The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1857-02-05
HOMES I'M THE WEST.

p.rpetrate a sentimental essay upon the lows
and pleasures Of home. We are not so barba-
rcus as to desire, by some burst OF pa,hos, to
excite any bod, to tears, nor indeed are we so
self-compiaisant as to suppose that we conld
succeed il we were to attempt any thing OF the
kind. What we do design, is to make f.w
practical remarks upon the subject OF homes
in the west, and the lack Of attention which is
paid to the subject
We live in s'fast'. age, and emphatically in
fast Country. To say that we are progress
i've, would be tame and haltng tribute. We
are not merely moving, we are driving along
at railroad speed, we are on the lightning ex-
press train. rushing over track newly and in
differently Ibid. and with the crossings and
switches and signals inadequstely systematic
ed. With all these circumstances against us.
il is not to be wondered at, il we get much
jolted and bruised, and sometimes thrown en-
tirely from the track. Whenever the latter
happens we have only to gather ourselves up
as best we may, and then If as sensible men
we Gesire TO avoid a recurrence of the mishap,
set about removing the fatal obstruction.
As to good, comfortable, well arranged
houses. we are plumb off the track, aud in the
midst of mighty pile Of fragments from
which, though we scramble Justify, we shall
find it difficult to extricate ourselves. To be
plain, we of the West are sadly deficient in
homes. Of course no ole expects to find in a
new Country all The convehie,,ces and COM
forts which he had been accustomed to else
where. Nevertheless, it would BE- reasonable
to expect more Of them than are to be found
There is no lack Of men who have been sue
cessful in business. Merchants, farmers, me-
chanics, all thrive and make money, and it is
fact, We think. beyond dispute, that there are
in the West. relatively more who are 'swcll Off
and independent. than in the East. Yet how
few houses do we find which are really com.
Portable and convenient, and such as are cred
liable to men who are swell off and independ-
emit" How few well built and tasteful cot
tages and farm houses adorn our rich pralries
ana pleasant & owes! How few are there, which
piercing winds Of this cold winter. And
now makeway, fcI we speak in behalf of wo-
mankind--how few are there which can boast
of convenient or even !olerable Kitchen
If we are mistaken in regard to these facts we
.hall be glad to hear of it, but we are not
mistaken. They are facts and stubborn ones.
And why does this state Of affairs exi.t2--
Tha. there is no lack of means wherewithal to
make better provision, we have shown, and
there must consequently be some other cause
That cause we believe, and we know not on
how many toes we shall tread, while we say
1t, is in the too eager spirit for speculation,
which is prevalent Throughout, this whole wes-
tern Country. Nobody is contented with
competence or even with independence, and
the facilities for rapidly amassing wealth are
20 abundant, that every body is intent upon
getting rich. The money which i, would re-
qnire to provide good houses, is considered as
so much distracted from speculation. 1t twill
bring great per centum if it is invested in
lands or lots, or loaned out at interest. and
it a man owns good lot, one upon which it
would be desirable to live, it is also one which
in few years will sell WELL To so great an
extent has this mania for Specializing grown,
that the Everlasting fitness Of ,hings'' has
been subverted, and the whole order Of nature
reversed. Instead of making morey to enable
one to live and properly perform the manifold
duties of life, it has become to be generally
considered, that men live TO make money
We are by no means an advocate of that con-
s.ruction of the motto, Give while we DO
live" which makes it the whole Of a mans
duty to eat and drink. and laugh and grow fat
We reprobate eluttony and excess, the inordi-
late desire for luxurious living, ana sensualism
in ANY form. We do not admire but rather
contemn the spirit which can be contented
with idleness, or the mere Qualification of the
lusts Of the flesh, Nor are we of the number
Of those who declaim fuent,y against wealth
On the contrary we think money is a marvel
lous good thing, and by no means to be despis-
ed. Nevertheless, we do think that every man
should postpone the pursuit of wealth and for
tune, until he has provided himself with COM
Portable home. If he is young man and just
launching cut into life, he should bend his en-
ergies at once to the business Of making a
''start," which start shall be, somewhere to
lay his head in peace and comfort. He should
not content himself merely with a place to
''stay" In for awhile. A shelfto lie on, and a
chest to dwell in, is not the desirable thing
And having got himself a home, let him adorn
it and provide it with whatsoever surroundings
his own good tsst and judgment may sug-
gest.
We are not trifing. We regard this subject
as one of prime importance. Whether we de-
sire that the cause Of religion and morality
should be advanced by the building up OF hap
py and prosperous communities, or the we'll
fare of our beloved country, promoted BY the
development Of their patriotism, we should
strive to have the importance which is due to
it, attached to this subject. Religion flourish
es nowhere so vigorously as around the altar OF
happy family. There is no more effectual
armor to ward of the attacks Of sin and vice,
no better defense against temptation than a
disposition to be contented at home, and it is
only comfortable and cheerful home that can
secure this disposition. Finally there il no
soil in which love for ones County will take
SO deep root, as ia the heart Of that man who
has ha,uo ~, s.horssh nj 1.fonA A afso,