72 HOW TO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY 



say nothing about a play room, because in the coun- 

 try there is room enough out of doors. I have very 

 little patience for a man in the country who must 

 have a billiard table in his house, and who is out of 

 doors " securing exercise " at golf links. I cannot 

 see such a fellow without a desire to use up a golf 

 stick about his legs. There is his share of work in 

 this world to be done and somebody else is doing it. 



I am not arguing against games for the young, nor 

 for that matter against games for the old. Only I 

 would like to have you turn the intelligent and joy- 

 ous side of work to the front and let the young people 

 learn that work need not be a task, but that it may be 

 and ought to be a pleasure. 



Let your house be thought out thoroughly, in every 

 item, with full consideration of your own individual- 

 ity and the peculiarities of everyone, young or old. 

 Good air and good water should be provided 

 throughout the whole house. A bath room is an 

 absolute requirement, not for delicate bathing, but 

 for plenty of splashing and fun a place for chil- 

 dren to learn the love of cleanliness. Make the win- 

 dows large and let them swing or slide. There 

 should be at least one fireplace in every country 

 house, and in the Southern States it should be one of 

 the main features of a home. In my Florida house 

 I have four, for sleeping rooms, library, and dining 

 room. It takes but two or three minutes to start a 

 glorious blaze with pine knots or cones, and fuel is 

 so plentiful that you are not inclined to economy. 



