Wit and Humor of America, The Vol 02

<h2>THE TWO NEW HOUSES</h2> <h3>BY CAROLYN WELLS</h3> <p>Once on a Time, there were Two Men, each of whom decided to build for himself a Fine, New House.</p> <p>One Man, being of an Arrogant and Conceited Nature, took counsel of Nobody, but declared that he would build his House to suit himself.</p> <p>"For," said he, "since it is My House and I am to Live in It, why should I ask the Advice of my Neighbors as to its Construction?"</p> <p>While the House was Building, the Neighbors came often and Looked at it, and went away, Whispering and Wagging their Heads in Derision.</p> <p>But the Man paid no Heed, and continued to build his House as he Would.</p> <p>The Result was that, when completed, his House was lacking in Symmetry and Utility, and in a Hundred ways it was Unsatisfactory, and for each Defect there was a Neighbor who said, "Had you asked Me, I would have Warned you against that Error."</p> <p>The Other Man, who was of a Humble and Docile Mind, went to Each of his Neighbors in Turn, and asked Advice about the Building of his House.</p> <p>His Friends willingly and at Great Length gave him the Benefit of their Experiences and Opinions, and the Grateful Man undertook to Follow Out all their Directions.</p> <p>The Result was that his House, when finished, was a<span class='pagenum'><SPAN name="Page_222" id="Page_222"></SPAN></span> Hodge-Podge of Varying Styles and Contradictory Effects, and Exceedingly Uncomfortable and Inconvenient to Live In.</p> <h3>MORALS:</h3> <p>This Fable teaches that In a Multitude of Counselors there is Safety, and that Too Many Cooks Spoil the Broth.</p> <hr style="width: 65%;" /> <div style="break-after:column;"></div><br />