The Virginia enterprise., 1906-05-18

:. A young 1ellOW just out OF college
met me one day and with a disgusted
expression inquired whether: I knew
Mr.. Blank, a poet whose verses were
household words. I replied that had
that honor, adding that appreciated
very much the privilege of Mr.. Blanks
friendship. Yesterday" said the lad,
with gloomy look on his handsome
face, II should have said the same
thing, but am: disillusionized. Blank
called at our house last evening and
with a laugh told my father that he
felt very happy. He had settled his
coal bill with the price of poem.
Think of that! Think of bringing
poetry down to the level of coal bills
and furnaces!" - ~
"Mr. Blank is most fortunate"
said. 1T is not every poet who can
defray the cost of living by poetic
dreams, nor is poetry often so remu-
nerative that it can Offset tons OF
coal.' ~--
We parted, the young fellow and I,
unable to agree with one another, but
I fancy a few years later when he
shall have become a sober, plodding,
professional man, with family to
support, he will understand the situa-
ton better. BY some honest means
coal and groceries must be paid for,
and the cost Of living must be taken
into account whether people earn their
money by one form: of day labor or an
other. From the president. in the
White House to the Italian workman
digging trench, we all live, If we are
decent and diligent. on the fruits of
our labor. A small contingent, not
to be envied, loaf about Europe and
America, existing in idleness on the
money hard-working fathers and grand
fathers earned. But we do not take
them into account, as they belong dis
tinctly to the unproductive class. Most
of us are producers, and as producers
are directly interested in the cost of
living.
= = = .
The proposition resolves itself into
several parts, the first of which is:
The Shelter Of the Roof. ~
We cannot be exposed to the ele-
nnents. We must have arefuge: from
winds, rain, cold, storm and T-a sun.
Whether We live in splendid brown
stone edifce or tumble-down, un-
painted cottage, or anywhere between
these extremes, we must equally have
protection from inclemency of the at
Frsr ~lc =
foes. The latter sentiment may need
explanation, because everyone COM
prehends that enemies are better on
the outside of the sheltering walls,
while everybody who is not disposed to
hermit life has welcome for his
friends. Yet there are days and nights
when a home values seclusion, and
does not even desire for the moment
the presence of friends. Four walls
and a roof are the shell of the home,
let it be very simple or very stately.
For this shelter we pay either in
rent, if We hire, or in taxes and the
cost of constant repairs, If we own the
estate. At the basis of family living
lies the cost of the shelter, and the
first duty of a householder is to rightly
adjust this item of expense in its rela-
tion to other necessary items. The
house itself should not annually cost
for shelter more than fifth Of the an
nual income. >:... -: z.z~
Often people pay an undue price for
shelter because they are determined to
live on fashionable street, or In a
neighborhood< where houses are held
at a fancy valuation. They deny them
selves a great part. of the JOY OF liv-
ing and are defrauded of .scorafort
through mistaken pride as to the ex-
ternl appearance and internal arrange
ments of that which is after: all the
least important item in the bill. What
we demand of a house is that. it shall
have excellent sanitary conditions and
perfect drainage, that it shall be
tight and compact, without leaking
roof, or, a damp cellar, and that there
shall be in it sufficient room to ac-
commodate the family. =. .=5.:,.
These are the essentials. Other mat
ters may take care of themselves. 55
,%+. The Item of Clothing e.
A man who goes daily to business
must be comfortably clothed for shis
work, well shod and provided Will
outer garments that enable him TO ap