Ornamenting New Homes 23 



satisfactory results may be obtained if the work is done by 

 day labor than if by contract. 

 The requirements for a healthful house are, first, 



GOOD DRAINAGE OF THE CELLAR 



A wet or even over-moist cellar is often the cause of 

 much sickness and discomfort, for it serves not only as a 

 place for the development of disease-germs, but also those 

 that cause the decay of the woodwork and hasten the 

 corrosion of any metal substances stored therein. It causes 

 contraction and expansion of doors, windows, casings, and 

 floors, and gives no end of trouble in many ways. From 

 its long use for storing vegetables, etc., we have come to 

 think that a cellar is almost a necessity, but it is not so 

 much so at the present time as when almost every family 

 put in a large supply of provisions for winter use. Now 

 the provision-dealer puts in large supplies and is ready to 

 deliver fresh vegetables and fruit in limited quantities 

 every week, or even every day if desired. 



The cellar is useful in the modern house, however, not 

 so much for storing winter supplies as for the location of 

 the furance and the needed fuel. In the "good old times" 

 our houses were heated by burning large quantities of wood 

 in the fireplaces; then came the stove, one in each room; 

 and finally we have come to centralizing all heating appara- 

 tus in one furnace or boiler, which, until we come to the , 

 condition where all heat can be supplied to our dwellings 

 from outside central stations, either by steam, hot water, 

 or electricity, is by far the most satisfactory arrangement 

 we find now available. 



A well-drained cellar with a good furnace to dry out 

 surplus moisture is a good place for storing fuel and other 

 necessities, and is easily accessible for regulating the heat- 

 supply. 



