The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1885-01-02
Free Homes.

Rent is the tyrant of our town and
city homes. 1t is 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
are thousands upon thousands OF ex-
cellent citi ems who really have no
more independence than the average
rent, but after it is paid they have
nothing left.
A baneful 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 its
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 a 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 home that is free from rent
The fullest responsibility of citizenship
can 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 indetinable lack of indie
pendence which every reDt-payer feels,
and which he sometimes feels with q
keenness that is severely humiliating.
On the other hand, there is not q
sufficient reason why such large pro-
portion of our town and city people
should be rent-payers. At least eighty
per cent. of our 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 n
false and harmful idea that respecta-
bility necessarily involves expensive
living. But even were it so. all the
possible loss OF social standing occa-
stoned by decent economy is recon-
pensed 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 own in
dustry and economy.
The saving of rent will pay for a
home in remarkably short time. For
n man OF mali income there is no way
10 free home except through careful
economy. and good point to begin ut
is in the saving o. rent. Let him move
into a cheaper house, put up with dis
advantages Tor while. save the differ
ence in rent and add to this saving by
economy In some other direction. In q
very short time he can make first
payment on 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
pay some of the principal upon his
purchase. Then the work of home
getting grows easier at q rapid ratio,
for both the principal and interest ac-
counts are reduced with each pay
ment. The ending is easy and free
home is the result. Henceforth, rent
money is not the weekly or monthly
anxiety at the house. The cloud has
been lifted and the comforts and ele-
ganc:es do not have to be dispensed
with in order to everyfew days appeasa
the demand for rent.
In this county free homo is poe.
sib!s to almost every healthy man,
ScaQol and Home, -