Detroit evening times., 1945-08-11
WESTBROOKv
PEGLER \
-Fdlr
Enough

MY PATIENT reading OF Mrs.
IV1 Eleanor Roosevelt's works
is rewarded now and again by
nuggets such as her recent re-
mark that the custom which
existed for a time in this coun-
try. of having large places
which cost a great deal Of
money and produced nothing
beyond what one family used on
their table, has always seemed
TO me a very wasteful tradition
and ! am glad it is rapidly dis
appearing"
| note. without prejudice, but
with Just touch of emphasis.
that although Mrs. Roosevelt
always" thought thus, she
never expressed the thought
until the ancestral manor at
Hyde Park became a white
elephant.
| could give my colleague
credit for unselfishness had she
not enjoyed lifetime of luxury
on an elaborate barony. comr
plete with servants quarters,
stables and a swimming pool.
all of which now seem 10 have
become a financial problem and
a bore.
MRS. ROOSEVELT SAYS that
vi she, herself. has never felt
'in any way interested in
country place just as a coun-
try place.
Some people, however. do love
the country for itself and as an
escape from the anarchy Of New
York where families live in hives
and, even with the best man
ners Of intentions impose on all
about them.
New Workers work around the
clock, so that. IN crowded
building, a little anniversary or
birthday party in one apart
ment if II goes beyond 10
o'clock at night. becomes tor
ture 10 others downstairs or
across the court who must be
up and going by $50 IN the
morning.
Walls are not Sound-proof 50
the woman who turns on the
soap opera while she does her
houSework inflicts terrible suf-
fcring on the nelghbor IN the
cell next door who has worked
night trick and is trying 10
sleep
THUS, the country, just as
L country. IS beautiful 70
many. both as quiet ratuce
from these strains and for tho
natural tOveiIness NJ hits and
trees and even Of drifts. IN
winter
The drifts. 10 n1e. are less A.
tractlve than they were l0yearS
ago but younger men and
women might enjoy them as
once ! did
But | cant SEQ how Mrs
Roosevelts idea could work
Land IN the pleasant far
suburbs of New York costs A.
least 500 IN acre and nowadays
would he nearer $50. In any
extensive place this always has
included the woodi0t and swamp
which would produce no crop.
To be sure, those who dwell
in some New York apartments
pay SIS cord for ls-nch butts
for their flre-places for aes-
thetic effect.
a small farm house burned
recently not many miles from
Mrs RoOSeveltS estate and the
estimates for replacement run
around 5000
This. however, is 70 he 2 pre-
fabricated house against which
Mrs. RooSevelt'S most devoted
friends. the union officials. have
a furious Pre- ludICe although Z
probably is made by union labor
IN the factory.
TNHE SAME house. erected the
L Old way, under union re-
strictions. undoubtedly would
cost 81 900 more
Then. II happens that there
are dug well and pump left
from the old place bat dug
wells are inadequate for the
| present bathing customs Of most
| Americans, o, If We consider
that We are starting fresh. We
must reckon on about 5000
more for a drilled well and the
pump and wiring.
II we have been lucky
enough 10 find 40 acres Of good
land with no waste. al 500,
our investment is now $1,000.
But we still need tractor.
a mower. and other equipment
and we should have a horse for
rainy spells when a tractor
would get mlred IN the meadow
and even on the sidehills patch.
And the horse needs hav.
which calls for helper az cer-
talnly no less than s. a day
in haying season. although some
| 16-year-old boys have been
getting SIS day this year and
We haven't even thought OF tho
barn or chicken house and
| hrondarS and all