Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-04-09


In the city streets the long procession
of heavily laden moving vans proclaims
the fact that spring has come. the spirit
of unrest is once more dominant, and the
housewife tired of enduring the evils she
knows about, is once more aiield, prefer
ring to stake her domestic happiness on
those she knows not Of. The old days,
when one lived year in and year out in
the same house-that their ancestors had
occupied for generations before them sat
sfying the spring demand for change by
reversing the relative positions OF bed
and bureau, rolling the piano to another
side of the room, turning the carpet, ban
shlng the stoves to the attic and dragging
out the iron vase for the lawn and the
rustic chairs for the porch, are over for
most of US. In the new regime an entire
change of scene is demanded. Before de-
Gliding upon new change of base there
are certain vital things that should tie
looked after-things far more important
than the fashionablenes ~ a neighbor-
hood-thc decorations of the parlor, the
amount of grill work displayed, or the
style of the gas fixtures.
Take, for instance, the way the house
faces. While it is manifestly Impossible
for every one to live on the south side
of a street or to have the living rooms
facing south or east, that IL the ideal
situation This especially when there are
aenemic children, old p-,pie, or any one
inclined to tubercular troubles. The in
fluence fair and sunlight on human be-
ings as we'll as planets, can not he over
estimated. Facts and figures have re
Gently been employed by scientists to
show that taking "a certain number or
streets running east and west in New
York City the mortality ON tne north sid"
of any street will be found to be higher
NO gi nf
street. Pneumonia, phthiss and nephr-
ties are cited as the chief contributing
causes to this mortality AS an oifses To
this tendency people are urged to Keep
their windows open and shades up as
much as possible, especially during the
colder months of the year, when Ventlla-
ton is most neglected.
Still another important item to be taken
into account in selecting a new home Is
the foundation upon which the house IS
built. High ground is preferable to low,
and sand or gravel far better than rock
in the estimation of modern sanitary eX-
pcrts. Rocks often have pockets. says
Prof Wineate, land there water collects
and stays"
Examine the collar before YOU look at
the rest of the house. If there is the least
sign Of mold on the walls, If the cellar
bottom shows signs of dampness, or the
wood work falls apart like cheese if you
take the point of "A pen-knife to IT. don't
take the time to look any further in that
housc--nec, before those bogie men
rheumatism or pneumonia, have chance
to get you
If the cellar seems all right, look at
the plumbing. Note whether tho pipes
are all properly exposed, whether there
is the slightest odor of sewer gas or
soggy, decaying wood. Nothing that is
old or worn out will do in plumbing. II
one liz not well up in sanitation, call In
some dislnterested plumber and let him
examine the drains and pipes. small
sum of money spent in this way may
save II much larger expenditure later on.
Choose Il bathroom with an outside win
dow. If possible,
Then the neighborhood. If the family
are all adults the matter of approach
and surrounding does not make so great
n difference. If there are children who
would run the risk of contamination by
association In school or play with an I'M
desirable element it is far better to pay
more rent il need be and economic in
other directions.
In this matter of rent, What proper
ton it should bear to the income Is q
question that should be carefully con-
sidered. Under normal conditions the
general rule Is that 20 per cent. of any
income between $500 and 5000 a year
should provide the housing whether 1t go
as a rent or as taxes, insurance. repairs
and improvements. In the latter case II
ought to suffice to keep the grounds and
garden as well.
II in preparing for the cleaning and