The Bulletin. 'm 



outfits, but in every case they express the utmost satisfaction when they once 

 get tlio prol)loni solved and realize the benefits. When an entirely ade<|nate 

 supply of water may be put in the average farm kitchen at from .$50 to $150, 

 and we still see farmers wasting their money on "more land," while the wife 

 breaks 'her health and her hack dragging water by physical force, we wonder 

 whether after all our nuich Itoasted Southern chivalry is showing itself in a 

 proper way ! Just think on this a little. 



BUILDING A HOME. 



Construction. — Some of the younger men in this audience have not yet 

 built homes of their own, but will soon do so. and a word to them may not be 

 out of place. There are certain little ideas which it were well to have in 

 mind from the start. I find many who begin I)y building merely a little 

 cabin with the expectation of building a larger, good house, a year or two 

 later. Let me beg of you. that whether you build cabin or mansion, determine 

 that it shall be of "good material and substantial construction. Smooth, 

 dressed, matched lumber for the floors, tight joints, abundance of windows, 

 rooms enough to give needed privacy to family or guests, a water-proof roof, 

 for always remember that poor cro])s or financial losses may force you to make 

 your temporarv "shack" the permanent home of a growing family. 



If you can afford to devote as much as .$S00. or .$1,000 or more to your 

 house, I believe it will pay you to get regularly prepared plans by which to 

 build— either go to- some good architect in the nearest city, or consult the 

 plans for farm-houses as often published in farm papers or magazines. Some 

 friend or relative who lives in town may be able to give you many useful 

 pointers. Try to get an arrangement which will give the greatest amount of 

 convenience and usefulness and will involve the least expenditure of money, 

 time and labor. The North Carolina Architectural Association has a rate 

 of 31/. per cent on country houses: that is to say. that for the plans and 

 specifi"cations for a house costing $1,000 the architect will charge you $35. 

 Well drawn and carefully planned specifications are an economy, for it is 

 the architect's special business to know how to arrange a house so that it 

 shall give the best satisfaction at the cost involved, and his livelihood is 

 dependent on his ability to prepare plans that will give satisfaction. Fancy 

 corners and gables are not needed, but a pantry, a bath-room, convenient 

 stairways of an easy slope and conveniently arranged closets, hallways, chim- 

 neys, etc.. are essentials worth looking after. By all means have the rooms 

 high and provided with plenty of windows. Let there be plenty of bed-rooms to 

 allow for additions to the household without crowding to an unhealthful 

 degree. Plan for a closet in each bed-room and plan for a good interior 

 finish on the wall and ceiling either of plaster and white wash, or a neat 

 papering. Let's make it a bright -and cheerful home while we are at it — one 

 that the little woman will be proud to preside over and not feel obliged to 

 apologize for. 



Paint.— The house should be painted by all means. The colors should be 

 simple and harmonious. Dabs and streaks of yellow, green and red do not 

 make a pretty house. It is a good general i-ule to use only two colors on 

 the exterior of the house, as for example, white for the main painting and 

 dark green for the blinds, mouldings and other trimmings. Any combination 

 that seems suitable and in taste may be used, but avoid overdoing the matter 

 with a gaudy combination of colors. A good coat of paint will not only add 

 to the appearance of the place, but gives it an actually better money value, 

 increases the feeling of comfort and satisfaction of the family, and also will 

 enable the lumber to stand the effects of time and weather better. A pros- 

 perous small farmer in Catawba County did a nice .iob in this matter; hav- 

 insr built a very comfortable six-room house, he had it varnished and papered 

 inside, and painted on the outside, the entire work costing him in the neigh- 

 borhood of $120. Doubtless he hired the work done, and could have saved 

 some by doing it himself. At any rate, that cost covered painting, papering 

 and varnishing, making not only a neat and attractive exterior, but an inte- 

 rior that was bright and cheerful. This man is a poor farmer of only the 

 most moderate means, but he has a correct ideal set up for a nice home, and 

 he is realizing it. 



