The Douglas independent. [volume] (Roseburg, Or.) 187?-1885, 1884-01-19
A CITY OF HOMES.
PhiIadeiphIa's Characteristics Com.
trasted With Parlsian Fenfures--.
A Future Fall or Promise.

"A Future Fail oil VfOm1Ses
IPhiladelphia Call.
Philadelphia has the marked pecul
iarity of being city of homes. This
means more than the average reader
viii understand. 1t is not merely a
place of shelter that is home. New
York has largely adopted the French
flat system. These can hardly be
called homes. They are economical
contrivances for passing such time as
cannot be put in elsewhere Food,
sleep, are the necessities, but the broad,
generous idea of home rarely invades
the Ere. ca fiat Tempo rlry shelter is
the leading idea And the Influence of
this, in the unhomelike features it pos
sesses, has molding power over those
who occupy flats. 1t is generally con-
oeded that the lack of home sense in
Paris is the result Of this form of life.
Restaurants take the place of home as
resorts for food. Unsettled and wander
ing, the fiat renter leads largely an out
door life. All this is known, and the
volatile character of the French popu-
lation is largely the outcome. New
York, as a cosmopolitan city, is pos
sessed of many traits similar to Paris.
But Philadelphia has entirely differ
ent characteristics. 1t not only has many
moderate houses from these
through all intermediate grades up to
palatial residences-bu the number of
artistic, comfortable, roomy houses is
increasing. The fact that capitalists
are spending large sums on such prop
critics proves two things: That the
mass of our people are so improving in
circumstances as to be fully able to live
with an approach to luxury; and that
with this all the comfort of real homes
is demanded. Houses with from eight
to ten rooms, finished in natural woods,
with all modern conveniences, adapted
to artistic furnishing, and perfectly
piped and drained, are what a.e in
largest demand. All this has it's evil
dence of the advancing prosperity and
taste OF our people; but it also proves
more than til g. The character of
population is nodded by its homes. If
these are such as to inspire elevo ted
taste, and a sense of mental as we'll as
physical comfort, the population is sure
to advance in all the elements of thrift.
It is from this standpoint that we re-
gard the future of Philadelphia as SO
full of promise. All it gains it keeps.
It is not subject to wide fluctuations.
ALI its growth is solid and permanent.
But when people grow in taste, COM
fort, the sense of refinement, and so of
intellectual power, it is the best of all.
This is the marked feature of Philadel-
phia. It's advance represents rising
intellectual grade. And with rapid
transit, which is coming necessity,
it will show the finest suburbs of any
city in the world. Along its northern
and western borders, these already ex-
ist. But their number must increase
rapidly. Tie soil surrounding this
city is peculiarly adapted to the finest
rural homes. Pasturage, lawns. gar
dens, and all that adds charm or ad-
vantage to rural homes can be had.
And elegant places, complete in ap-
pointments, will soon be a marked
feature in the surroundings of our city.
So with the poor we'll housed. and the
better-to-do with nm approach to ele-
gance, and grand suburban homes,
Philadelphia will be the great home
city.