298 THE LIFE OF E. J. PECK 



and keep up a healthy mental tone in such 

 surroundings ? We must have for one thing a 

 proper dwelling. This we have been able through 

 the kindness of friends to obtain, and the room in 

 which I write this is, even in spite of the intense 

 cold, comfortable. Our house, which is divided 

 into three compartments, viz., two dwelling rooms 

 and a kitchen (or general reception room), all on 

 the ground floor, is made as follows : First the 

 frame of the house itself, next a coating of tarred 

 felt outside the frame. Boards cover the felt, and 

 canvas, well-painted, covers the boards. Outside 

 the canvas again is a wall of snow four feet thick 

 which breaks the fury of the wind in a surprising 

 manner. 



" Coming now to the inside of the frame we 

 have a packing of moss which we were able to 

 gather in the summer. Inside the moss is the 

 inner lining of boards which are tongued and grooved. 

 Next comes a lining of calico and then a nice bright 

 wall paper is pasted on this. Thus we have from 

 inside to outside, first, wall paper ; second, calico ; 

 third, boards ; fourth, moss ; fifth, tarred felting ; 

 sixth, outer boards ; seventh, painted canvas ; 

 eighth, a wall of snow. The windows of the house 

 are double, with a sliding arrangement for ventila- 

 tion on the outside window. The inner window is 

 fitted with hinges so that they can be opened or shut 

 at pleasure." 



