Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-23

foul of the house-builders in series of articles
in London paper, describing what he calls a
Irrational house." His suggestions are not des-
titute of sense, but the following extract is a
specimen of their contemporary dogmatiC
manner:
II is a sure sign man is not an artist, if, in
stead of repairing his defects, he calls an intel
lectual superior TO counterfeit them. The fire es
cape creditabe to its inventor but disgraceul tc
the builders. They construct a FIRE trap with
out an escape; and so then fellow-citzens are 10
cudgel their brains and supply the builders
want of intelligence and humanity by an in
Vention working from the street. The frees
cape can after all save but few of the builders
victims. The only universal fre-escape is-the
rational roof
To be constructed thus: Light iron stair
cases from the third floor to the top floor and
rational roof Flat roof, or roofs, metal COW
cred, with scarcely perceptible fall from centre.
Open josts and iron girders, the latter sum
| cienty numerous to keep the roof from falling
| in. even though fire should gut the edifice An
| iron-lined door, surmOunted bya skylight; iron
! staircase up TO this door, which opens rational
| ly on to the rational roof. Large estem or
| tank on roof, with force-pump 10 irrigate the
roofin fire or summer heats. Round the roof iron
rails set set firm in balcony, made too hard for
BARNS TO climb, and surmOunted by spikes.
a
with two locks and keys complete. Bell under
cover TO call neighbors in fire or other emergen-
cy.
Advantages offered by the rational roof:
1. High chimney stacks rot needed.
2. Nine smoking chimneys cured out of ten.
There are always people at hand to make the
householder believe bis chimney smokes by
some fault of construction, and so they gull
him into expenses, and his chimney smokes on
because it is not thoroughly swept. Send a
faithful servant on TO the rational roof, let him
see the chimney.sweep's brush at the top of
every. chimney before you pay shilling, and
goodbye smoking chimneys. Sweeps are
rogues, and the irrational roof is their shield
and buckler.
8. The rails painted chocolate and the spikes
gilt would nightly improve our gloomy streets.
4. Stretch clothes lines from spike to spike,
and there is drying-ground for the poor, or
for such substantial people as are sick of the
washerwomen and their villainy. These heart
less knaves are now rotting fine cambria and
lace with soda and chloride of lime, though
boraX is nearly as detergent and Injuries nothing.
s. A playground in purer air for children
that cannot get to the parks. There is no cell
ing to crack below.
6. In summer heats blest retreat. Irrigate
and cool from the cisten; then set four con-
verging poles, stretch over these from spike to
spike few breadths of awning, and there is a
delightful tent and perhaps a country view.
Ii the Star and Garter at Richmond had possess
ed such a roof, they would have made at least
two thousand year upon it, and perhaps have
saved their manager from terrible death.
Z. On each root little flagstaff and streamer
to light the gloom with sparks of color, and tell
the world is the master at home or not. This
would be of little use now; but when once the
rational roof becomes common, many a friend
could learn from his own roof whether a friend
was at home land so mems eyes might save their
legs
s. In case of fire the young and old would
walk out by rational door to rational roof,
and ring at rational gate. Then their neigh
Dor lets them on to his rational roof, and they
are safe. Meantime, the adult males, if any,
have time to throw wet blankets on the skylight
and turn the water on the roof. The rational
roof, after saving the family which its predeces-
sors would have destroyed, now proceeds to
combat the fire. 1t operates as an obstinate
cowl over the fire; and, if there are engines on
the spot, the victory is certain. Compare this
with the whole conduct of the irrational roof.
First, it murdered the inmates; then it fed the
fire; then it collapsed and fell on the ground
floor, destroying more property and endanger-
ing the firemen.
am, yours very truly,
CHARLES READE.