The state herald., 1910-04-22
POINT OF
VIEW

sald 10 the man VINO was taxing the
seat opposite him In the train. What
are you doing In this part Of the
world?"
We're renting in your neighbor-
hood now" said Bracket. We've
been up on the road for year or So"
Strange I haven't seen you." said
the commuter. 81 take the 1850 ev-
cry morning Of my life. except Sun
days"
II take the $40 usually" said
Bracket. But this morning l am
in hurry"
II thought you owned your own
place over on the north side" said
the commuter. IL understood you
didn't believe In renting"
II don't believe in renting now. ell
thcr." said Bracket. grimly, unless
It's other peoples property l rent.
I'm never going to rent any of my
own any more
Whats the trouble? Burned out?"
mo. sold out"
why. 1t isn't any time since you
told me 1t was n great thing to own
houses or flats and rent them. Great
investment. big profits and all that
sort of thing. What's the reason?"
"Everything's gone up. including
taxes and repair bills" said Bracket.
But that wasn't why we wanted to
get rid of the buildings. We sold in
order to save my wife's life"
N hoa hat ha haI
ILL.,"
"She wasn't It was her nerves.
You see, she was home in the day
time and we had the misfortune to
live In one Of our own fiat buildings"
Il should think that would be rath-
er an advantage to a landlord"
We'll. 1t wasn't to the landlords
wife," Bracket laughed. "The door
bell rang from morning till night. The
women would run in to complain
about the hot water and the iaundries.
The children would stop on their way
to school to say that the fiat was cold
or that the janitor couldn't be found.
That was funny thing. but. honestly.
their prime grievance always was that
the janitor did not stay In the build
ing from morning till night"
Some people are always afraid OF
fire or burglars"
"a few OF the women were glad
when he wasn't in the basement"
said Bracket. because they went
on the supposition that ] had hired
an ex-convict for n janitor."
Il suppose he had his troubles7"
HE certainly did" said Bracket.
His experience In my building
soured his disposition completely"
1T strikes me that you escaped
most of the difficulties yourself"
Indeed I did not Bracket de-
clared. Il paid the bills and settled
claims. Have you any idea how many
demands ~ families can make In
week."
II can imagine"
mo. you can't begin to imagine"
said Bracket. "Why. they all want.
ed to be repapered every season. no
matter how fresh the old paper was:
they had to have newly vanished
floors and half the window shades
had to be new as well. Then there
were endless plumbers bills and tho
hall and stair carpets wore out so
fast they made my hair stand on end.
Nobody was ever satisfied with the
apartment after he was once settled
In II. as eyerybody's complaints plain.
ly showed. but noticed that the fam.
lilies seldom moved"
THAT was n comfort. anyway"
mo. on the contrary. II wasn't"
said Bracket. After n tenant has
been In n fiat for year he considers
himself entitled to half your kingdom.
and when he has stayed three years
he Is positively unbearable."
Il don't wonder you sold"
Sold" cried Bracket. I'D have
sold at loss n the buyer had only
known H. My wife has grown 20
years younger since we began TO rent
and feel like n boy. Well. here's
where ! get on"
Aren't you going all the way down
town."
mot Just yet" said Bracket. ms no
rose to leave 1--WE got TO stop here
to see my landlord about repapering.
Our walls are n perfect sight this
spring and we must have new chan.
deliors In the two parlors. Our land.
lord IL mighty cloho.nstod. Goodby."