COTTAGES AND FARMS 33 



Inside also they are full of delightful incidents, though 

 much altered — especially as to the fireplaces — either to 

 meet more modern needs, or to gratify a perverted taste for a 

 kind of sham gentility that would be unbeautiful anywhere, but 

 that is specially offensive in its obtrusive variance with the 

 quiet dignity of the good old building. But in many there 



Back of the Farmhouse 



still remain the fine old oak stairs, with their stout turned 

 balusters and well-desi<med string and hand-rail. One that 

 is not far off has the handsome dog-gate at the stair-foot to 

 prevent the dogs coming upstairs. The windows retain their 

 iron fastenings, often of pretty design. Some of the older 

 cottages have an iron spring arrangement, by which the 

 casement is held in place when set open at any point that 

 may be desired. 



A fine old pattern of drop-handle, with a spindle that 



E 



