THE COTTAGE QUESTION 181 



' artistic effect ' of cottages and undoubtedly add to 

 the cost of construction have been omitted, Mr. Fair- 

 fax-Cholmeley holds that his plans are aesthetically 

 sound ; and this I may say, on my own account, after 

 visiting some of the cottages in question, that they are 

 admirably arranged and are much appreciated by the 

 occupants, who naturally attach more importance to 

 internal comfort than to external decoration. 



I may add, in this connection, that the success of 

 the experiment thus made at Brandsby has led Mr. 

 Fairfax- Cholmeley to devise a model plan for labourers' 

 cottages, which he can build for "150 each. They 

 comprise a living-room, a good-sized scullery, and three 

 bedrooms, each with a fireplace ; but their designer 

 has now decided that in future he will add a ' parlour ' 

 to the cottages. He is convinced, from his experience 

 with cottagers, that there is real use for such a room. 

 The labourer's wife takes pride in it as a place into 

 which, say, the vicar's wife or other visitors can be 

 taken ; and, among other purposes, she finds it very 

 convenient, when ironing, to put the white frocks there 

 temporarily, instead of leaving them about in the living- 

 room. The parlour is also of great service when the 

 kitchen is too hot in the summer ; when accommoda- 

 tion is wanted for an invalid, for a nurse, or for a 

 bedridden member of the family ; and also, in the 

 event of death occurring in the household, as a place 

 where the coffin may be placed pending the funeral. 

 For these and other reasons a parlour is appreciated 

 so much by the average labourer's wife that the Squire 

 of Brandsby has decided in favour of adding one to 

 any further cottages he may build, especially as he 

 finds that the extra room can be arranged for with but 

 a slight change in the plans and at only a slightly 

 enhanced cost. 



