26 HOW TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 



items that I have specified. Whatever else you do, 

 do not buy through unknown agents and do not take 

 up with any of the splendid offers made by those who 

 speculate in land. 



I have made as clear as possible my own experience 

 in selecting a place for a country home. I advise 

 you not to be in a hurry, at all events. It will be a 

 memorable feature of your experience to go on a 

 long and rather still hunt. When you see what 

 pleases you, go again, study it, and without enthu- 

 siasm. Remember violets grow in more than one 

 dell, and that old apple trees are to be found on more 

 than one hillside. Burn up advertising circulars and 

 do not attend any auction sales even where there 

 are free rides and free lunches. 



Run no danger of getting roped in to an incon- 

 siderate purchase. You cannot quite trust yourself, 

 and in this matter an unwise purchase cannot be 

 easily reconsidered. I have persistent and continual 

 pressure to buy land in Florida for those who have 

 never seen that State. I refuse to do this unless the 

 conditions are very peculiar. Go yourself and look 

 over land and study conditions, so that first of all you 

 may know whether you can adjust yourself to the 

 conditions that you find involved in the purchase. 



Of course, some of us cannot have the first pick, 

 but if you can overlook a beautiful valley you as 

 good as own it. Your property is not measured ex- 

 actly by what your deed covers, and this goes a long 

 way farther in the country than in the city. I travel 



