Atlanta Georgian. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1912-1939, 1912-06-07
THIS is the time when, revisiting a
familiar neighborhood, we say, 81

TINS is the time when, revisiting a
familiar neighborhood, we say, 81
don't remember that house." and
someone who has passed the place oft
ener answers. Few would recognize it.
1t has been so improved"
1t is a season of building and of re-
building, and the rebuilding is of the
two more wonderful
We see a one story cottage grown to
a two-story house. A small house re-
veals its owners new prosperity by
spreading over twice as much lawn
with its bay window extension on the
east side, its summer veranda that may
convert into a sun parlor next winter,
but where the family may have break
fast this summer, and call in the neigh
bors for impromptu ice cream in the
evening. The face of that house is ut
terly changed. Is it by a new veranda
No. only the building of a balcony
overhead But the former window has
been deepened into a glass door that
opens upon the balcony and there are
little reading table and lounging
chair beside it like those used on the
decks of seagoing steamers. And one
catches a glimpse Of skens of bright
silk in the workbasket and a magazine
or two beside it.
The Robinson house looks better"
you say, and you hear in explanation
that Mrs Robinson is happy because at
last she has her long deferred new
kitchen and her husband has built
neat little laundry at the end of the
Kitchen. You would not think so small
a thing would make a woman look so
much more content so much younger
and more at peace With the world, but
it Is thus when we achieve something
for which we had long been striving,
and the neighbors said Mrs. Robinson
has done good deal of striving, for
her spouse keeps the strings of his
money bags knotted tight.
"The Grimes house seems a stranger
to itself" you remark, for it's smoked
spotted whiteness has been replaced by
light gray with trimmings of darker
gray 1t has a roof so mosslille in
color that the painter is being con-
graduated upon his art which has SO
closely followed nature. A bed of bright
geranums in front of the house gives it
a CHEEKY aspect. The Grimes house, for
the first time, looks UP to date. 1t
looks as a woman does who overheard
some one call her a trump and who has
bought a smart, new frock. and who
looks ten years younger and twice as
happy because of her triumph.
1.-THE bleak looking house of the
Bradleys What on earth have they
done to it?" you ask The straight
outlines. severe as an unsmiling face,
have been somehow changed. All Mrs.
Bradley has attained her hearts desire.
She has what her city cousins call &
conservatory, but she has lovingly
named my flower house. and when
YOU pass In the evening and see her
giving the flowers she loves a shower
bath. you wonder why you ever thought
her face repellent. 1t looks so soft and
sweet in the red light of sunset.
Rebuilding time. The face Of the
neighborhood has changed How much
better it looks What an inspiring
thing is improvement, even though it's
agents be only a few boards, some
nails and paint brush!
There's a lesson in that rebuilding,
lesson for you and me. for every one
feels a bit world worn, a little tired,
somewhat inclined to fold the hands
listlessly and mutter whats the use?"
That mood is only spring tiredness of
the spirit. and the remedy for spring
tiredness is what is in the air in your
neighborhood. Hear the hammers dirty
ing in new nails? See the carpenter
carefully fitting on a new siding? He
is giving US friendly hint Of what to
do with our characters. No house is
beyond repair while it stands on its
foundations. That old cabin belonging
to the washerwoman who lives at the
edge of town. You would have thought
it quite impossible to improve that,
wouldn't you? But they make new