268 
Me As LS Te TG be te ? “ 
is not always able to choose either location or materials; 
sometimes the distressing situation occurs where the man 
and the woman who long for a new house must live in an 
old one, and of the uncongenial atmosphere of perpetual 
newness forced upon the man and the woman who wish 
they might surround themselves with the old things dear to 
their hearts, things for which they yearn through the tra- 
ditions of their instinct. So it comes to pass that between 
the extremes of those home-makers who may do as they 
please—make new houses for their homes or make their 
homes in old houses, we have the whole range of home- 
makers to whom the prob- 
lem of the house-to-be seems 
to shape itself into a very in- 
dividual one, when the vast 
variety of individual circum- 
stances is taken into account. 
I do not think our civiliza- 
tion permits us to dictate to 
the peace-abiding citizen 
what he should do in the 
matter of choosing a home, 
beyond giving him a few 
hints, when one happens to 
be called upon to give them, 
of pitfalls to be avoided, if 
there are such that prove to 
be public and general men- 
aces that may come in his 
way. Instead, to be most 
helpful to the American 
AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 
The remodeling here has been skilfully carried out, the details of the shutters and entry lending pleasing contrast in the design 
View of the remodeled house from the lawn front 
August, 1912 
home-maker it is the wiser course to place before him the 
materials that go to make up the pros and cons of the 
question of choosing a home, permitting those to whose 
notice they come to decide for themselves, whether or not 
this idea or that one may prove helpful to their needs. 
Thus it happens that one suggestion appeals to one man 
or to one woman, and another one to another. However, 
it would be difficult to find anyone to whom the subject of 
the remodeled house held no interest, fraught, as it is with 
so many problems that must lie close to the hearts of every 
home-maker, regardless of the measure or the quality of 
sentiment he may possess. 
There prevails an impres- 
sion that remodeling a house 
is a much cheaper undertak- 
ing than that of building one, 
but it all depends upon the 
house. It would hardly be 
safe to suggest remodeling 
an old house as an expedient 
for economy. If the struct- 
ure were of goodly extent 
and required much interior 
and exterior alteration, it 
would probably be found 
cheaper to rear an entirely 
new dwelling from founda- 
tion to roof. However, if 
as very often it happens, one 
comes across an old house 
suited to the taste and re- 
