New-York tribune., 1896-10-04
A WOMAN BUILDS A HOUSE.
r1Er1C1-1TJEs EXCITEMENTS AMI
PLEASURES OF THE UNDERTAKING.
THE BJ-RI.Y BUILDER AND THE MiLD-MANNhhhD
ONE-AN UNREAL FIREPLACE AND
BATHTUB rOR sHOw-THE EPl-
sODE OF THE TOWER.

soDE OF THE TOWER.
"Wiu " excuse me while measures the fireplace
again? The truth is, Missy yer mother KNOWS
what she wants. and she gifts it, but the 'ao! l
am working fer now. she don't know "Hat sic
wants and she don't git it. Sure. I've torn down
her fireplace three times now. ana shc odsh'cf "e
satisfied
IL was the voice of TIE little Irish mason Oh 'i'e
village who thus addressed my half-erown daush-
ter had been through siege of building ana
this was the first intimation that had saiheu ''e
desirable reputation of KNOWN JUST "h''
woptod This was the colloquial phrase in when
the village workmen described those PERSONS .'
or female whose orders they understood anu
spe,tod Those pers ons who did not Know "h"'
they wanted" were subjected to all manner Oh i'Po
siton. Even somewhat conscientious "o' N
coulJ not restrain themselves from taxing ahN""-
tage OF a person who didn't know Jce from
stud" 1t turning against ma'ii, -,
They argued justly that some people o''' "
the difference "twixt good work and bad anu
were likely to grumble over piece ol "o'N ~
which u mechanic could take genuine P''"' ~
fail TO notice bad botch
,rhe village was one In which women were ac'''
dentally in the majority among propei'! -"o'
The place governed under specl", . ~
by village President and II foafu VI
usually spoken OF the Board. "rosShops'
tra1nps and various nuisances of th" average VIZ
I,re were forbidden it's precincts. II Is propaoF
for this reason that peaceably inclined "iuo"'
and maiden ladies' without any masculine p'o-
tectors had sought the kindly atmosphere so"
times in full confidence that 'lhc Boar" "'"'.
act as protector and adjuster OF an? personal
rrievonccs though the Board was never known
- do arv,b,rr Of this kind. Still I think but for
these traditions of the paternal character oi III"
Board | might never have launched upon 80
of building. | had suffered from II series VI "'
agreeable city landlords one oi th'h' WIS "'""
amiable enough TO promise anything. put 100 sh"'-
less TO attend to the necessary repairs OF MS hou
Another was an ignorant sandman VINO hau ho
corcoption of tho ordinary necessities or "a COM
fora b. dwelling house. lie casually relerreu 10
the bathtub which needed repairs. as soihe'h'h
more for show than anythin' else; no use cePt III
sickness" He also Informed me that the hicPiaVe
was for .'show" and he objected TO our "riskin
Providence maxim fire in sich a place. our
last landlord was so close in money matters thht
he totally refused to make any repairs at all an"
contented himself with eXacting his rent on ihc
hrst of every month in advance. A longing ni'ed
ne to possess a hcarthstonc of my own-a long
ing which every healthy minded woman possesses
In common with the wild brd ana creatures vi "e
forest and field
What touches our sympathies more keenly than
the hole OF the wild fox. where she hides her pref
ty cubs or the nest of the bird lined with the
down Of her breast? Is not this longing FOR homes
OF our own one of the strongest instincts In
I'm common with our humble kinfolk Of the woods
and fields? Can any theories of co-operaiv" house
keeping superscde an instinct 80 sacred, so
,ccI-seated in the foundation of human nature?
My children and | longed for real fireplace.
where we could burn knots of pine wood on a blue
tiled hearth without ''rskin Providence. vision
Of Il rambling Dutch cottage. with low ceilings
and "A broad. ample sitting-room lighted 10y a
sunny bay-vindow possessed my imagination
that finally all natural fear of venture was con
qucrcd. The yearly hosira Of our iuritur" wa" I"
ccase in this peaceful spot. where the wood
thrushes and robins sang and wild Creatures
played about the premises. My girls were never
weary watching the woodchucks or the squr-
Icls which came down the trees timidy. AS II TO
inspect purchase.
began to be visited 10y local builders. one
burly man with a red face was mentioned to me
person who had formerly drank hard" and
was tryin' to reform IT WAS added tha, it
"a charity to employ him" The burly man seemed
under the impression that | was possessed OF
wealth. for he said tn" cottage would cost from
500 TO si.cpi. lie inspired me with the most in
tense dstrust. though found he was man Of
some knowledge and taste In architecture. Nv
fears were confirmed 10y stories of his doubtful
methods repeated to me. The second applicant for
the work was a man with fiery red hair. and ap
parcntly of the ungoVcrnablc temper supposed to
accompany II. lie was brought TO me by fcmi-
ninc resident OF tho villag" FOR whom he had built
mouse. lie seemed 10 tHlbh ne couIl secure ihr
lob" by putting his aggressive front
lie said plainly that the men who had been to
See previously 'all beats without no
credit and he added that 1t hard place
for woman alone and he intmatcd that win
men didn't know nothn' about buidin' nohOw."
Finally. mili-looking ll;tlc man. wiki worn.
tired face and a stumbling figure. came 20
He did not make any pretensions or abuse any
lie said he would do "A squar' joh. and do II any
way I wanted It done. lie would estimate the
Job" the labor. and could buy my own
stuff" lie said he and mis- partner had built some
OF the largest houses IN the village and | could
look at 'cm. | did tell him that did not know
exactly what ne meant by Labor estimate. or that
| had the hazy idea OF the form OF building
contract. The mild-manncred man finally clinched
all his arguments 10y adding tina. ne would build
house just I wanted IL for $3.50.
This near my own estimate. gained by ex-
aminng books of building plans. | imagined at
this time that could pay for house as paid for
my clothes and my household supplies ana receive
a receipt in return for my money. | knew did no.
know how to estimate the proper amount OF lumber
or the proper kind and felt was completely At
the mercy of the contractor in these matters. The
mild man had a good name in the village an
honest builder" "Hc amt made no;hn'
buildin'' was the compliment one OF MS townsmcn
paid him. "IIe don't know enough to estimate:
Sharpe always gifts the best Of him." he added.
Sharpe was the burly man. who had first talked to
me- and toward whom felt such distrust What
had he TO do with this mild, honest man?
The morning my contractor appeared with
a paper OF estimates and elaborate architectural
sketch. Sharpe was with him. lie was the ''pard-
ner'' referred 10. Mr.. Jimmy Brown. the mild man
VINO was spoken of as Jimmy by mis- men and
the village people in general left the estimates and
plars with me. telling me he would make any alera-
ton or change | could suggest explain any csti-
mates. lie again assured me he would do 'squar
lob" and would call the next day for my decision
The sketch nearly what wanted. so thor
oughly in accord lin its lines and gables with the
vision that filed my thoughts, that | could ask
nothing more There were some uttarian changes
to he made, but they were slight ones. There was
no estimate for mason's work, and none for the
furnace or for the plumbing. but Brown chcerfuy
tald ahaut fhcsc would BE- lie said frank