PNEUMONIA PREVENTION 235 



were not of strongly contrasting color. Plain white maple lacked 

 character and easily soiled ; selected grain was used in preference. 



All closet doors were hung to open outward and exterior and 

 interior doors featured to fit their belongings. In some cases a 

 portiere more conveniently screened hall alcove and clothes press. 

 Baseboards were preferably set on the under floor and the joint con- 

 cealed with convex sweeping moldings. It decreased their height but 

 made a better job. 



Built-in drawers were not as a rule exasperatingly deep, and 

 were on rollers operating on centre guide strips. Inside stops guarded 

 incautious handlers from catastrophes apt to occur to incautious 

 handlers of heavily laden drawers. 



Small rubber plugs were set in as well as air check valves affixed 

 to door frames, especially when doors were glass, behind them the 

 regulation door stop, and rubber and metal tipping of heavy furni- 

 ture saved both nerves and floor. 



Hardware. 



Black iron was the motif in the den hardware, and Colonial 

 polished brass wherever suited to the room. 



The small brass drop proved a fine escutcheon, and a few bead- 

 edged brass finger plates were souvenired from grandfather's Colonial 

 house where we all ran rampant, especially on holidays. Some 

 doors had square or oval glass knobs, and porcelain rather than 

 insanitary wood was used in servants' quarters. Lacquered hardware 

 in door knob and handle soon wore off, while polished brass and 

 glass stood all friction tests, but there was no tiresome uniformity in 

 lock, bolt, hinge, escutcheon, window fastening and lift, drawer pull 

 and knob, silver and gold plate, as well as aluminum being also used, 

 the t\vo latter with immense advantage to the woodwork, as they re- 

 quire no cleaning. French casements were fitted with the Cremorne 

 bolt or espagnolette fastening reaching the full length of the window. 

 It rarely gets out of order, and secures both top and bottom with one 

 wrist movement. Butler's pantry doors had the usual double action 

 butt, and mortise locks prevented the use of thin closet doors. The 

 ugly, commercial looking transom adjuster was replaced with a con- 

 cealed wall fixture. 



A key cabinet held duplicate labeled keys of important rooms 

 and outbuildings, and was securely locked. 



Pneumonia Prevention. 



At ceiling height on each floor ventilators connected with a pipe 

 leading into the brick chamber surrounding the range chimney tile 

 flue, which, being generally hot, drew fumes and odors upward. 

 This, with the influx of cool outer air through controlled ventilators 

 at two outer door-sills and under several windows, effectually ban- 

 ished the usual steam-pipe pneumonia-conducing atmosphere that 



