their families. Besides, the house in sanitary matters is not separate from the furniture that it contains, nor this, again, from clothing and the family that wear it. Thus the danger cannot be restricted to the architectural structure of the house: it pervades everything; and when reports of fever epidemics and of variola cause alarm, it will be well to notice how these virulent disorders are engendered and promoted.
But there are more than architectural and sanitary matters influenced by this tenure: intellectual growth and mental character become injuriously affected. People will employ their minds on their immediate surroundings, if not wisely, owing to obstructing circumstances, then absurdly, with the natural results. Under leasehold tenure men and women are protected from responsibility—deprived of it, would be more accurate—concerning the most influential object that affects them. In the fabric of their house they have no worthy interest; their attention, therefore, is transferred to the light cares of furniture and dress. The consequence of the entire withdrawal of the dignified and permanent abode from social and domestic care is an unnatural levity, which demonstrates itself in 'fashions' and their imitations. Everything in outward life becomes a triviality, and character receives its stamp from trivial surroundings. Self-respect is thus diminished, and social reverence is lost. The result throughout society has been the ostracism of the stronger minds and the promotion of the weak and vain. Excessive worthlessness of every kind in dress and furniture is evidence of this inversion; and the public, having lost their natural leaders and their individual judgment and good sense, make tradesmen's novelties in 'fashionable' rubbish matter for intense desire, extravagant expenditure, and lifelong social competition.
On the other hand, the uncontrolled possession of his freehold residence endows the self-respecting man with social dignity. He is a local personage, perhaps a power, having local interests which lead to local public duties. When thus
