THE SUBURBAN HOME 19 



more in every state, where such work is done at a nom- 

 inal cost. 



High elevations, where there is good drainage of the 

 surface water away from the buildings, should be looked 

 for, and yet in northern sections the buildings should if 

 possible be sheltered by windbreaks of hills Or trees 

 from north and east winds. While the mercury will not 

 go as low upon hills of moderate height as in the valleys, 

 moving air is more uncomfortable than still air. Many 

 crops, too, succeed better when in full exposure to air 

 and sunlight on our small hills. Low malarial locations, 

 near stagnant streams and pools, should be avoided, for 

 no diseases are more insidious and difficult to cure than 

 the germ diseases contracted in such localities. 



2. Are There Good Schools and Churches? 



In selecting a home, I shall place good schools and 

 churches next in importance to healthful surroundings. 

 In these days of business strife and competition no one 

 can expect to be successful in the highest degree without 

 at least a fair education; and apart from its bearing on 

 business success or failure, the educated man or woman 

 can enjoy more, and be able to do more good to those 

 about them, than the uneducated. Wherever we find 

 good schools, we find intelligent and peace-loving citizens. 

 Churches, too, are a good index of the moral conditions 

 of any community. While all church-goers are not 

 always above reproach in their dealings with their fellow- 

 men, the average standard of a church-going community 

 is far above that of the non-church goers, and the habit 

 of setting apart one day each week for attendance upon 

 divine worship, and for home recreation with one's fam- 

 ily, cannot be too earnestly urged. The moral character 

 and thrift of a community should be fully studied. In- 

 dustrious people are as a rule peaceable and contented, 



