The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1917-02-15
THE FAIR CRITIC
Homes Are Built 10 Please the
Architect, Not the Housewife.
WHAT ONE WOMAN THINKS.
Sinks Hung Too Low, Coal Bins Near
the Laundry Tubs Instead Of the Fur.
ascs and Door That Open the Wrong
Way ASs Breaking Up homsa

CyiticiEing the architects plan OF
most modern houses. one woman says:
THE stove is In corner-loyely
situa ton and right beside the win
Cow. W that one either goes without
air or has the gas blow out every other
minute.
THE sink. which Ia about six inches
too low, Ii also In a corner, with only
one druining board, so that after wip-
ting q dish one has to turn completely
around TO place 1t on table behind.
Also. II one wants combination spigot
one pays TO have II put In, because l
have yet to see sink that was fitted.
-Why are we afflicted with the beau
tifui green tiled spaces In the wall I'M
der the mantelpiecesi ! do not care
for mantlepieccs anyway. and ! GER
tainly do not admire the sheet OF metal
In bronze effect that Is supposed to
conceal the fireplace that isn't there.
"Why are the washtubs within six
feet of the furnace, 80 that every time
enc shakes the furnace or puts on
spoonful OF coal the clothes are dustedl
In this connection why Is there no al
bOwance for u coal bin somewhere near
the furnace1 My bin Is at the other
end OF the cellar, and although l may
stnrt from the bin with shovel OF
coal / arrive at the furnace with three
humps.
My gas hot water heater Is In the
cellar TO be near the laundry tubs In
stead OF the kitchen. although | wash
dishes three times a day and clothes
only once week.
II have lovely glass chandeliers for
electric lights. but there is no provision
for gas In the dining room, living room
and front hall, 80 that when the cleo.
tricity fails retire to the kitchen.
'"rhe light In my pantry is 30 high
that have to climb on a chair to light
It. do not recommend climbing with
. baby In one arm.
Fortunately have no thresholds
downstairs. but upstairs these relics
still interrupt me every time try to
make clean sweep.
"A spigot Is placed at the water en-
trance TO the house to enable one to
cut or the water. but there Is no way
70 cut II of only upstairs. SO that when
one has anything fixed upstairs In the
bathroom the cook In the kitchen and
the laundress In the cellar are left with
out drop OF water. 1t should be only
. matter Of a couple OF stopcocks.
doors that open the wrong way
are ever present. Hospitals have round
corners-why not houses? Why is the
best place In the room always selected
for the radiator?
"My stairs are so situated that one
climbs over the hall radiator to get
there. aud the possibility Of hall rack
II absolutely ignorcd-mine Is In the
dining room-also they are beautifully
wainscoted part OF the way down, so
that the baby has no banister to hold
TO for several feet and usually falls
that distance.
1T Is one reason why so many wo-
men after giving up In despair trying
TO keep domestics In houses 60 to
housekeeping In apartments and then,
finding the last state worse than the
first. give up wrestling with the do
nestle labor problem altogether and go
TO living In hotels. Saving in house
planning involves the very saving OF
the home itself"