“HOME, SWEET HOME.”

Shannon News, 4 October 1921, Page 3

“HOME, SWEET HOME.”

SOME REFLECTIONS.

(Specially written ior the ’‘News.”) , “You can build a house dut a home must grow.” New homes are springing up every f where in our towns; and all hinds of tastes are being exhibited in both exteriors and interiors. It is said that one must build three houses before one is satisfied, but human nature’s weakness runs to mpre than three attempts, for when are we satisfied? Diogenes wanted his tub only; but then no mention is made of the existence of a Mrs Diogenes or little Dio-geniuses I am afraid that nowadays the first place Diogenes would make for, in his restricted domesticity would be a club when wet weather came and school holidays fell due For in a tub there may be room for plain living, but no high think-ing-nor polite speech, if it be true that, when Alexander the Great, standing in front of the philosopher’s historic tub, asked what boon he could grant Diogenes, the latter merely said “Stand out of my light.” Even a tub for each member of the family could not do much towards improving the congested situation. Imagine Diogenes being called up in the middle of the night by a semidetached little Septimus. “Pater, naughty Octavius had a nightmare and, kicked my tub, and now I‘m lying on the ceiling!” One would need to be a fly in such' circumstances; whereas with an ordinary tent one only needs to provide a fly. But even a tent is not enough nowadays for our Lares and Penates, \ although, after all,-the art of growing the home should concern us rather than the house itself, and fortunately for a good many of us, chipped furniture may hold a position just as much honoured as that held by Chippendale. As for the fireplace*, who minds whether it be surrounded by an Adams! mantelpiece or common brick, when in ; front to welcome you stand Adam and Eve with the little third that forms the human'trinity and sets the seal of home ‘upon the house?

The growing P f the nome rests mainly upon Two circumstances: The nature of the woman at the head, and flie occupancy of children. ' This appears to place the husband in the position of a nonentity, but it is hot sif, for as the homely Irish proverb says, '“lt’s poor washing whejn there isn’t a shirt in the tub.” The man’s highest position, without dojibt, is in' the outer world, and by - the time t.e has leisure to enjoy his castle, he uses it more as a haven o'f rest and recuperation, in order to keep a healthy mind in a healthy body for the next day’s fight with fate; Hispower is the power behind the throne. Sometimes the interior of a bousi sacrificed to form a bold exteri u: but thire is not much joy where there is* toovnuich Queen Anne in the front; and too much Mary Ann at the back. In most cases here, the back is just as picturesque, as the front, with plenty of growing .plants in Ibe Cardens. One home always gives out a feeling of welconie at the door: nothing tangible, but more in the nature of a halo. Anqther house proclaims for visitors.the right, of entrance into only one room—the closed drawing room. Why do peopl e close up their drawing rooms? Fortunately it is a swiftlydeparting fashion., .for which, I believe, we have to thank the Americans. This kind of rooi% is described by a practical man as being one that brings out. all his inherent untidiness and makes him want to throw every cushion out- of place, and disarrange’ all of the mats. , /

One of the happiest homes I havej ever encountered was named by one; of its visitors ‘‘The House of Har-, mony.” Here reigned the mother ol five growing children, a woman oi peace-loving instincts and quaint sense of humour. The children sometimes grew heated in argument when having , evening games ' around the table, but she sat listening until she felt the crucial point had been reached. Then, asserting her generalship, she would calmly stand up and turn out the light. The effect was instantaneous: someone had to laugh, someone had to fumble for a match, and the argument, was completely forgotten. One lonely boy who had the “Open, Sesame,” to that home, said once, “I’ve never seen such a spoony household,” and this- was due). I be-; lieve, to the, mother’s sense of humour and absence of nagging. j

1 One does not need wealth to be a successful entertainer; in fact, that is often a deterrent,. One successful hostess met with, udiose husband held an honourable, though somewhat unlucrative Government, position, told her sons that they could often invite whom they liked to the house, on condition that the visitors -were content with a coffee and bread-and-butter supper and were willing to help with

the washing-up afterwards. That washingrup became a feature of the entertainment, for it did not take long for the girls to .finfl out that their hands looked just as dainty in a wellkept kitchen, handling a niop and cups, as in playing the piano in another room. And did the boys refuse to help? Not theyl They knew that even a tea-towel may hold possibilities. A friend, globe-trotting with' her husband, came one day to see us. She described, amidst other experiences, a luncheon partaken of at Government House. Later, when bejng shown over the home, her housewifely instinct took precedence of all travelling honours, and tears of home-sick-ness were discernible in her voice. And all because the kitchen was filled with the scent ( of warm ironing! A vast amount of good could be worked in this town if more homekeepers opened their doors to those young people who are living here only; temporarily.. One needs to travel a little to find that, however comfortable a lodging place is, it cannot supply the feeling of Home that a private house can give. If strangers coming from- happy homes knew of twelve houses to which they would be welcomed on a stated night each month, how it would revolutionise their evenings! “Let me live in my house by the side ■ of the road, Where the race of men go by— They are good, they are bad, they are weak, they are strong, Wise, foolish—so am I. , Then why should I sit in the scorner’s

seat, , . Or hurl the cynic’s ban?— . Let me live in my house by the side of the road And be a friend of man?”