The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1882-03-17
The Building OF Homes.

a farmer writes IN tha american Ag.
ricuit,srist: Double doors-folding OF
sliding-ar arc 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
culates. There ia freedom, an open
ness about ths house, which gives an
air OF sup periority to even very humble
dwellings. The superiority is real, too.
II we invite few friends for the even
ing, it Is not necess ary to con hIe them
the "parlor," bus the doors are
brown wide open, cur guests will fill
parlor and hall, and sitting-room and
Kitchen, perhaps, and yet all are one
company, for the broad doors being open
the whole house is thrown together.
Music sounds through such house de-
lightfully, and people have good
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 the 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 tho sum.
mer, and yet his power is broken. be-
cause at MONDAY the rays strike
two sides obliquelv, aud very soon leave
the southeastern side 10 the shade. We
should not forget that the sunshine is
healthgiving; dampness and shade, il
slightly in excess, injure 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 90 not hesitate
to say that many family mourns the
loss of 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
very easy in building to make open fire.
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 II 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 room is farthest from the floor; SO
II we make our rooms ten or eleven feet
high we must heat the air. iu all that
upper part before person sitting at o
table begins TO feel OF 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 eco lomicil as COM
pared with stoves and Ligh ceilings.
Nine feet is, think, an extreme height
for the calling Of an ordinary country
house, tay one in which the largest
room is not more than twenty feet
square. or OF equivalent area.
Besides. there are other numerous
considt ratiol which tend TO the saving
Of fu Il spd at the same time increase
the healihfulness aud comfort OF homo.
Some Of these are The material Of the
walls, tt1ir inpt Leirsbiiity to air and
moisture. detfsbiug" Of the floors,
which adds gr, atly 10 their warmth,
good j0iner work about windows and
doors, etc.