The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1885-03-05
COUNTRY HOMES.
Some Suggestions Relative to Frame
Buildings In the Country.

Some Suggestions Relative to Frame
Buildings In the Country.
| There has been great change for the
better in farm houses and country
homes in some parts of the country dur.
ng the past quarter of century, but
there is still need enough of change for
The better in many directions in farm
houses remote from cities and large
1 owns. There is no reason why the
| farm house should not enjoy the COM
forts. if not some of the luxuries of the
age. We would not advise extrava-
gance in farm buildings. but we think
! every one should make his home as at
| tractive as possible. 1t does not follow
that house should be of high cost to
! be attractive, for many a modest cot
tage is 4 more pleasant home than some
| palaces.
The home should be the most attract
tive and happiest place on earth. If it
be made so. its influence will be felt BY
every member of the family and by
none more than By the children. In
planning 10 build, one should select Il
suitable location on good high. dry soil.
where the cellar will be free from damp
ness; away from swamps and stagnapt
water. where the drainage Will be good;
and. if possible, where there will be L
good outlook. and vet not too fully ex-
posed to the cold winds OF winter not
too remote from the highway and in a
good neighborhood. Having made such
81 e. Il 4 -,
obtained that will provide for comfort
and yet present an attractive appear
anCe.
The house should be so placed. if
possible, as to have the sun in the living
rooms. 1t should not be over two and
half stories high, so that there will
not be much running up and down
stairs, and all planned for the greatest
! convenience of those who do the house
work. 1t should be well built. back
plastered and covered with sheatiIing
paper on the outside before the walls
are shir"lcd or clapboarded, and thus
made warm for winter and cool for
summer. The roof should be shingled,
and painted or not according to the
taste of the owner. The rooms should
be large enough for comfort, and all
the sleeping rooms upstairs. 1t is
better to have a bathroom and furnace,
hot and cold water, and, when possible,
running water in lie house. The cellar
should be eight to nine feet deep and. if
furnace is put in, brick partitions
should be built so rs to provide a cool
milk and vegetable room.
The house should not be painted
white, but of some neutral tint more in
harmony with nature. After the house
is built, the grounds should be so graded
as to secure lawn, large or small. with
suitable drivcways and walks with trees,
shrubs and flowers All this being done,
we naturally look inside the house, and
here we invade the domain of woman,
with her innate love for the beautiful.
Though we will not even suggest what
shall be placed inside the house, except
possibly good supply of plants, we feel
sure it will be made even more attract
i've than the outside. With such
home. which need not be a very expcn-
Sivc one, any Intelligent person who loves
the country ought to be happy. If chill
dren % away from such 4 home they
will always look back upon it as the one
dear, delightful spot on earth. and their
desire viii be to return to it or secure
one ike it for themselves. We think
farmers often r7ake great mistake in
not making their homes more comfort
able and attractive. when it could be
done ut comparatively little expense.
Wedonot expect that the farmer in
Rel River Valley or in sparsely settled
regions can have all we have spoken of
but are there not many thousands in the
older portions of ourcountry who might?
The work of Improvement has been be-
gun: let it 90 on until our rural homes
shall be made so attractive that the
children will be glad to remain at home
and all be made, contented and happy.
-COnGTcGGti0nniiSt-