your children. yourselves, and
tnus share their joys with them and
feed your happiness on the spectacle
of theirs. "A great many homes are
like the frame of harp that stands
without strings. In form. and outline
they suggest music; but no melody
rises from the empty spaces and thus
1t happens that home Is unattractive,
dreary aud dull. Let US hope that
this introduction of pleasant games
which try both the wit and patience of
the children, and of the older ones too
for that matter-may become the FASH
Ion of the times, until every home In
the land shall be perfectly furnished
with these accessories Of profit and
pleas ure. For the children 's,sake, let
the reformation go on until every
child shall have in his fathers house,
be it humble or costly, such appliances
and helps for his entertainment that
he shall find his JOY under his fathers
roof and in his mothers presence
Golden Rule.