St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-12-24
FORSAKEN HOMES.

When a well-knOwn citizen moved
from the house in lower town where his
children were born, he had it demol-
ished to the foundation, because he saw
to what degeneracy it might survive in
the vicissitudes of time. To be sure
his action was the subject of much adj
verse critlcism-fOr the insenSate utili-
tartan could not justify the demolition
from his point of view. Any opposition
to his statement merely sWerved him
into talking vaguely and largely about
giving the house to somebody or some
thing.
Now, it was the unique and fortunate
privilege of the we'll known citizen to
afford such unusual license to his senti-
ment-to count as nothing the sacrifice
of his old home rather than risk the
proclamation of its precious memories in
the transit of years.
President Charles Eliot Norton in an
admirable little essay called The Lack
| of Old Homes in America" writes:
Never has there been seen on the face
of the earth such a multitude of new
muses. SOlllIOl conveniently CACCl-
lent for the passing day; but in no civil
| lied country are there so few old
| homes.''
In this changing Western life there is
little if any regard for a homestead of
| even middle age, and an old one is held
! in contempt. (This statement excerpts
certain stone and brick houses through
| out the state, and there is scarcely q
! town without some substantial home
built i'll the early pioneer time.) The
law of social evolution at present clam
ors for the newest residence. any we all
know that the ever-increasing family of
Veneerings are, beyond cavil, in the
| formidable majority.
When the FRESHNESS" of some of
| them becomes fatal" to the extent of
compulsory departure from the brand
new house, there are numbers of the
same species whose opportunity is the
| difficulty of the outgoers.
Rotation in many of these new houses
is the rule. Nor is it surprising, if only
| for the reason that they are usually in
| snowy and fashionable neighborhoods,
where emulation is half the Joy of liv-
luR lOr IHG 6ne6rlnPS.
But the old homestead, or which
must pass for such in the rather limited
| reckoning of st. Paul, is too often for
Saken, like the last rose of summer, to
go from bad to worse in the sadly
changed surroundings, and generally in
vandaliZing hands.
Is there any inanimate object that
shows decentralization like some former
old home in ruthless occupancy? 1t is
almost human in its aspect of degrade
ton.
A slightly knoll of ground In lower
town, with few forest trees. became
some years ago the property of pros
porous member of a wealthy firm in
the city. He proceeded to build a
spacious and comfortable home. Every
detail in its construction he watched
with eXacting scrutiny. No least i'm
perfection in wood, stone or brick es-
capped his vigilant eye.
From the cornerstone to the ridge
board it suited every fastidious require
ment, and SO well satisfied was he with
the result of his outlay and trouble, that
he placed an armOrial panel (at least
such the initiated assert it to be- be-
tween two end windows of a square
| projection in the wall toward the street.
| Over the front portal another wooden
panel the house is of WOODY conspicu-
ously set forth the Ammo Domini of its
building.
As if in derision of such a flimsy Of
ferlng to perpetuity of record there is a
melancholy crack in the panel before it
| is weather beaten enough to be impress
sive. A visiting card similarly placed
could scarcely be more inadequate and
| perishable.
Doubtless the owner regarded it COM
placently, and expected to raise his
satisfied eyes to it until they filmed with
age, Yet the while Atropos was close
beside him with her envious shears
eager for the severing clip of his life's
thread.
Notwithstanding this grueSome at
tendant waiting for all, near or affair."
this particular house builder apparently
planned without reckoning his tenure
of stay. 1t could not be said that he
builded better than he knew, but rather
that he knew better what he was
building than any man of his &C
quaintance. Outside and inside of
his house his selection of ev-
erything had been surprisingly
complete. The window glass must be
Without a flaw, the hardwood honest, the
fireplaceS ample, most effective as to
draught, the chimneys absolutely safe.
the walls and floors wind and cold-re-
polling. His observation and vigilance
were not TO be hoodwinked or deceived.
He had, moreover, the leisure for in
spection and conviction, and he did not
flag in his enthusiasm for constructive
thorOughneSs.
Comfort had been his leading requisite
in the project of the house. The
goodly hall, with its inviting fireplace;
the leisurely stairs, with restful landings
for breath and glimpses of the attractive
scenes around and beyond. were guar
antee that the rest of the house was in
keeping with the first pleasant impress
sion.
From his wide verandah, when all
was done, he could look over
liberal enclosure of ground grow
ing noble abundance of lush
grass, seduloQSly clipped and tended,
across which the afternoon sun threw
the shadows of some majestic oak trees.
What views he had of river, bluffs and
sunsets as he went from one side to
another of his house-or stood on a
| coIgn of vantage in the make of
small gallery on the upper story, where
he might see miles down the river-al-
most to the great sumachs bordering
the driveway to the Sage of Ninlnger's
front door.
Butt was well for his peace of mind
that coming events did not cast their
| shadows before, and that while every
prospect pleased from and in his domi-
cile,-f1o misgiving of the ultimate use of
| his home clouded his content.