English Homes

Abstract

THE objects for which The Sanitary Institute has been established have been so frequently and lucidly set forth in addresses, delivered from time to time at these Coubresses and published in our Transactions, that this aspect of the duties devolving upon the Chairman of Council may be briefly disposed of. The Institute is making rapid strides in its development, and the good work done by it in spreading abroad sound views on the principles, and practical knowledge regarding the details of domestic and personal hygiene, is now generally acknowledged. There is still much to be done, however, before the public at large can be brought to see the enormous waste in money, and the suffering and privation entailed upon the people, and most of all upon the poor, by the prevalence of preventible disease. Why is this so ~ # Why should a people, conspicuous for many of the best qualities which contribute to a nation's success, still fall far short of domestic virtues which were successfully cultivated in the infancy of the human race ? # Canon I~no1-Lit.tle lays stress on the fact that there are certain qualities and endowments which are peculiarly the heritage uf our race, and which were conspicuous in those northern hordes who contributed so largely to overthrow the Roman Empire. Their sources of strength were truthfulness, plainness and simplicity of life, a strong sense of justice, impatience of affectation and pretence, dislil;e of exaggeration, and contempt for all forms of sl~am. ~~ They valued the virtues of purity; the virtues which lead men to respect their own souls and bodies, and therefore the bodies and souls of others; which make friendship noble and enduring, and love ennobling and' strong; which feed the fire of true affection between friend and friend, between lover and lover, between child and parent, and parent and child ; out of which have been created tlose ~ schools of goodness '-English homes.&dquo;