The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1884-07-09

BY HENRY STEWART.

dream of the farmers wife is the
new house which, when fortune
comes and the savings suffice for it,
crowns the life-work of the industri-
Gus pair and fulfills all the desires
of the children. Having followed
strictly the good advice of the wise
man, First make it fit for thyself
in the field and then build thine
house." the farm has been put IN
order, the fences have been perma-
nently made, the fields have been
drained, the stables and barns have
been built and furnished with all the
modern Improvements, the stock
has been selected and improved,
and if a man might be content and
feel inclined to take his ease and eat
and drink and be merry, our farmer
might certainly thus enjoy himself
But for years he has promised his
faithful companion and helpmate
that when this and that have been
accomplished, and nothing else re-
mains TO be done, the new house
shall be built. And the time has
come, and all the suggestions that
years of work and experiences OF
discomfort have called forth have
been noted down as a basis for a
plan that shall be perfect. But how
many such cases have happened
when this, the climacteric point of
ones life, has been reached, that it
has been found only source of dis
appointment at a time when it is
really too late to mend and all for
want of experience in such matters.
One must build at least three houses
before he can avoid even serious
blunders. And then he will have
learned at least the principal re-
quirements for a comfortable and
healthful house And these we will
from our own experience in this
business, endeavor to here recapitu-
late.
FTrst--The site must be chosen
where the cellar will be perfectly
dry or can be made so by easy and
thorough drainage; where the house
can be sheltered from the north
west winds and be open to the east
and south, and where the surface
water will flow away in all direc-
tions, leaving the foundations quite
free.
iSecond-The water supply must
be ample and perfectly pure, and be
brought so close to the house as to
be easily reached in fine weather,
and for winter it should be brought
into the house.
Third-The necessary outbuild-
ings should be located conveniently
for access, but with perfect safety as
regards drainage, that the water sup
ply shall not be contaminated.
Fourth The kitchen should be
the pivotal point of the establish
ment. around which the rest of the
house may be grouped with regard
to convenience and comfort. 1t
should be large, well lighted, face
the east, have high ceiling, and be
provided with a range. water-back
with boiler, a sink provided with
drain, and pump from the well, or
by means of two-way pipe; this
pump should be connected with the
well and the cistern both. 1t should
have large closet and store-room
large enough to hold full supply
of groceries for at least half year.
Ftth-Outside there should be a
laundry, with stationary tubs con-
nected with the boiler in the kitchen,
and with a rain-water cistern made
over this apartment, into which the
roof water should be led. The over
flow from this cistern should go to
another cistern dug near the house
outside. From this laundry stair
way should 90 to the cellar.
iSirth-The cellar should not be
more than five feet below, the ground
and fully three feet above it, having
plenty of windows to let in light and
air when necessary. There should
be no wood about the cellar; the
floor should be cemented and the
walls and piers made of brick.
.SeUenth-The main living-room
should be on the south side of the
house and have large bay-windows.
through which the blessed sun may
come and bring life and health and
happiness all the day. Never mind
if the carpets fade or the furniture
covers are bleached white; the moth
er's cheeks will haye the roses, and
the children will be brown and
hearty.
EighM-There should be hall
through the house, running from
west to east, so that with both doors
open a stream of fresh, pure air, la
den with the sweet scent of the ro-
ses outside, may pour through the
house.
The parlor may be on the west
and north, and here the good. care
ful housewife may cherish her bright
carpet and her unstained furniture,
fearless of the suns rays, excepting
those golden ones which come low,
slanting in from the west, but which
are harmless from want of chemical
action, and yet beautiful and cheer
ing. A broad veranda may run
from the west front around the north
corner, providing cool retreat for
summer evenings, gossips, and a
shelter from the wintry bluster of
rude Boreas. The hall should he
wide, giving room for broad stairs,
and these should have an easy slope,
with low, broad treads and landings
between the floors, SO that the old
folks may go up and down with
ease and comfort to their now stiff
ened limbs and their wearied mus
cles. The living groom should have
an open fireplace, and no account
should be made of the dust of it as
compared with its cheer and COM
fort.
Space forbids more than a word
or two as to the upper rooms, but if
we can fully appreciate and under
stand these hints, SO far as given, it
will not be difficult to arrange these
successfully; but one must never
forget that abundant fresh air is in
dispensable to healthful rest, and
sleeping.rooms should have high