Notes, Communications and Reviews. 367 



The vexed question of the parlour once more comes in for 

 discussion, and the Committee arrive, apparently with some 

 reluctance, at the conclusion that for labourers' cottages, and 

 for farms not exceeding twenty-five acres, the extra expense 

 in construction which the provision of this room entails, is 

 not justifiable, although the desire for it on the part of the 

 occupants is recognised. Many people will find it difficult to 

 accept this conclusion. The parlour is not merely the useless 

 depository for wax flowers and stuffed animals that many 

 allege it to be. The desire for it is the outward evidence of an 

 unexpressed longing for more refinement of life and better 

 conditions generally, and surely this should be encouraged at 

 all costs and not stifled. Moreover, the parlour is useful for 

 many practical purposes ; it is available for the reception of 

 visitors ; it can serve, on occasion, as an extra bedroom ; and 

 when death has laid his hand upon some member of the family, 

 the parlour will afford a temporary resting-place for the remains 

 — a very real boon where families are large and houses small. 

 The writer has noticed constantly that where one living-room is 

 the only accommodation which the house affords, the family 

 will convert it into the parlour, whilst they crowd themselves 

 uncomfortably into the scullery, or back-kitchen, for meals, 

 &c., and many of those whose work brings them daily in 

 contact with the labouring classes must have noticed a growing 

 tendency in this direction. A room of the smallest possible 

 dimensions is all that is wanted, and whenever possible it 

 should most certainly be provided. 



Coming to the question of construction, the Committee 

 deal with every point with the same attention to detail already 

 noted. It is pointed out that 9 in. solid walls are rarely 

 weather-proof in the country unless coated with rough-cast ; 

 better still, 11 in. cavity walls should be specified. Attention 

 is drawn to the advantage of overhanging eaves, both in 

 appearance and in the protection afforded to the walls. Roof 

 coverings, floors, window details, all are fully discussed, and 

 the Committee point to the desirability of adhering as far as 

 possible to local building materials, so that, for example, the 

 eye may not be offended by a roof of thin blue Welsh slates 

 arising in the midst of houses covered with pantiles. All will 

 agree, too, with the remark that there is no justification for 

 cramped, narrow, villa-fronts in country districts where 

 economy of space is by no means the first consideration. 



As to the use of special materials to efirect economies, 

 attention is drawn to the difficulty of generalising, owing to 

 the wide fluctuations in the cost of various materials, and 

 the recent advances in the prices of timber and of cement are 

 instanced. The Committee also point out that there are certain 



