A SANITARY OUTLOOK 373 



in which cottages in certain situations are to be permitted of wood 

 or other material. 



A powerful impulse has been given to improvement in country 

 housing by the articles on the subject which have appeared in the 

 Country Gentleman and Spectator, which have, as by natural magic, 

 invoked the enchanting village at Letchworth, which is now on exhibi- 

 tion, and which I would recommend every sanitary inspector concerned 

 in rural affairs to visit and study diligently. He will there, while 

 enjoying a pleasant picnic, have an instructive lesson, and be able to 

 satisfy himself that a serviceable and comely cottage, in all respects 

 suitable for a laborer or working man and his family, can be built for 

 £150, including builder's profit. He will there see cottages of many 

 different patterns, and built of many different materials, of stone, 

 wood, brick, iron, concrete, cement, steel and plaster in various com- 

 binations, and will obtain from the catalogue full information about 

 the price and specifications of each. He will see a marvelous display 

 of ingenuity and contrivance in the fitting in, of domestic requirements 

 and of making the most of next to nothing. Xo doubt his critical eye 

 will detect flaws here and there, but everywhere he will perceive an 

 intelligent deference to the claims of modern sanitation. The cottages 

 vary greatly; each has an individuality of its own, but sunniness, airi- 

 ness and coziness characterize almost all of them. They appeal to 

 many tastes, but to no tastes that are vulgar or debased. They are 

 pretty, but their prettiness is subordinate to their utility; they are 

 picturesque, but not pretentious. Simplicity and cleanliness are the 

 dominant ideas, and they are cheap with a cheapness that is unbe- 

 lievable until they have been actually seen and examined, and com- 

 pared with the estimates. Think of a detached cottage, well propor- 

 tioned and artistic in design, with a living room with range 15 ft. 6 in. 

 x 1 1 ft. 4 in., scullery with bath, hot and cold water, 9 ft. 4 in. x 

 : ft. 6 in., three bedrooms 9 ft. high. 13 ft. 4 in. x 9 ft., 13 ft. 4 in. x 

 9 ft. and 8 ft. 6 in.; with pantry, two cupboards, coal hole, shed for 

 wood, water closet, water laid on, drains connected, rain water butt, 

 floor of scullery and pantry tiled, and say whether it is dear at £150. 



There are cottages at Letchworth adapted to different climates, and 

 suitable to different districts according to the different material of 

 which they are constructed. I saw some that I thought would scarcely 

 survive a bias! of Boreas on a Scotch hillside, others that could with- 

 stand a hurricane; some that would be in place where timber is abun- 

 dani. others where brick or iron are in the ascendant. 



The village at Letchworth, unique in its diversity of cottage con- 

 tours, planted on a bare common, hut in sight of stately elm trees 

 circling a venerable church, and gaudy with many floral dyes and 

 green embroideries, recalls, of course, Mr,-. Heman's verse: 



