COUNTRY MANSIONS. 347 



slate. The sides of the bath are generally made perpendicular, or nearly so, 

 or somewhat wider at top than at the bottom : the end for the head generally 

 slopes at an angle of from 45° to 50°, but the foot is commonly perpendicular, 

 slightly sloped," like the sides. One pipe from the boiler or other source of 

 hot water, and another from the cistern or other source of cold water, are 

 Introduced at the back of the bath, but so as not to project into it, thtf cocks 

 being placed against the wall, with their nozzles turned outwards, so as barely 

 to come over one of the sides of the bath. A plate should be fixed in the 

 wall beside each cock, the one inscribed with the word " hot," and the other 

 with the word " cold ; " and the distance of the cocks from the head of the 

 bath should be such, as to allow a person while seated in the water to reach 

 them without inconvenience. In the bottom of the bath, at the foot end, 

 there must be a waste-pipe for emptying the bath, which may either be 

 stopped with a plug, having a grating beneath to prevent the escape of any 

 matters which would choke up the pipe; or the waste-pipe may terminate 

 under a grating or plate pierced with holes in the floor of the bath, near 

 which there may be a stop-cock, concealed by a small trap-door, by turning 

 which the water may be let off at pleasure ; or, what is preferable, if the 

 situation admits of it, the opening of the stop-cock may be in the floor of the 

 room at the foot of the bath. 



419. The Simplest form of a vapour-laih is to have an open boiler with a 

 fire beneath, and over the boiler a grated platform, on which a chair is placed 

 for the batlier to sit upon, while a large cloth or sheet is thrown round him in 

 such a manner as to inclose the whole of the grated platform, and every part 

 of his body except his head. The water being kept in a boiling state, the 

 steam ascends under the cloth, raising the temperature of the bather to a high 

 degree. If thought advisable, herbs may be thrown into the boiler, which 

 will communicate their odour to the vapour. 



420. A shower-hath is always of cold water; and, as it produces no steam, 

 when of the common portable kind, it may be used in any room that is most 

 convenient. When fixed, there may be a supply-pipe, with a stop-cock above 

 it, from some adequate source. When this is the case, the shower-cistern 

 may be placed over the middle of the common bath, and the discharge-pull 

 may hang down close by the wall. 



421. Siination of the offices. — In country houses built twenty or thirty 

 years ago, and subjected to various repairs and additions, nothing is more 

 common than to find the offices placed at the wrong end of the house, or 

 perhaps partly at one end, and partly at the other. There is a positive loss of 

 the labour of the domestics in this arrangement; nor can they, when this is 

 the case, be considered as under the full command of the master and mistress, 

 because they cannot be expected to hear the bells, when the offices are divided, 

 unless there were two sets, one on each side ; while there is a constant passing 

 and repassing of the entrance front, or probably of the lawn front, by persons 

 having business in the kitchen or stable- court. The seclusion of the lawn 

 front, in cases of this kind, is totally destroyed ; and neither the living-rooms 

 of the house, nor the walks in the pleasure-grounds, can be said to possess 

 that complete privacy which is generally considered to be one of the greatest 

 luxuries of a residence in the country. An example of this kind of house was 

 noted by us, some years ago, in the neighbourhood of Chertsey, at Lyme 

 Grove; and, as we were on a visit for upwards of a fortnight to the family 



