Down Tumbles Home Sweet Home

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 916, 8 March 1930, Page 18

Down Tumbles Home Sweet Home

Louis Bromfield, Author, Depl ores Passing of Family Life and Visualises Eventual Disaster Unless Means Evolved of Keeping Home Fires Burning

today which are breakdown the foundations of the home,'’ says Louis Bromfield, riviiisation of Home crumbled when its home life vanished, and there is no reason why we'should expect fate to be any kinder to us. “The home fills a vital, human need, and it was slowly evolved during the early ages in order to take care of that need. When it was completed, man emerged a highly civilised being, with all the finest qualities in his nature developed. “We need not be acute observers to see that our children are being influenced by forces which are alien to the home. As a result, they have little feeling for family spirit and no memory of that home atmosphere which older generations knew and whose lives were moulded by it. “I should hardly say that I am a sentimentalist, but J. do regret the passing of the home life which contributed so much to the colour and richness of existence. Man is indebted to it for many things; and if he Ls selfish enough not to want to sacrifice a little of himself for it, he will not only grope vainly for happiness, but in later years he and his children will pay for it.

“ Don't think,** he hastens to add, “ihat L am advocating a return to the old-fashioned home in its strictest sense. I am the last person to want the type of home in which the mothei slaved without the assistance of any mechanical inventions and in which the family lived almost their entire lives with scarcely any outside contacts. Like the oil lamps, crinoline skirts, powdered wigs, horse-drawn carriages and other accoutrements of the homespun days, they have fortunately gone the way of the dodo. What I mean is that there should be more association in the home, more of life lived within its walls and more ♦>f an effort made to preserve its human values.** It is because Louis Bromfield himself has knowu a home permeated with love and serenity, one filled with the cultural things of life, where wholesome pleasure and companionship were to be found, that he can so graphically discuss what its disappearance will mean to those of the present generation who do not know it and to subsequent generations. His views hold all the more weight because, as a man of only 30, he is young enough to be considered one of flie modern generation. He possesses so bubbling an enthusiasm and zest for life that he appears to be even younger.

Despite his youth. Mr. Bromfield has already won his place among famous contemporary novelists. Five years ago, when his first novel, “The Green Bay Tree,*’ was published, it made an unusual stir in the literary world. People w'ondered whether lie would be able to fulfil the great promise he held forth in this book, and their expectations were more than realised when there followed in quick succession “Possession,” “Early Autumn” and others It fa interesting to note that his stories are laid in the pre-jazz age. He is almost indifferent to the escapades of modern youth. As a matter of fact, he spends the greater part of the year abroad with his wife and children, and is particularly partial to France, in the atmosphere of which land he delights. “Every year when I return to my homeland,” he says, “I am struck by the changes wfyich are taking place and which are subtly and quickly pulling the family out of the home. in Hurope ‘lie radio, movies, telephone, motor-ca.s and a round of parties do not make up Iho sc heme of the aver-

age person's life. The church and the home are stilt the centre of activities, and the parents join in them with their children. It is a rare event when the family goes out or enter tains. “In younger lands, on the other hand, everyone seems to be obsessed with the fever to be on the go. The object itself may be dull, but at least it’s not as dull as staying at home. If, perchance, one is forced to spend the evening at home, then the radio must be on continuously or a crowd must be asked over to help pass the time. This Is why mother is a club and bridge addict, while father is a slave to business and golf. As for the children, they, too, are always out seeking amusement in divers ways. No one in the family seems to have any faith in his own resources. Consequently the average home today is nothing more or less than sleeping quarters where occasional meals are served. It’s a nice place to be In only if one can get some fun anil entertainment out of it. Naturally, the home hasn’t much of a chance 10 exist when the family can’t enjoy its essential elements without becoming terribly bored. “Everyone wants to live his life exactly as he pleases -without any thought of the next person or of his duties and obligations to society. Each one is out for himself, and any thing that interferes with his individtlal pleasure is smashed or discarded. The sacrificial mother and father are fast becoming an extinct species.

“If a European husband and wife are not happy together, they are willing to sacrifice whatever benefits they may derive from a divorce in order to preserve the home. The welfare of the children is put above their personal consideration. The wife will tolerate her husband's having an affair, or the husband will not balk if someone pays attention to his wife. They believe that this is to be preferred to breaking up the home and letting the children suffer the consequences of their action. ' “I personally think that this arrangement is a more satisfactory one than becoming divorced and giving the child several sets of ‘homes’ and several different kinds of parents. Such a child is apt to grow up cynical and disillusioned about marriage, with little affection for his parents. Since he hasn't known a wholesome and satisfactory home environment, he starts life seriously handicapped in many ways. For it is the home that equips him for life, that strengthens liis character and morality, that makes him conscious of his responsibilities and shapes his ideals. “Some parents do not pause • to realise how the character and personality of their children are affected when they break up the home. They do not even think that they owe anything to them. All they know is that they have made a mistake and they want a divorce so that they can marry again. Thus the process continues, with nothing gained in the end. “My parents did everything possible to give me an ideal home life. There was no place in which I was so happy to be as ray own home, and I loved to bring my friends to it. Not even the movies, dance places and clubs were as enjoyable as the evenings spent at home with my family and friends. When I married I naturally determined to try to make home life for my children just as beautiful and as interesting as my parents had made it for me. “If people are always looking for j activities outside of the home, what | sort of future awaits them in later j years, when they have become bored ! and satiated with worldly pleasure? I One can't start then to create a home

life. That must be begun when one ] is young and has much to give. It j is a slow, difficult task and one that j requires self-sacrifice, character and i intelligence. It means that the edges j of individuality and self-expression ! must be trimmed down. Certainly | one cannot get away from the fact j that some of one’s personal desires j must be given up if the welfare of ! the family and State are to he con- j sidered at all. Otherwise, both will I be destroyed and the members them- ■ selves will finally be the victims. “I am sure that a happy medium i can be effected between the strictly i old-fashioned home, which knew none ! of the colour and variety of the out- I side world, and the present one, which | is almost devoid of any human asso- ! ciation. The home should be adapted, of course, to fit the needs of modern life, but it should not be deserted altogether. “The greater part of this task falls on the shoulders of the woman. Unless economic burdens compel her to work in the commercial world, her first responsibility is to the home. Woman is utterly deserving of all the liberties and equalities she has won, and she is as much entitled to privileges as man is. But that does not release her from the part she must play in the home. It does not mean she should undertake a job at the expense of her home. “There are many women who are unfitted for the work of making a home, and such individuals can do better by relegating that task to others, while they pursue a career for which they have more talent and ability. But I am speaking now of the great mass of women who are doing practically nothing of value with their increased leisure. There are a number of important things they can do in the home that will require all their energies and capabilities. “For example, the rearing of the child alone is a highly- specialised task. With the educational background that women now have, they are better able to handle the job than ever before. The directing of the growth of the mind and personality of a child un- j doubtedly belongs to the mother her-! self and not to paid persons, even i£ I they are trained. “Women in former generations had i to perform every task in the home, and yet they found time personally to rear a large family of children. “What it all comes down to is that men and women must use their leisure more constructively-. We all know any number of people who go to places they really don’t care about only because they’re afraid they might be missing something. We all know people who go to inane parties and who pretend, with the aid of liquor, that they’re having a good time, when, as a matter of fact, they are bored to | death. “How much better it would be if they would spend that time at home getting acquainted with the thoughts and ideas of the various members of the family and in doing those things which make for a pleasant home life, stronger family ties and affection! “Certainly the lack of responsibility that is being display-ed toward the home and the individualistic attitude of its members are very similar to what took place in Rome when it was at the height of its power. If we do not wish to follow the same path, we should give some thought to what we can do to rekindle the fires of the hearthplace. We should remember, too, that no matter what changes may occur in the world or what inventions or discoveries may be made which | will change the currents of life, there will always he a need and a place for j the ideals of the old-fashioned home.”