Year: 1874




such an excessively unphiiosophic state
of mind, was enough to make me desire
to have home Of my own, where, ex-
cept upon rare and exceptional occasions,
nv wife would never care to go out.


If yoft should want to rent house
there are shree WAYS to find one. One
way is to advertise; another is to read
the advertisements Of other people.
This is a comparatively cheap way. A
third way is to apply to an agent. But
none of these plans are worth anything.
The proper way in to know some one who
will tell you of house that will just
suit you. Euphemia and | thoroughly
investigated this matter, and know that
what say is fact.


We tried all the plans. When we ad-
yertised, we had about dozen admira-
able answers, but although everything
seemed to suit, the amount of rent was
not named. None of those in which
the rent was named would do at ALL
And when l went to see the owners, or
agents of these houses, they asked much
higher rents than those mentioned in the
unavailable answers-and this, notwith-
standing the fact that they always as
serted that their terms were either very
reasonable or else greatly reduced on ac-
count of the season being advanced. (1t


Of Nav


Euphemia and 1 once wrote book
this was just before we were married.
in which we told young married people
how to go to housekeeping and how
much it would cost them. We knew all
about it, for we had asked several peo-
pie. Now the prices demanded for year
ly rental for small furnished houses, by
the owners and agents of whom ] had
been speaking, were actually more than
we had stated house could be bought
and furnished for!


The advertisements of other people did
not serve any better. There was always
something wrong about the houses when
we made close inquiries, and the trouble
was generally in regard to the rent.
With agents we had a little better for
tune. Euphemia sometimes went with
me on my expeditions to real estate Off
ces, and she remarked that these offices
were always in the basement, or else you
had to go up to them in an elevator.
There was nothing between these ex-
tremes. And it was a good deal the
same way, she said, with their houses.
They were all very low indeed in price
and quality, or else too high. She as
sured me several times that if We could
find any Office on the second or third
floor we should certainly be suited. But
we never found such an Office.


One trouble was that we wanted a
house III a country place, not very far
from the city, and not very far from the
railroad station or steamboat landing.
We also wanted the house to be nicely
shaded and fully furnished, and not to
be in a malarious neighborhood, or one
infested by mosquitoes.


"If we do go to housekeeping" said
Enphemia, 1--WE might as well get house
to suit us while we are about it. Nov
ing is more expensive than fire"


There was one man who offered US a
house that almost suited us. 1t was near
the water, had rooms enough, and some
but not very much ground, and was
very accessible to the city. The rent,
too, was quite reasonable. But it was
unfurnished. The agent, however, did
not think that this would present any
obstacle to our taking it. He was sure
that the owner would furnish it if we
paid him ten per cent. on the value OF
the furniture he put into it. We agreed
that if the landlord would do this and
let us furnish the house according to the
plans laid down in our book, that we
would take the house, But unfortunate
ly this arrangement did not suit the
landlord, although he was in the habit
of furnishing houses for tenants an6
charging them ten per cent. on the cost


/ saw him myself and talked to hin
about it.


"But you see," said he, when | hat
shown him our list of articles necessary
for the furnishing of a house, sit woulC
not pay me to buy all these things, anC
rent them out to you. Ifyou only want
ed heavy furniture, which would last fo
years, the plan would answer, but yol
want everything. l believe the small
eonveniences you have on this list com'
to more money than the furniture anC
carpets"


"Oh, yes" said l. "We are not so very
particular about furniture and carpets
but these little conveniences are tn,
things that make housekeeping pleasant
and speaking from a common-sens
point of view, profitable


"That may be-" he answered, "bpt
can't afford to make matters pleasan
and profitable for you in that way. Now
then, let US look at one or two particu
lars. Here, on your list, is an ice-pick
twenty five cents. Now. if l buy tha
ice-pick and rent it TO you at two and a
half cents year, shall not get m.
money back unless 1t lasts You ten years
And even tnen, as it is not probable tina
can sell that ice-pick after you hav
used it for ten years, ] shall have mad
nothing at all by my bargain. And ther
other things in that list, such as feather
busters and lamp chimneys, that coulnn
possibly last ten years. Don't you Sc
my position2"


1 saw it. We did not get that furnish
ed house. Euphemia was greatly disaI
pointed.


at would have been just splendid,
she said, "to have taken our book an
have ordered all these things at tn
stores, without even being obliged TO as
the price"


I had my private doubts in regard
this matter of price. am afraid tn;
Euphemia generally set down the lowe


prices and the best things. She did NJ
mean to mislead, and her plan certainl


n u