Care of the Homeless, the Helpless and the Vicious : Part 3

American Woman's Home
by Catharine Beecher, Harriet Beecher Stowe

(Page 40 of 44)

Of these peculiarities demanded, humility and meekness are conspicuous: "Come and learn of me, for I am meek and lowly and ye should find rest." Now, the grand aim of the rich, worldly and ambitious is to be at least equal, or else to rise higher than others, in wealth, honor and position. This is the great struggle of humanity in all ages, especially in this country and among all classes, to rise higher - to be as rich or richer than others - to be as well dressed - to be more learned, or in more honored positions than others. This was the very thing that made contention among the apostles, even in the company of their Lord, as they walked and "disputed who should be the greatest." "And Jesus sat down and called the twelve and said unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same should be last and servant of all;" and "he that is least among you should be great."

At another time, the ambitious mother of two disciples came and asked that her sons might have the highest place in his kingdom and the other disciples were "moved with indignation." Then the Lord taught them that the honor and glory of his kingdom was to be exactly the reverse of this world; and that whoever would be great must be a minister and who would be chief must be a servant; even as the Son of Man came not to be ministered to, but to minister.

Again, he rebuked the love of high position and the desire of being counted wise as teachers of others: "Be not ye called Rabbi, neither be ye called Master; but he that is greatest among you should be your servant and whoever exalted himself should be abased."

Then, as to the strife after wealth, into which all are now rushing so earnestly, the Lord teaches: "Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth. Whoever of you forsake not all that he have can not be my disciple. Sell that ye have and give alms; provide yourselves with bags that wax not old - a treasure in heaven that failed not." To the rich young man, asking how to gain eternal life, the reply was, "Sell all You hast and give to the poor and come and follow me." When the poor widow cast in all her living she was approved. When the first Christians were "filled with the Holy Ghost," they sold all their possessions, to be distributed to those that had need and were approved.

And nowhere do we find any direction or approval of laying up money for self or for children. A man is admonished to provide sustenance and education for his family, but never to lay up money for them; and the history of the children of the rich is a warning that, even in a temporal view, the chances are all against the results of such use of property. We are to spend all to save the world; For this we are to labor and sacrifice ease and wealth and we are to train children to the same self-sacrificing labors; All that is spent for earthly pleasure ends here. Nothing goes into the future world as a good secured but training our own and other immortal minds. Therefore only can we lay up treasures in heaven.

There is a crisis at hand in the history of individuals, of the church and of our nation, which must inaugurate a new enterprise to save "the whole world." There must be something coming in the Christian churches more consistent, more comprehensive, more in keeping with the command of our ascending Lord - "Go ye (all my followers) into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature; he that believed should be saved and he that believeth not should be damned!"

It is in hope and anticipation of such a "revival" of the true, self-denying spirit of Christ and of his earnest followers, that plans have been drawn for simple modes of living, in which both labor and economy may be practiced for benevolent ends and yet without sacrificing the refinements of high civilization. One method is exhibited in the first chapters, adapted to country residence. In what follows will be presented a plan for a city home, having the same aim.

The chief points are to secure economy of labor and time by the selection and close packing of conveniences and also economy of health by a proper mode of warming and ventilation. In this connection will be indicated opportunities and modes that therefore may be attained for aiding to save the vicious, comfort the suffering and instruct the ignorant. Fig. 71 is the ground plan, of a city tenement occupying two lots of twenty-two feet front, in which there can be no side windows; as is the case with most city houses. There are two front and two back-parlors, each twenty feet square, with a bedroom and kitchen appended to each: making four complete sets of living-rooms. A central hall runs from basement to roof and is lighted by skylights. There is also a ventilating recess running from basement to roof with whitened walls and windows opening into it secure both light and air to the bedrooms. On one end of this recess is a trash-flue closed with a door in the basement and opening into each story, which must be kept closed to prevent an upward draught, causing dust and light articles to rise.

At the other end is a dumb-waiter, running from cellar to roof and opening into the hall of each story. Four chimneys are constructed near the center of the house, one for each suite of rooms, to receive a smoke-pipe of cast-iron or terra cotta, as described previously, with a space around it for warm air; and this serves as the exhausting-shaft to carry off the vitiated air from parlors, kitchens, bedrooms and water-closets. In each kitchen is a stove such as is described in Chapter IV., its pipe connecting with the central cast-iron or terra cotta pipe. The stove can be enclosed by sliding doors shutting off the heat in warm weather. These kitchen stoves and a large stove in the basement to warm the central hall, would suffice for all the rooms, except in the coldest months, when a small terra cotta stove, made for this purpose, or even an ordinary iron stove, placed by one window in each of the parlors, would give the additional heat needed; while fresh air could be admitted from the windows behind the stove and therefore be partially warmed.

This exhibits the essential feature and peculiarity of Mr. Leeds's system of ventilation, before described. Fresh air, admitted at the bottom of a slightly raised window, is to enter below a window-seat which projects over the stove; the air being therefore warmed before entering the room. The flue of the stove is seen (in the finished corner of Fig. 71, which is a model for the four other suites of rooms on each floor) running along the wall to the front chimney, which also receives the corresponding stove-flue from the nearest window in the adjoining parlor: the same arrangement being repeated at the back of the house. This, the two front and back chimneys are for the heating and ventilating parlor stoves; the four central chimneys for cooking, heating and ventilation.

About the Author

Catharine Esther Beecher (1800 - 1878) was a noted educator, renowned for her forthright opinions on women's education as well as her vehement support of the many benefits of the incorporation of a kindergarten into children's education.

Harriet Beecher Stowe (1811 - 1896) was a white American abolitionist and novelist, whose Uncle Tom's Cabin attacked the cruelty of slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential, even in Britain.