The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1882-02-15
The Building of Homes.

A farmer writes in the american Ag-
r~icuturist: Double doors-folding or
sliding-are a great social 'institution.'
By them two rooms may be thrown into
one. A good broad hall becomes in
summer an extra room. The air cir.
c~ulates. There is a freedom, an open
ness about the house, which gives an
air of superiority to ven very humble
dwellings. The superiority is real, too.
If We invite a few friends for the even
ing, it is not necessary to conf1 e them
o the "parlor," but the doors are
brown wide open. our guests will fill
rarlor and hall, and sitting-room and
kitchen, perhaps, and yet all are one
| company, for the broaddoors being open
the whole house is thrown together.
Music sounds through such a house de.
lightfully, and people have a gooa
time and love to come, because it Is So
cheerful and social. Another point in
our home building which we too often
overlook is the exposure of the principal
living and sleeping rooms to tho direct
influence of the sun. The effect OF the
sunlight is best gained when the house
stands with its corners toward the car
dinal points. for thus the sun shines
with considerable power on all sides of
the house every clear day in the sum-
mer, and yet his power is broken. be-
cause at MONDAY the rays strike
two sides o%bliquely, and very soon leave
the southeastern side in the shade. We
should not forget that the sunshine is
healthgiving; dampncss and shade, II
slightly in excess, iuiure the health OF
both men and animals. .
One thing more is the Importance OF
having some provision for fire IN the
chambers. We build for health and
not for sickness, and ! do not hesitate
to say that many q family mourns the
loss of a member simply because the
sleeping room could not be easily
heated.
The best mode of heating no doubt is
by an open fire OF some kind. 1t IS
verv easy in building to make open tire
places in at least three chambers
through which the chimney passes.
OF course open freplaces are not
economical of fuel, but in the chambers
fire is seldom wanted, and stoves may
be used if preferred. AS to economy Of
fuel, builders as we'll as architects and
proprietors, either frequently overlook
one important fact, or they do not look
at it, that is, that the warmest part OF
any re ON is farthest from the floor; SO
if we make our rooms ten or eleven feet
high we must heat the air IN all that
upper part before q person sitting at n
table begins to feel at all warm, unless
he is where he gets radiation from the
stove or open fire. Low ceilings effect
the greatest economy of fuel, and even
make open fires economical as COM
pared with stoves and high ceilings
Nine feet is, l think, ar extreme height
for the ceiling of an ordinary country
house, say one in which the largest
room is not more than twenty feet
square, or Of equivalent area.
Besides, there are other numerous
considerations which tend TO the saving
of fuel and at the same time increase
the healthfulness and comfort of home
Some of these are the material It the
walls, tteir inpenetrability to air and
moisture, "deatoning" Of the floors,
which adds greatly to their warmth,
good joiner work about windows and
loorc otto