New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-09-29
BISHOP POTTER ON HOMES.
Tells Snug Brother" Whg Poor
Can't LiUe in Co7I1ntyu

Bishop Potter discusses 1.-THE Ethics Of Home
Ownership" in the October Good Houskeep-
ing" Speaking OF the menace Of city life 70
any true home making. he points out how In.
tricately the place Of G. persons residence is
bound up with tho means Of transportation ur-
I'll the latter becomes vertically moral ques-
ton.
"One finds a mechanic or workman by the
day" says he. He may be a skilled artisan
living IN some narrow quarters, two or three
rooms, let US say, in some narrow street, lined
both sides with skyscraping tenements and
says TO him, with a virtuous note of reproach in
his volces Why do you live here? Why do
you condemn your wife and children to these
miserable surroundings? Why don't you re-
move to such and such suburb, where you
can lease cottage for the rent, OF, at worst,
only little more than the rent, you are paying
here for two or three rooms. and yet with air
and light and space such as these cramped
quarters absolutely deny to you"
We'll. my SNUG brother. who art going to
heal all the diseases Of an overcrowded centre
in the tenement house life Of a great city, have
you ever really tried to understand why the
wage Garner who lives IN overcrowded city
fat doesn't do what you propose2 He likes to
be near the corner saloon, you sayi his wife
likes a chance to gossip with her sister In toll
earlier and more easily, and SO assist in tighten
ing the burden resting upon the paternal shout
ders The whole household likes the hustle and
fellowships of city life.
"Au the considerations which have rehearsed
may be urged by the pharisaical critic Of the
deuizens In cheap and poor flats but they do
not really touch the nerve Of the matter. The
wage Garner who lives in such a home, and his
wife, and his children, would often hail with de-
light the prospect of transportation TO the
country. But even were his family settled there,
he himself must earn his bread IN town. NO
body has any use for the handIcraft at which he
tolls in the country. The factory that pays him
his wages is in the city-and every morning he
must go there. and every evening he must jour
ney thence to his home. It may cost him only
five cents each way-it IS more likely to cost him
ten-but this means, at the lowest estimate, SO
cents a. week or about s. 80 q. month, out Of his
wages. for transportation
"TIave we ever thought now. Of the conditions
under which the wage Garner must make these
Journeys? He must be at his post at a m,
and he cannot leave It until p. That means
that. for large part Of the year he must
travel both ways in the dark Have we ever
trie6 eating to a train or trolley car IN the
country on foot in February, in the dark?
confess I do not wonder at, and do not blame
elects to live nearer to his job and to spare
himself the hardships Of rural life. Some day let
ne bona II will be easier for him to reach a
suburban home; and meantime, let the capital
Isl realize that just at this point, his response
hiIf-v as nut in trust Of means for lettering
rural homes and facilitating access to them,
Ss to the agitation against fathouse, apart
roent house and hotel life the bishop points out
that If one lives in his own mouse in New-York
today he must be a person Of considerable
means land the great majority Of young married
oeople are not persons of considera BILE means.
They have small salaries and must, If they are to
mako both ends meet, sCrutiniZe every smallest
thew can get four or five rooms, and, it may be,
hoard for a definite sum; and they know where
+be- are But the apartment makes no
e1lovyance for children, for guests, or for sick
ness II would be triffng with human speech to
20 II s1Icb an ARRANGEMENT a home OF the notes
that most ennobIe a home IT has none"
Discussing the attractions of apartment house
life he mentions the solution Of the servant
question as one Of them
when one enters those huge caravansaries
which are multiplying in our great and also in
our small. cities he recognizes at once an
economy Of service in the whole mechanism,
which has undoubtedly, immense conveniences.
The young married couple have an apartment
and 20 10 the restaurant for their meals. OF
housekeeping therefore in the old fashioned
sense there is practically noIhing- The men
servants and maid servants are those of the es-
IA blishment' and not in any sense those Of the
people whom they serve. If, therefore, a young
married woman who lives In tnree OF Tour
rooms finds them neglected or careleSsly swept
and busted by the maid in whose detail they
happen to be she complains 10 the manager,
and the manager has certain summary rules
which make short work Of an ineftctent servant.
Is It any wonder that the great majority OF
young married women hail with delight Sys-
tenn which relieves them OF the whole dreary
business Of hunting or educating help'?"