I054 The Cornell Reading-Courses 



A POINT OF VIEW 



It is of vital importance that the home shall have personality and in- 

 dividuality. The influence of an indifferent interior is as negative as the 

 influence of an indifferent person. The home should have positive quali- 

 ties of goodness; it should express comfort, orderliness, harmony, cleanli- 

 ness, simplicity, and honesty — surely very human qualities! If we 

 demand these virtues of ourselves, why should we not demand them of 

 our possessions as well? Why not insist that every object within our 

 jurisdiction shall ring true, in purpose, in material, in workmanship? 



" Have nothing in your houses which you do not know to be useful and 

 believe to be beautiful." So said William Morris some forty years ago. 

 So say we to-day, but we do not apply it. Suppose each one of us should 

 go on a tour of inspection throughout the house, challenging every article 

 in every room with such questions as these: 



In what way is this article useful ? 



Does it serve its purpose in a simple and direct manner? 



Is it durable ? 



Is it made of appropriate material? 



Is it pleasing in form and color? 



If it is decorated, does the decoration improve it, or would it look better 

 if left plain? 



If all articles that fail to measure up to this standard were banished 

 from sight, our attics would be fuller but our rooms would be simpler, 

 more genuine, and more spacious. For we have indeed become hardened 

 to the presence of useless objects and have endured about us many things 

 that in no way serve us, either physically or spiritually. So long as 

 picture or vase is giving forth its quota of pleasure or usefulness it may 

 be retained; when it becomes negative in value it would better be passed 

 on or destroyed. It is true that we cling to many objects through senti- 

 ment, a tendency that should not be lightly disregarded. Years of asso- 

 ciation cannot be brushed aside in a moment, and so long as one feels 

 devoted to an object, however unlovely it may be, that object should not 

 be ruthlessly expelled from its accustomed place. Each individual must 

 decide these personal matters for himself. 



The gifts of friends whose tastes differ greatly from our own also create 

 a problem, but if we keep kindness in our hearts and frankness in our 

 friendships the right solution in each instance will be found. Only let 

 us first make sure that the sentiment is fine and sincere. The friend 

 whom we would forget without a visible reminder surely has little hold on 

 our affections. 



Habit is strong with every one. We grow so accustomed to the presence 

 and position of chairs, pictures, and other familiar objects that we no 



