Woekingman's Model Home. 399 



site side of the wall, was also with the view of making the plumbing bill 

 as low as possible. Traps were of the best sort. 



The stairway was made of yellow pine_, posts and balustrade oiled. 

 Many prefer varnish as a finish. It is brighter and brings out better 

 the natural grain of the wood. The objection to it is that it shows 

 every knock and scratch. The floors were of carefully selected and 

 matched pine. In all the rooms of the first story the floors were 

 painted in suitable tints not too dark. In the second story brown stain 

 M-as used instead of paint in order to test the relative durability. The 

 stain used was of the best, two coats being applied. ISTo floors in a 

 private house could ever get the wear that came on these floors during 

 the five months that the house was open. The paint wore the better, 

 looking decent long after the stain had disappeared. 



The walls throughout the house were painted. The first cost of 

 paint was considerably greater than paper, but it needs much less 

 frequent renewal, and from a sanitary point of view is far preferable. 

 The plastered walls should of course first receive a perfectly smooth 

 finish. Then the paint can be wiped like' the woodwork and kept 

 perfectly free from dust, dirt and bacteria. Care should be taken not 

 to get the walls and ceilings too dark, and colors should be selected that 

 will harmonize well with the furnishing; a pretty tinting costs no 

 more than an ugly one. It costs very little more to have the ceiling a 

 few shades lighter than the walls and the effect is better. 



In the sitting room the open fireplace was of the yellow Pennsyl- 

 vania brick of which the chimney was also built. The basket grate 

 burned either wood or coal. 



The estimate for the house did not include the outside blinds, or 

 screens for doors and windows. The blinds were put on at Chicago in 

 anticipation of great heat, outside shutters which prevent the sun's 

 ra3's from striking the glass being the most effectual method of keep- 

 ing a small house cool. As for the screens, black mosquito netting 

 tacked tightly to the outside of the windows costs ver}' little and does 

 not look badly. If the man or woman of the family has any gumption 

 a light door frame can be made and covered with the same, for the side 

 door at least, which will be most used by the family. 



A cellar underneath the whole house was included in the estimate, 

 nothing being allowed, however, for partitioning it into rooms or for a 

 cement floor. The lack of a cement floor was a grave error. In most 

 localities this would be a sanitary necessity unless the under drainage 

 was absolutely perfect. Even then there would be the dangers from 



f round air which only the most careful ventilation could overcome, 

 'he entrance to the cellar was under the stairway. At Chicago, the 

 house being situated on the sand, not far from the lake shore, the dig- 

 ging of a cellar was not considered practicable. 



The question was asked many thnes, "What changes would you 

 suggest after having lived in the house ? " The changes in arrange- 

 ment which seemed desirable were few. 



If the two front windows on both floors were put together and a sin- 

 gle larger, perhaps, a double window made, more convenient wall space 

 would -be-given. This was particularly desirable in the bedroom, where 



