Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1858-11-19
MIS- c T. LLAN N Y.
ThsughtsI on Building.

lst. Every born citizen OF the United
states OF America either might, could, would
should, or does build a house, once at least
IN the course Of his life.
"a. Every man ancics-once-tha, he
can devise the best pOsslbleplan ofa house,
and that ho can build !, better aud cheaper
than any contemporary.
From these two conditions-one national
the other common to mankind-ariss IN
thi. country many complications.
First books are Consulted; which brings
inc to the objections to architectural works
in general. These arc mainly thrce
lst. All without exception, that | am
aware Of, begin with ialhcy. They tell
you that houss can be built Of stone, brick
or wood 10 which s1mc add mud, and some
lron-a delusIon and a snare tell you
there IL but one material out Of which you
can conveniently build la comfortable house
gold.
81 All Go about cost, some more, s)me
somo lcss.-Aiter infinite calculation, I
have dcduocI the fallosins average formu-
Ia.
lN. u. II you doviate, add.
Book estimates multiplied by thirteen.
soycnths equals the actual cost.
II you doubt. an examination Of the last
line Of the dOcumen, in which V. stands in
account current with VS. house will be
enough.
81. Book. Publishing architects have a
wonderful prediction for all manner Of
curlycuos. and breaks on your roof, dear
little projections and corresponding valleys.
| call the last ".loughs Of dvPond." They
leak they never DO anything else; /; tha, j,
what they are for. However they are very
pretty - look At, in the summer time, and
at proper distance from the house. 50
you will think when you peer through the
small end Of the telescope, But wait, oh
doomed and lueklsss mnn TIL winter
Though you eauuo, SEQ them then, as you
.it by your hrcsiIe. YOU will know they
are there (This is great advantage, Tor
sometimes they are blown OF, aud you
might otherwise forge, ,hcm.) When an
ugly yellow sploteh disiills into yoar much
admired white ceiling when an unpleasant,
ice cold rill insinuat itself into the back
of your neck as YOU drcarn in your snug
aud coly bel. You will again sciIo your
telescope, but you will look through the
other end. Then how reversed thc picture
How small the summer beauties seem bu,
how big. the winter di.eOmloris' Still
and !, i, the part OF a moralwriter to sug-
scs,, and piou' sufferer 'oacccPt all the
consolation, of philosophy-',ill, you may
comior, yourself with the reflection ,ha,
your house has eharmingy diversified
sky line.
let me illustrate my opinions. Strange
walmslcy, with whom am intimate, il a
peculiar man. anil somewhat strong in his
language, upon occasions. lie buiIt such
a house. had been consulted by him al.
ter hi, plans were drawn, and had warned
him agaips, a certain doImor.window light.
ing his main stairway. IL h'cd about
southeast, and foretold that in winter, the
morning sun would melt tho snow that
might lay about IL, which in the afternoon
would freeze and leak would 10 the con-
sequence. lie secuted the idea. His ar
chitec, told there was no risk. HIS earpen-
ter echoed the sentiment. Live and learn
was my observation, as we parted.
Ills house was built, and tho frs. winter
passed. met him in the spring, looking,
a. | thought melancholy. An idea flashed
upon me. wickedly, | inquired, " How
is your housc7"
His exclamation I will not repeat. 1,
was uneommonly strong, even for him.
"Sam." said he, in continuation, F." AN
ashamed to meet you. Ny happiness is de-
stroyed. You warned me tha, window :"
"stansc," said I, "you look as II the
plaques Of Egyp, bad come upon you.
Worse, ;" said he. 81 One Of them. you
may recollee;. was having frogs in your
chamber. have become frog myself,
Amphibious sur"
Wha, do you mean?" inquired l."
" You recollect that window" answered
he.
"Whsn completed. ITS exterior aspsc
was a cross between pigeon house and a
public clock. From the in 'rior, 1t rcsem-
bled port.holc. Practice ly, 1t was an
intermittent shower-bath. OH" he groan-
ed, dolorously.
F" The ilr.t rain (it must be admitted it
was rouser) alter we got into tho house
| came home tired and worried with busi-
ness-about to 20 up stair, met nina
ture cascade tripping lightly down. very
pretty on canvass i've feet by three but
unpleasant in ones main hall. had no
suspicious, but called, jokingly. Sarah, |
thought you cleaned house before we came
in" My wife pokins her head out Of her
chamber door. Such visage | never saw
to her before. nor heard the like tone in her
voice. The fact is, sam. my wife is an an-
gel-or used to be-" he sighed heavily.
+" However. the words she uttered struck
me all Of heap. "This comes Of that
SILLY window Of yours" said sifc. l un-
derstoOd my position at once. lwas a VIC
tim. have been victim ever since-and
paid for it sam. We quarrel continually.