14 Ornamental Cottage for a Laboring Maru 



ORNAMENTAL COTTAGE FOR A LABORING MAK 



BT H. P. KNIGHT. 



WoRKiNGMEN have as much right to live beautifully and be surronnd- 

 ed with the things pertaining to a pretty home, as those whose pecuniary- 

 means naturally suggest the envied luxury. It costs no more to con- 

 struct a tasteful, elegant cottage than those square packing-box abodes, 

 which have become feaifuily epidemic in our country villages. But la- 

 boring men have strong prejudices, constant application to their respeo- 

 tive pursuits, warps their minds and makes them insensible to thing* 

 beautiful. Their energies are so particularly engaged with the all ab- 

 fcorbing idea, of providing the actual necessaries of life, that the possibility 

 of improving their condition, with an ornamental cottage home, is looked 

 upon as preposterous and absurd. The least departure from an ordinary 

 clap-board building being attended by an expense, in their estimation, de- 

 cidedly wasteful, and indicative of a wanton disregard of the value of 

 money. The great obstacle is the want of appreciation and the lack of 

 the requisite cultivation for tasteful objects, that deters the laboring class- 

 es from the delightful pleasure of constructing homes, that will be cher- 

 ished reminiscences in their children's memories. They appear to have 

 no conception of the philosophy of comparative happiness as associated 

 with a rose embowered dwelling-phice. It follows then, that the only 

 manner in which they can be educated in such matters, is by precept, 

 and show them by example that they can enjoy the same style of home, 

 which thev envy in others. It is not imperative because a house is con- 

 structed at'ter a certain quaint fashion, and ornamented, that it should ii>- 

 crcase the expense. The cottage prepared for this article is from Loudon, 

 and has a peculiarly home-like expression, which only requires the aid of 

 trees and flowers to render positively beautiful. The effect is quite pic- 

 turesque, and the design and construction exceedingly simple. 



The material raav be of wood or brick, or any other substance easily 

 and cheaply procured. What is called brick stud work, plastered from 

 the outside, is very cheap and has quite a finished appearance. Only 

 broken brick are used, which may at all times be purchased at brick 

 yards for a small price. The plastering may be finished to imitate stone 

 blocks, and then painted some agreeable and cheerful neutral tint. Tha 

 chimney stocks are ornamented. The) should be manufactured from 

 terra cotta, or Roman cement. The former is preferable, and rany be ob- 

 tained ready made of any design or pattern required. The cost of th« 

 entire building: from the above material would be about $400. 



