The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1871-06-22
<,nas. Reaue's Ideal DweilinG.House

Charles Reade protests against ~ the
thing we call house," The following Is
part of the general remedy which be pro-
poses:
1t is q sure sign man is not an artist II, M
stead Of repairing his defects, he calls an IN
tellectuaI superior to countcract them. Inc
fire.cscapc is creditablc 10 It's inventor, but
djspraceiul to the builders. They construct
n tirc.trap without an escape and so their
fallow-ciilZcns arc to cudge their brains
and supplv the builders want OF lnteili-
ycnce and humanity by an invention work
ing from the street. The fire escape can.
after all, save but few OF the builders
victims. The only universal fire-cscape IS
the rational roof.
To be constructed thus: Light iron stair
cases from the third floor to top floor
and rational roof. Fiat roof or roofs. meta!
covered, with scarcely perceptible tall from
centre. Open joists and iron Orders, the
latter sufficiently numerous to keep the
roof from falling in, even though fire should
gut the editice. an iron-lined door, sur
mounted by s.iylight iron staircase up
to this door, which opens nationally on 10
the rational roof. Large cistern or tank on
roof, with force-pumpt TO irrigate the rool
in fire or summer heats. Round the rool
iron rails set firm in balcony, made toe
hard for BARNS to climb, and Surmounted
by spikes. Between every two houses q
partition gate, with two locks and keys
complete. Bell under cover TO call neigh
bors in fire or other emergency.
Advantages offered by "the RATIONAL
roof:
1. High chimney stacks not needed.
9. Nine smoking chimneyS cured out o
ten. There are always people ut hand t
make the householder believe his Gimme.
smokes by some fault Of construction, an(
so they gull him into expenses, and hi
chimney smokes on-because it is no
thoroughly swept. Send q faithful servan
on to the rational roof. let him see thu
chmney-sweep's brush ut the top OF ever.
chimney before you pay shilling, ant
goodbye smoking chinlneyss. Sweeps ar
rogues, and the irrational roof Is thel
shield and buckler.
8. The rails painted chocolate and tn
spikes gilt would greatly improve on
gloomy streets.
i. Stretch clothes lines from spike t
spike, aud there is dryine-ground for tn
poor, or Tor such substantial people as ar
sick of the washerwomen anu their VII
lainy. These hcnrilcss KNIVES are now rot
ting fine cambria and lace with soda All
chloride of lime, though boraX Is nearly q
detergent and Injuries nothing.
5. a playground i'll purer air Tor chi!
dren that cannot get to the parks. Their
is no ceiling to crack below.
g. In summer h It's q blcSt retreat. lrri
gate and cool f., IN the ciStern: then Sc
four converting poles, stretch over thes
from spike to spike i few breadths of avn
ing: and there is delightful tent and per
haps a country view. Ii the Star and Gar
ter at Richmond had possessed such Il root
they would have made ut least two thou
sand year upon it, and perhaps have sa'ct
their manager from q terrible death.
!. On each roof 4 little flagstaff ant
streamer to light the gloom with sparks o
color, and tell the world is the master a
home or not. This would be of little list
now; but when once the rational roof be
comes common many friend could learl
from his own roof whether friend wa
at home, and so mems eyes might save thel
legs.
S. In case of fire, the young and ole
would walk out by rational door on to ;
rational roof, and rim. at Il rational gate
Then their neighDor lets them on to hi
rational root, and they are safe. Meantime
the adult mules, il any. have time 10 throw
wet blankets on the skylight and turn TIN
water on to the roof The rational roof
after saving the family which its predeces
sor would have destroyed, now proceeds t,
combat the fire. 1t operates rs an obsti
nate cowl over the fire; and ii there ar
engines on the spot the victory is certain
Compare this with the whole conduct o
the Irrational root. First, it murdered TIT
inmates then il fed the fire {; then it col
lapsed and fell OIL the ground floor, destroy
ing more property, and endangerlnS the
fremen. / am yours, very truly,
e CHARLES READE.