The Washington bee., 1901-08-24


rather than in the city, but in either
case, We should not rest satisfied until
we have secured a home, either in the
country or in the city. No man has the
right to marry and run the risk of leAv-
ing his wife at his death without =
home - sssE
| notice with regret that there are
many of our people who have already
bought homes; but after they secure
land, pay for it and build a cabin con-
tanning two or three rooms, they do
Eots 10 go further in the improve
ment OF the property. In the first place
in many cases the premises, especially
the yards, are not kept clean. The
fences are not kept in repair. White
wash and paint are moi used as they
should be. After the house is paid for
the gTea test care should be exercised
to see that it is kept IN first class re-
pair; that the house and fences are
kept neatly painted or WhitewaShed; /;
that no "pailings" are permitted 10
fall off the fence and remain off. If
there is a barn or hen house, these
should be kept IN repair and should be
made TO look neat and attractive sby
paint and whiteWash. Paint and white
wash add a great deal TO the value OF
a house. If persons would learn to use
even a part Of the time they spend in
idle gossip or in standing about the
streets, in WhitswashIng or painting
their houses, il would make great
difference in the appearance Of the
house, as well as add 10 its value.
Only a short time ago near certain
town, visited the house, cOulG moi
call it a home-of presiding elder, a
man who had received considerable
education and who spent his time geiug
about over his district preaching 10
hundreds and thousands Of Colored
people, yet the home Of this Presiding
Elder was almost a disgrace 10 him
and TO his race. The house was not
painted or whlteWsshed, the fence was
in the same condition, the yard was
full of weeds, there were no walks laid
out in the yard, there were no flowers
in it; in fact everything on the outside
of the house and IN the yard presented
the most dismal and disappointing ap-
peaTanCe. There was around this house
not a single vegetable so far as | could
see, neither did see any chickens OF
fowls Of any kind. ] his IS not the way
tc live, and especially IS this true OF q
minister or teacher, who is supposed
10 lead the people, not only by @ord
/ but by example. Every minister and
| teacher should make his house, his
| yard and his garden a model for the
people whom he attempts TO teach anC
! lead. | confess that | have no TespeCt
or confidence in the preaching OF .
minister whose home is in the Condi
ton of the one | have described
| There is no need why. as a race, VT
| should get into the miserable and un
| fortunets habit of living in houses tha
are out OF repair, that are not white
| washed, that are not painted, that ar'
not comfortable, and houses that We
! do not own. There is no reason why VIZ
should not only make cur houses com
Portable but attractive, SO that no one
can tell from the outside appearance
at least whether il is occupied by g
white family or a black family.
After a house has been paid for, i
should not only be improved from
year to ear and kept IN flrstClass re
pair, but as the family grows, new
rooms should be added. The hous'
should not only be made comfortable
but convenient. There should be q!
soon as possible, a sitting room, where
books and papers can be found, I
room in which the whole family car
read and study during the winte
nights. | do not believe any house /:
complete without bath room. A.
soon as possible, every one OF on
homes should be provided with a batf
room, so that the body OF every mem
Der can be baptized every morning II
clean invigoIating fresh water; such
bath puts one in proper condition 10
thswork of the day, and not only keep
him we'll physically, but strong moral
ly and religiously.
Another important part OF the nom
is the dining room. The dining room
should be the most attractive ana com
Ifortable place in he house 1t shoul
be large and airy, room IN whIcl
plenty Of sunlight can come, ana room
that can be KEEP: comfortable Doth II
winter and summer.
These suggestions are made IN tn
hone that q number Of persons Will Sc
their way to put them into pTactlce.AI
of them are suggestions hat we, as
race, Notwithstanding our poverty
most cases can find a way to put Int
use. ,1 q,
Every suggestion made should b
taken M bv our ministers, teacher
and others in church and school, a
well as in the women's meetings.