FARM ARCHITECTURE. 147 



The room or rooms most constantly used by the most 

 important members of the family should be those, which, all 

 things considered, are most desirable for such occupation. 

 But rank varies in different families. With some the hisfh- 

 est consideration is given to the children, with others to 

 parents, with others to visitors and rich relations. I should 

 vote for the children. 



I think most housekeepers who in common phrase " do 

 their own work " would like a kitchen to be light, sunny, 

 and cheerful, with windows looking out upon the garden, 

 orchard, or fields of grass and grain, — not into the barnyard 

 or sink-drain, — and a view of hills and woods beyond. 



Even if the heavier housework is done by hired help, this 

 room, which is the workshop, and in which the daughters of 

 the house must serve their apprenticeship, if they would 

 ever manage households of their own, should be as comforta- 

 ble as possible, and not placed beyond easy access and over- 

 sight from the family sitting-room. 



I wish farmers and their wives and families, and all men 

 of good sense and moderate means, with their wives and 

 families, could learn what a great saving of expense, and 

 what a grand addition to the enjoyment of living, is secured 

 by using the best room in the house ever}- day ; in brief, by 

 discontinuing the parlor as a parlor. 



I wish husbands and wives could realize the fact, and 

 practically illustrate it, that to no one but each other do 

 they owe the best they have to give. 



I wish fathers and mothers would understand that their 

 sons and daughters will never be gentlemen and gentle- 

 women unless they learn to respect what is good and clean 

 and beautiful by daily familiarity with whatever good things 

 the house contains. 



If parlor furniture, parlor ornaments, and parlor treasures 

 have any higher mission than to civilize and elevate those 

 who own them, I should like to know what it is. 



We hear about the deatructiveness of children ; we hear 

 of it, and we see it. It grows by indulgence. We can tell 

 in five minutes whether a child has been bred in daily famil- 

 iarity with the best things in the house. Sometimes he be- 

 trays his mother's early education. If he has, he knows 

 instinctively what things are to be seen and heard, but not 



