Page:Every Woman's Encyclopedia Volume 1.djvu/33

 15 WOMAN'S HOME AN OFEM=AIR BEDROOM Sleep Out of Doors " is Sound Advice— The Construction of a Suitable Shelter— The Revolving Bedroom — English Winters are not so violent as to Prohibit Sleeping in the Open " Cleep out of doors " is the advice now given by the specialist and by many leading general practitioners to the tired, overv^rought woman, the woman suffering from the only too-prevalent modern com- plaint of " nerves." This advice undoubtedly is very sound. One hour's dreamless, delicious sleep in the open is worth three in a stuffy bedroom. No matter how large and well-aired the bedroom may be, it can never be so healthy as the outdoor sleeping-room when it is used under the doctor's orders. A £s SHED The simpler type of shed shown in the illustrations can be built in a few days, and at the small cost of ^5. It is built of the cheapest form of " weather-boarding," and is erected on a foundation of loose bricks. One side, it will be noticed, is left entirely open. The floor is of wood, and the roof, which slopes steeply, is made of two layers of boarding of a better quality than the sides, and over this is a covering of thick felt, which has received several coatings of tar. If the intending " sleeper-out " is the owner of the garden, the foundation of loose bricks is unneces- sary. If, however, the garden is only rented, the shed, if built on the ground or on a permanent foundation, may be claimed by the landlord should the tenant leave the premises. By building on loose bricks, the tenant can consider it is his, and it may be taken to pieces and removed at any time. The roughness of the wood used for the flooring and the throe walls is imma- terial. The more knot-holes there are, the more air-currents there will be to circulate about the head of the sleeper. But for the roof, strong close-grained boards, without knots, should be chosen. The first layer of boards is laid on horizontally, the second layer should be placed vertically. In the first shed illustrated, the builder omitted the precaution of laying the boards in opposite directions. It was found to let xn rain in several places, and it was necessary to add sheets of corrugated iron on top. In the second type of shed, however, the roof is of double boarding and felt only, and it has been found absolutely rainproof. The boarding of the walls overlaps slightly at each joint, to prevent rain drifting through sideways. The outside of the walls is tarred, but one coat is sufficient. In the back wall a board just under the roof has been omitted. This ensures that a draught of air shall be passing always through the hut. The inside walls are left entirely bare, and the only furniture is a simple camp-bed. There are no dust-traps in the shape of curtains, carpet, wallpaper, or unnecessary pieces of furniture. In damp weather the bed is swathed in waterproof sheeting during the day, as atmospheric damp sometimes penetrates to the bed-clothes after several wet days in succession. (This sheeting can be bought at any large draper's for is. 6d. a yard.) On bright days it is a good plan to air all the bedding in the sun. The usual form of sleeping-shed is 10 feet square, and 16 feet high in the centre. The prolonged slope of the roof over the open front of the shed keeps out rain, but does not impede the free entrance of air. On the stormiest nights the rain does not penetrate more than a few inches inside the shelter. The bed is, of course, placed a foot or two from the opening, and is then quite out of reach of rain. An iron gutter running along the front of the roof carries off all drips i a wet weather. MORE EL.^BORATE PATTERNS Another shed is built on a more elaborate plan, and is used as a garden - sitting- room by day, and as a sleeping apartment at night. Two of its sides are fitted ^vith movable panels which can be fixed up or taken down in a few seconds. The sleeper, therefore, is not at the mercy of a high wind, and in very hot weather it can be used with both sides open to the air. The ccst of this shed is ;^i2. A revolving shelter, which can be turned in any direction at a moment's notice, is perhaps the most luxurious form of outdoor bedroom. A shed of this type can be bought ready made at any of the leading furniture stores, at prices varying from ;^io lo ^30. om which can be built in a few days