V, 



OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES 



durability is hardly taken into our American 

 estimates. There are rural householders who 

 look forward twenty years — some who look 

 forward fifty years; but those who look for- 

 ward a century and build for the generations 

 to come, may be counted on one's fingers. 

 What builder of our day reckons upon the 

 wants or comforts of his grand-child? What 

 boy counts upon living in his father's house? 

 There are exceptions, doubtless, but the rule 

 is, dispersion— sale— alienation; and not one 

 man in a thousand is shaded by the oaks that 

 gave shelter to his grandsire. If I build a 

 house which is in sound and saleable con- 

 dition forty or fifty years hence, what more is 

 needed ? 



But even under this short-sighted view, is 

 the house of wood more economical than the 

 house of stone? If, as I have hinted, the pro- 

 jector aims at a finical nicety of exterior 

 surface, there can be no question that economy 

 is largely in favor of the use of wood ; but if 

 a man will have the courage to violate con- 

 ventional tastes in this respect, and be content, 

 nay, be boastful of a rural residence— if it 

 offer only agreeable outline and afford ample 

 security for all comfort and elegance within, 

 there is a large doubt if stone, if readily ac- 



292 



