THE COUNTRY HOME [CHAPTER 
suburbanism will demand. Yet there remains no 
reason why, in all but the most massive cities, the 
tenement system should not loosen its hold upon 
the common laborer, and release him from its horri- 
ble confusion, with its grime and smoke. 
A good country home for a man who goes daily 
into a city as a teamster or porter, should contain 
at least one acre and a half, and be two miles by 
trolley from the city line — adding a few rods of 
walk from the station. I know such a home on a 
side street, that runs, winding somewhat, near a 
creek, and not far from a grove of maples. From 
the door can be seen a half dozen similar homes, a 
smithy, and a large truck farm. On this truck farm 
are employed other laborers, who originally came 
from the city. The ground is sloping and sufficient- 
ly irregular to give easy and good drainage. The 
house is a pretty, eight-room structure, planted in a 
plain garden, where there are a dozen apple trees, 
with intermingled pear trees, plum trees and cher- 
ries. Besides these there are currant bushes and 
raspberries enough for a small family. Near the 
corner of the house are three hives of bees. You 
see also that there is a cow in the shed. It is not 
altogether a model house or a model home; but it 
[28] 
