The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1874-11-12
HOMES FOR a DOLLAR A WEEK.
By THE FAT coNrRrBuroR.

4
joined building association the
other night. l had been told that by
the payment of a dollar week ono
could secure home, and 1 wanted
some of it. One dollar a week il
very reasonable for home. Singular
so many people are without homes
when. they can be secured for so little
money. SOL went to one Of their
meetings, / had just one dollar in
my pocket, and that l planked down
at once before the secretary of the
association. ..-,.s
whats that for p he inquired eye
ing the money. ..+t ..s.5..-s--..f
''That's for home" said l. ssYou
may give me one of the best homes
you have on hand, and Ill try it a
week for dollar. If like it perhaps
III keep it right along, handing in a
dollar each week" fss-e..--; -.
The secretary smiled and said they
hadn't any homes in just then that
would be likelv to suit me, but Ii |
would sit down a little while perhaps
some would be handed in from which
! | could make selection l told him
wasn't as particular as some. Ionly
wanted n home with eight or ten
rOoms, cellar well stocked, gas and
water on every floor. front and back
entrance, and within five minutes
walk of the post office, Would not
mind paying half q dollar or so extra
for the use of a piano, billiard. table,
library, and other little articles to
make home comfortable and happy.
The secretary said that could be
fixed, easily enough. Asked if i would
not like to have a pair of horses and
few servants thrown in.
Then he explained that the associa-
ton dealt in building lots. One dol
lar week for two or three years,
paid for a building lot. That changed
the aspect of things lnaterialIy. |
never could feel entirely at home in a
vacant lot; no matter if it did cost
only dollar a week. To be sure a
man might be able TO get his board as
long as the fence lasted, but his lodg-
ings would not be entirely agreeable
during inclement weather. Suppose
| secured the lot, no knowing when l
would be able to build on it. [ could
not build much on half-dozen lots
obtained in this way. Imagine a col
ony of Us all settled out here on lots
we couldn't build on, and every man
complaining of his lot. What lots of
complaining would be going on
Leave the gate open at night and all
your childrsn woufd be down with a
cold next morning, No trouble abont
catching rain water. though. When
eyer it rained hard wouldn't we catch
It'll!
l sat down 10 observe the proceed
fO,. Nm hila nno OF tho
of the association suspended a hand
some map of the property on the wall.
1t was laid out beautifully in streets
running at right angles, and every To-
numbered. You never saw anything
SO level as that property was, unless
it was the SPECTATORS head who had
it in the market. There was a wide
avenue running along one side of it,
with street car and horses on a full
gallop. was panied TO see those
horses on a gallop, and thought of call
ing Pye's attention to it, until learn
ed that the street railroad isn't built
yet-only projected. L shan't buy a
package of tickets Immediately. The
President eXpati8ted OH the adVan-
tages of the location. Showed how
it was to some toIl-gate,
and made neat allusion 10 a grave
yard in the vicinity. l suppose man
can swap his lot for lot in the grave
yard If he is likely to die.
l inquired of the president who
paid for grading the streets. He said
that was charged to the lots. [ asked
him if Lots wife would have to pay
for it in case of death, and he asked
me if | wasn't ashamed of myself,
turning into a pillar of salt in that
manner.
A melancholy man came aud sat by
me. He had evidently dropped in
casually, not knowing what was go
ing on. Said he, "What is the occa-
sion of this meeting 2" handed him
a circular. He took out a sorrowful
pair of spectacles, and adjusting them
to his griel stricken nose, read. "a
pleasant home for one dollar week."
Then he cFampled the paper in his
fingers, and whispered boarsely in my
ear; Costs me a hundred dollars
week to live, and yet haven't
pleasant home,'
"Why not?" queried.
My DaOtber-in-tdD liUes a0ith me p
he cried, ], in anguish, ,zsnd buried his
emotions in the advertisement.
suggested that he could buy lot
and send his mother-in-law out there
to improve il, and this seemed to set
him thinking. But, good heavens
suppose other men should follow his
example, and should find my lot
among whole lot of mothers-inslawI
When | pay a dollar a week for
home don't want TO snrronrd my.
self with a menagerie.
The meeting was entirely harmon
ious. l paid my dollar and intend
ed to go up in a day or two and stake
off the fraction of a lot already paid
for. l like to feel that possess real
estate, and l want to sec it grow
week by week. When l get enough
staked off to get foothold shall be-
gin to build.-Cin, Sat, Night,