Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1884-10-24
Free Homes.

hcubl IL Cuo UyIdub VI our COWu dQu
city homes. 1t is a continual cloud
over the contentment of many a fam
lily. We are all the while hearing
what a curse the rent system is to Ire
land. Yet in the United States there
IRE thousands upon thousands of ex-
cellent citizens who really have no
more independence than the average
Irish peasant. They are able to pay
rent, but after it is paid they have
nothing left.
A banefuf catch-phrase is abroad,
viz: 1t is cheaper to rent than to own.
Sometimes it is, and more often it is
not. The question of economics which
that saying involves can not be gener-
allied. 1t depends upon the circum-
stances of the individual case and it's
affirmative is very unsafe because very
uncertain. In many single cases it
may be true one year and false the
next. But it is always safe for q man
to own his house and be free from the
slavery Of rent.
The best liberty possible to the
American citizen can seldom be had
except in a home that is free from rent.
The fullest responsibility of citizenship
a scarcely be felt by the man who
does not own the root that shelters
him. The reason Of this is to be found
in that almost indefnable lack of indie
pendence which every rent-payer feels,
and which he sometimes feels with a
keenness that is severely humiliating.
On the other hand, there is not a
sufficient reason why such a large pro-
portion of our town and city people
Should be rent-payers. AT least eighty
per cent. OF u industrious, middle
aged men could have already been
owners of their homes if they had
chosen to be reasonably saving for that
purpose. This is easily possible with
out any loss of responsibility. 1t IS a
false and harmful idea that respecta-
bility necessarily involves expensive
living. But even were it so. all the
possible loss OF social standing occ
! stoned by decent economy is recon-
| penscd when the home is actually
| gained and the man has shaken off the
| shackles OF rent. Other things being
equal, the home-owner will be more re-
spected than the renter. especially if he
has acquired his home by his OWE i'll
dustry and economy.
The saving of rent will pay for a
home in a remarkably short time. For
a man OF mali income there is no way
to 81 free home except through carefal
economy. and Il good point 10 begin at
is in the saving OF rent. Let him move
into a cheaper house, put up with dis
advantages 1or a while, save the differ
ence in rent and add to this saving by
economy IN some other direction. In a
very short time he can make q first
PAYMENT on 81 home that will suffice
him. After that the same rent money
,, he was paying before he moved into tho
cheap house will meet the interest and
paw some of the principal upon his
purchase. Then the work Of home
getting grows easier at a rapid ratio,
for both the principal and interest ac'
counts are reduced with each pay
ment. The ending is easy and u free
home is the result. Henceforth, rent
money is not the weekly D. monthly
anxiety at the house. The cloud has
been fitted and the comforts and Gle.
gancies do not have to be dispensed
With in order to eyeryfew days appcase
the demand for rent.
In this country u Tree home is pos
sibIe to almost every healthy man.
! axAool and Home.