New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-08
frcassee. then announced that henceforth we must
live the fruits of the loam and that that meant
a thinning out Of the young ROSTERS.
A SUBURBAN NIGHTMARE.
THE UPTOWN FLAT SEEMED STUFFY
WHEN THE SPRING WEATHER CAME

With the approach of spring the thoughts of Mr.
Scribbler turned as naturally to rural life as the
mind Of the young lover does to spring poetry
When the warm sunshine OF May came and he
occasionally got glimpse OF budding trees ana
green grass in Central Park visions came to him or
the brook and the meadow, and memories OF fresh
air and a good appetite made his blood run little
faster than usual He thought OF the times ne went
swimming in the mill dam. caught trout in the
mountain stream and shot pigeons and squirrels
in a neighboring wood. just after daylight, When
the fragrant atmosphere made him feel as happy
as the lark which welcomed the coming day in
nearby clover field. All these things passed across
his mind Ike dream he boarded a crowded.
stuny elevated railroad train, and, turning to his
newspaper observed the advertisement OF some
enterprisng real estate dealer.
suburban homes within the reach or an!
What charm that word suburban" had! He
read further. forgetting all about the murders
grave political questions, stirring sermons and So
ciety scandals with which the news of the paper
was made up. How entcing the advertisement
read!
''Al the comforts of the city combined with the
charms Of country life, Magnificent scenery. Per-
feet drainage. Pure air! Fast express trains each
way daily. Within thrty-Gye minutes of New-iork
city Han! And cheaper than paying rent
As he read he thought of his three children being
brought up in a fiat the third floor.
How nice II would be- he mused IF they
could run out Of doors all day. How healthful for
them 10 go out green lawn. shaded with ma
Piles and play among nower-beds? How charm
Ing to have ones vegetable garden and fruit
trees? Strawberries red. ripe and juicy. with the
morning dew still on them, for breakfast; a bou-
quet Of roses fresh from the bush. under the
parlor window pertaining the dining-room from its
place on the tabe-and cheaper than paying rent
Rector Street," the guard yelled at the door Of
the car
Great scottr' he exclaimed. rive passed my
station"
Then ho walked back to the office and the
thoughts brought up by the advertisement In the
morning paper fingered with him al day, lntrudlnS
themselves on his mind when it should have turned
to matters Of business. on II he could only es-
cape from that hot, dirty place to the bower wncn
he had pictured TO himself In the morning. lie
would be worth living.
"Own your home, Cheaper than paying
remit
The words kept ringing in his head.
"What fool / have been to pay rent so long
he argued 70 himself. why didn't throw the
money in the sewer at once and be done with H.
instead Of paying It to my landlord|
He preserved the paper and read 1t over again on
IN. way uptown. As ne went from the station to
his home he was in brown study. and passed
several Of his friends without recognizing them.
what dngy place this fiat is. to be sure
Caesars ghost, some is cooking onions"
lie kissed his wife and children. How pale they
h. under the conditions which he had pictured ID
himself in the morning. Yes. yes he owes II to his
children He must get ont Of the city. Gradually
he unfolded the plan to his wife She did not go
into rapture4 over It. he thought she ought to.
But then" he said himself ''she was born in
The city and Of course. does not appreciate the
beauties Of a country life 50 much as | do But she
viii see it in time"
She only asked II the town was supplied with gas
and water 50 they might be brought into the house
Il would be- rather unpleasant to be compelled TO
draw water from a well and carry It to the house
and TO 60 back to oil lamps. That was little cloud
on the horizon but it disappeared under the SuaVe
talk Of the agent the next day.
Ah yes" the agent said. beautiful rolling coun-
try Healhfu and delightful generally. Mr. Boomer
went there 10 live and charmed with the
place that out Of pure love for the human race he
decided to lay out Il and give those who llVed
IN fats in the city opportunity OF owning their
own homes and living as people should live. Then
h. grew confidential
NOW there are few choice lots, which nave
been reserved for desirable intelligent people IKE
Yourself You understand, OF course, that while Il
good many nice people are going there they are not
all exactly the ones who make the best society
Mr. Boomer wants 70 get a number OF families the
members OF which will be pleasant company FOR one
another and those. too. whose place In city society
IS established OF course. we try to be fair TO every
body but. you understand. Mr.; Scribber, how we
from the general run OF people who buy lots IN
suburban town. OF course. you get Iot Tor tne
same price that the others pay, but very conn
dentiay) your lot will increase In value mucn
rapidly than theirs will so H. at any te lor
sell out at handsome profit so. unSer any my
bound to make good round sum out Of the invest
ment a., ,.u.,, o.. ,,,, ho,oro
anv one gets in ahead OF him? Lots going fast.
Small sum anyway. Bound 70 make money money Mr. Mr.,
then he thought It only fair that he should con-
suit his wife, as she had to be home great dea i
went away He was elated. however, and thorough,
ly convinced of the rare opportunity which had
The; The day came on which they were to visit the
place The train stopped nna me- arFT than
a good-slzed packing box but It was new and neat:
Mr. and Mrs scribber cordially Mt scrlbber re-
Sa S% s what had
here yesterday Would they like to drive around
The cold northwest winds OF winter have full
"Ah, yes: in the next town they do blow pretty
hard But here Why the lay ars OF the n land Is such
There were hafdozen houses scattered Isid over Vr
forty or f acres OF ana tbat r there were small
signposts where the streets were going to be
yenua The on snad of the growth
OF two or three years. The ground looked poor anu
even the grass seemed to have hard time getting
eromgb Nutrition out OF the earth TO sustain life
MIR Scrlbbler remarked that the ground dla h1t
seem 10 be good for gardening, as 1t was not rich
enough. , ,.A 49,, ,ioc,,, ~
black muck can be brought from the swamp Tor
little nothing
THE swamp - - ,,,
"oh, yes bur it's below the town; SO everything
runs from the place 1t. Not the slightest danger
I'm the world OF the swamp doing any damage 10
the town" ,,, -. Ri, ,,,a and dis
covers her studying his face. lie feels sheepisn 10
think OF how little patience he had WITH her ~hen
che aid not take the enthusiastic interest IN
the place that he did before they had seen IT, Inc
cont is pontng out the choice lots but MI scrip
a,tsr does not see them hear what Is being SAID
lie ony sees the flower garden. those juicy straw.
harries that bouquet OF roses and that pleasant
Dorcb on which he 10 sit and smoke IN the
evening. ali dissoivng IN thin air They nnany ar
s,,a as the station. The beats down and re.
nect. hack again from the barren ground The
agent hopes they like the place ~.x., -...