Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1958-06-12

ban house with what we get
out of our city house. Well save
money out of our 1887 a
month. :. :"
Facts About Suburbs
This businessman-and you
should have a few facts about
suburbia's mirage:
ID The house you own in
the city is not likely to bring
that much money-no matter
what your sentiment has priced
1t at. I have known but two re-
tired persons who sold their
city houses for what they
thought they would. On top of
that they had to pay commits
sions to real estate agents.
20 While the $4,000 city
house is bringing you. net, a.
mere $16,500, the $4,000 sub
urban dream house has gone
to $23,500. You wanted a gar
bage disposal unit, a freezer, a
breezeway, asphalt driveway
and four electrical outlet plugs
in the living room, didn't you
90 Suburbia doesn't know
you from the iceman. And
cares less. You'll be 1.-The old
couple" if your neighbors are
young. which they probably
will be, and you'll be classed-
nicely, of course--as an up
start If your neighbors happen
to be old settlers. Suburbia is
always courteous. But cool.
"a II there are any positive
signs that you are wealthy, are
on the board of directors of a
good company, have member
ship in a country club or know
somebody worth knowing, you
will get attention in suburbia
until, and unless, your neigh
bors learn you possess none OF
these sterling qualities. Be-
cause suburbia, in the main, is
in a hurry in our time, A. hurry
to succeed. To get a title. To
make $4,000 a year. And get
a power lawn mower. If you
can help, fine. If you can't.
well, 1T was so sweet of you
to ask us, Mrs. Smith, and we'd
Just love to see your house, but
! we are going out tonight. But
we'll be calling you soon. :"
80 An income of $500 or so
a month. with a paid-for house,
is ample for a reasonably good
life in most suburbs.
You'll Be The NeateSt
CO. If you will make a care
full study of any suburb. you
will find that the little ranch
house of retired couples are the
neatest houses in the block.
Always. That is not because
they are neater people than
their neighbors. 1t is usually
because they have nothing to
do all day but manicure the
lawn.
CD Suburbia isn't very stable.
The young families move to a
better suburb when they get
Q SIS raise. The old people die.
One retired couple who tried
Suburbia reported recently that
eight of the IL neighbors in
their block had moved out in
the four years since they moved
in.
~ Suburbia, as a general
rule, offers cocktail parties,
children, dogs, weekend lawn
) moving. shorts, flooded base
Z ments. schools. constantly in
) creasing taxes. charity drives,
ambitious young couples, crab
grass. Do you At in?
. 80 Suburbia's civic, cultural
and "betterment" projects
which is where retired people
have about their only chance
to find worthwhile activities in
the suburbs-are the things
. that get into the local news
. paper. And sometimes in the
! Sunday papers in the city. The
young people, therefore. grab
! the lead in such projects, while
: the old couple" types the en-
velopes.
Cl0) Everything that has
come to this column in the
{ last 10 years indicates a city
: couple takes a gamble in trying
To Whin the loneliness and