Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 26.djvu/852

832 house by having constant journeys from the basement to the second and third floors.

Too much care can not possibly be taken in providing the necessary conveniences in the way of store-closets near to the kitchen, so as to reduce to a minimum the service and labor expenditure in the house; and in every case proper ventilation is easily obtainable by a little forethought on the part of the architect or builder, so that each closet and cupboard may be kept sweet and airy; there should be no dark corners in which dust and filth may be allowed to accumulate, but ample light and ventilation everywhere. It is easy to provide for a large fresh-air drain or channel from back to front, such as I have named, in every new house, out of which separate ducts may be taken to every cupboard or closet; and this main air shaft or duct should be continued into the back area, or lighting space for the back rooms, so that a constant draught shall be caused, and the air not allowed for a moment to stagnate.

The back areas are often of necessity made small, and if unprovided by some arrangement such as I have described, by which a constant change of air is enforced, the lower portion becomes absolutely foul and unwholesome, and any air drawn from it for ventilation is practically worse than useless.

In Professor Kerr's book on the planning of country-houses, he lays great stress on comfort as an essential element. Now, this means good constructive care in the arrangement of the different portions of the house; all proper and requisite conveniences, light, warmth, and good ventilation every where; freedom from damp and smells, no smoky chimneys, and no badly-constructed floors, through which noise from above or below may be readily heard. If these essentials are not properly looked after, the finest design, the most useful decoration, the most graceful art, all go for nothing, for common-sense people are apt to appreciate the mere material comfort and convenience of the house much more than the art-work in the external elevation, or in the internal decoration of their rooms.

I do not propose to enter upon the question of drains or sewage ventilation, as this subject has been treated by many more able lecturers than myself in these rooms, who have made it their special study, and I would only propose very briefly to refer to it. I can only insist upon every closet being thoroughly ventilated, upon all sink wastes being cut off from the main sewer, and upon all drains which must perforce be carried through the house being laid and bedded in concrete, with man-holes at each end, to sweep them clean from end to end if necessary, for proper traps cutting off all drains directly from the main sewer; that all sink-wastes empty clear over proper traps, and to avoid everywhere any connection with the main drains, whereby sewer-gas can in any way be brought into the house.

All closets and bath-rooms should, if possible, be lined with tiles or