May, 1907 



AMERICAN HOMES AND GARDENS 



XXV 



already achieved in this particular, by the way 

 of modern, open plumbing, have already pointed 

 out the way. But, after all, while through 

 this improvement places formerly concealed 

 are now exposed to view, and subjected to more 

 frequent cleaning, the essential root of the seat 

 of decay has not been touched, except where 

 the object of decay has been made of unde- 

 composible material. 



It is not so much the collection of visible 

 trash or filth, in the closets and pipe enclosures 

 of the old plumbing, that was responsible for 

 the unpleasant conditions that went along with 

 it, but the fact that moisture condensed on 

 the cold water-pipes outside, which trickled 

 down and was absorbed by the surrounding 

 wood of the joists or flooring. The amount of 

 moisture thus collected is never sufficient to 

 make the wood actually feel damp, but it is 

 sufficient to support the organisms of decay, 

 the moulds and putrefaction germs, which live 

 in and upon vegetable matter such as wocd, 

 by being constantly supplied with this small 

 amount of moisture, particularly under the 

 stimulus of constant warmth. Now the latter 

 is supplied by the contiguous hot water pipe. 

 These germs of decay, or rather of odor more 

 than of visible decay, are known to the bac- 

 teriologist as "anaerobic," which means that 

 they live in substances out of contact with air 

 or light. The effects of their destructive action 

 are therefore not commonly seen, and only 

 become manifest in course of time to the sense 

 of smell. 



The complete remedy is therefore to make 

 the floors and walls subject to moisture and 

 warmth, either through general use, or through 

 the fact that water-pipes pass through them 

 (as described above), of material which can 

 not decay, that is of purely mineral matter. 



Such material is stone, slate, cement and 

 burned clay tiling. From what has been said 

 above it will occur to everyone, that the floors 

 and walls in which this destructive action takes 

 place, and which, therefore, are the centers 

 from which radiate the influences that destroy 

 the value of the house, are the bathroom, 

 kitchen, and the pantry. 



On account of the attractiveness of the mod- 

 ern bathroom, through the luxury and elegance 

 of the present plumbing fixtures, it has become 

 the object of pride, and a sort of showroom 

 with the modern housewife. In consequence 

 the use of tiling in this apartment has become 

 common, without thought of its importance in 

 the sense just explained. While it is accepted, 

 it is so as a luxury rather than a utility, and it 

 would be well for those who in building are 

 compelled to cut out superfluities, to consider 

 that at bottom the utilitarian aspect of tiling 

 this apartment is of vastly greater importance 

 than the incidental beauty of the work. 



Because its use is as yet so indissolubly asso- 

 ciated in people's minds with luxury, tiling 

 of the kitchen receives with us almost no con- 

 sideration. And yet from what has been said 

 above, it should be plain that this is the first 

 place in which such material should be applied. 

 This is invariably the case abroad, and be- 

 cause it is true, you find habitable and com- 

 fortable houses that are hundreds of years old ; 

 while in our country, the mansions of the 

 wealthy less than a quarter of a century in age, 

 which have been kept as fresh and clean 

 as the labor of servants could keep them, are 

 turned into boarding-houses, not only because 

 the neighborhood becomes unfashionable, but 

 because the houses themselves have become 

 musty, and malodorous, and their well-to-do 

 owners want to build new ones, abandoning 

 them for many causes, among which this is 

 perhaps the least avowed but the most cogent. 

 The kitchen therefore is the place above all 

 places where for the sake of economy the walls 

 and most particularly the floor should be tiled. 



The character of the door plays a most important part in carrying out the architectural 

 motif of any building. It should, of itself, give that artistic appearance of complete harmony 

 with the treatment of the general exterior or interior style of architecture. 



Morg'an Doors 



meet every architectural requirement and lend a touch of genuine refinement and quiet good 

 taste. They become a permanent part of the building, making it more desirable as a dwelling 

 and materially adding to its value. Morgan Doors are identical with all that is correct in 

 design, finish and construction and are sold under an agreement that is an unconditional 

 guarantee of satisfactory service. 



Write for our handsome illustrated book, "The Door Beautiful," show- 

 ing more of the detail of the lieauty and design of the Morgan Door. 



Mor£>an Company, Dept. A, OsHKosH, Wis. 



Distributed By— Morgran Sash & Door Company, Chicago, III.; Morgan 

 Company, Oshkosh, Wis.; Morgan Company, Baltimore, Md. 



A NEW DEPARTURE 



The principle on which the cylinder journal bear- 

 ings of this planer is constructed is a departure 

 from that of the common run of bearings that are, 

 and have been employed ever since a shaft turned 



in a box. Q It is a pat- 

 ented Sectional Clamp 

 Bearing that doesn't re- 

 quire scraping, chiseling 

 or rebabbitting. Q Why.? 

 Q Write us, and we will 

 gladly tell you why. 



1 4 



J.A.FAY&EGANGO. 



209 to 229 West Front Street 

 CINCINNATI, OHIO 



