362 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Doc. 



Dr. Sheldon emphasizes the value of true home life. He tells of 

 Ills country home where he spent the early part of his life. His 

 parents with a large family had a small house — two rooms — one up- 

 stairs and one down stairs. . The downstairs was divided by imag- 

 inary' lines into three apartments, kitchen in one end, dining room in 

 the center and parlor at the other end. After the day's work was 

 done on the farm the father and mother with all their children would 

 gather in the parlor and' enjoy the evening; the parents reading, 

 telling interesting stories and amusing the children in a proper way. 

 Dr. Sheldon then spoke of his work, saying after his church work 

 ho belonged to his home. Home is where true manhood and true 

 womanhood are needed. 



We know that members of a family have their appointed work and 

 cannot be together at all times, but if there is one time in a day they 

 can be together it is in the evening. We would like to have the 

 attention of every boy and every girl in all country homes and tell 

 them they are supremely blessed because they have these evenings 

 before them, and that they should know how important it is that they 

 spend them profitably. The long winter evenings, when all the tasks 

 of the barn and household are done, give opportunity in the country 

 home to improve and instruct the mind as can be found nowhere 

 else. The larger the family circle, the more profitable and enjoyable 

 can the evening be made. 



Could we but stand on a high tower, and with the aid of a glass 

 look into all the homes' of this State, in one evening we would have a 

 good knowledge of the social family life of each home. What would 

 be said of the city homes compared with the country homes? Would 

 we glance into one city home and find all the members of the family 

 together? Some fathers and mothers would be home, children all 

 scattered, some at the fashionable opera play that just came to the 

 city, some at a show given by a traveling troupe, one boy enjoying a 

 trifling street amusement, perhaps another son has been allured by 

 some low, debasing place, always open to the one easily influenced. 



Another family: Mother is a member of an Order and is out attend- 

 ing a meeting; father is at his place of business, will not be home 

 until late; children are kept b}^ a governess and put to bed. No 

 father and mother to care for them and show the proper parental 

 love. It is true that many fathers go out early in the morning, come 

 home late at night, and do not see their children awake during the 

 week davs. One Sundav morning one of the children said: ''Mamma 

 who is that strange man- that stays here on Sunday?" 



Another home is very gloomy. The father is a great mathema- 

 tician and has no time for home consideration. He never unbends. 

 The mother's rheuniatiism hurts so she does not see how little Maggie 



