THE STORY OF A “BACK TO THE LAND” MOVEMENT THAT WAS STARTED BY A MOTOR CAR 
CHAPTER II; THE SEARCH FOR BROADER LANDS AND COUNTRY COMFORTS 
BY C. H. Claudy 
Editor’s Note: The man ivhose business ties him to the city may feel the call of woods and Helds, but the unpleasant prospects of isolation, lack 
of transit facilities, provincialism, etc., have deterred him from making a change. The automobile has solved these difficulties for many and has made a 
home in the rural country possible even for city business men. This is the account of an emigration to a rural district make possible by a motor. The 
automobile was considered, part of the plant, and yet even when its original cost was included in the price of the home, they found that it enabled them 
to buy quite extensive lands for the price of a place in a high-class suburban development. How a motor served in a variety of practical purposes, 
brought friends, made the family independent of distance and time-table, is taken front the experiences of a man who has proved his experiment. The 
story is of considerable interest in the facts it gives about the practical value of the motor car in the country and the part it plays in the family budget. 
The first chapter told of the start of the emigration. Succeeding issues will give details of the important services the motor rendered in all their activities. 
RS. SPENCE was game! But there was 
soon found to be a great difference be¬ 
tween a firm determination to find a place 
on which a man of moderate income could 
live, enjoy life, have a garden, plenty of 
room, a nice house, pleasant neighbors, 
within easy commuting distance of the city, 
at a price he could afford, and finding said 
place! 
The real estate men were all enthusiastic 
and extremely optimistic. 
“Of course we can find you just what 
vou want! Plenty of fine places going for very little money. 
No difficulty about selling your place—not surprised you want 
more room, though—these suburbs are pretty crowded !” 
But there was the same difference between the optimism of 
the real estate agent and his performance, as between Spence’s 
own determination and the accomplishment of his dream. He 
was carried hither and thither, far and near, up and down, to 
look at “places.” Some were lovely to look at — and had neither 
light nor sewers. Others had light and water and sewers—and 
were next the county jail or on the edge of small towns more 
populous than prosperous. Others had every feature Spence 
desired, except sufficient ground—“And!” as he said to Mrs. 
Spence, “there is no use giving up a two by ten garden and lawn 
to get one three by fifteen feet. If we can't get a house and 
real grounds, let’s go back to a gilded cage and the park!” 
The real difficulty 
between Spence and 
five acres and a man¬ 
sion, was that of 
price. lie saw plenty 
of houses, surround¬ 
ed by grounds of am¬ 
ple size, and when¬ 
ever one of these had 
a “For Sale” sign 
displayed, Spence 
promptly telephoned 
to the agent men¬ 
tioned! But he soon 
grew tired of hearing, 
“They are asking 
$75,000—won’t y O' u 
make an offer?” or 
“The owner thinks he 
should get $67,000 for the place, but I have no doubt we could 
arrange the price!” 
It was on his train, tired from a day’s work, that he first saw 
his way out. He had been discussing his hunt with Garnfordt. 
“And I’ve about concluded it can’t be done!” he had finished. 
“I've looked everywhere for the moderate priced home with 
large grounds in a moderate priced suburb, where moderate 
priced people can live. But there is always something the matter. 
Either I’ve got to live a long way from the station, or I’ve got 
to pay a big price for land. I won't isolate myself and my family, 
and I can’t pay the big price. It's back to the city for us, I guess. 
Living—Just plain, ordinary living — iis certainly one complicated 
subject!” 
“I beg your pardon,” interposed a voice from the rear seat. 
“I couldn’t help overhearing. If you won’t put me down as too 
much of a ‘butter-in,’ I think maybe I can show you the kind 
of place you are looking for.” 
Mr. Spence turned, prepared to squelch the intruder with the 
city glare that a steady procession of agents, insurance solicitors 
and beggars engenders in every true office cliff-dweller. But the 
face which looked smilingly into his was that of so young and 
slight a man—hardly more than a boy—and the expression was 
so frankly ingenuous and pleasing, that Spence smiled in spite 
of himself. 
“You don’t look dangerous,” he admitted. “If you have anv 
place I can buy which will suit me, you can ‘butt in’ all you want!” 
Garnfordt changed his seat, and the young man moved up. 
“My name is Swift,” 
the stranger began, 
producing a card. 
“I’m with Dalton, 
Harmon and Belt. 
We have a number of 
places which might 
interest you, but I’d 
like to have you go to 
our Castleton proper¬ 
ty, if you will. It’s- 
- ” and Mr. Swift 
launched into a de¬ 
scription of the place, 
to which Spence, tired 
of hunting the thing 
he couldn’t find, paid 
an attention closer 
than he realized. It 
Seated in Swift’s shining automobile, he found that two miles were only a matter of five 
minutes, and that by motor five minutes placed the station conveniently near 
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