House and Garden 
ordered, or counter claims on the part of the contractor. It is 
usual for the superintendent to make a weekly report in detail a 
log, in fact—of all that has happened during the preceding six 
working days, so that any doubtful questions which may arise in¬ 
cident to the closing of the transaction are specifically covered by 
notes made at the time. C. E. 
FLOWER HOLDERS 
How are the flowers held in place in the baskets or other large 
receptacles shown in Mr. Egan’s article in House and Garden 
for March. C. R. B. 
Wire frames for open mouthed vases, made by any tinner, are 
useful when handling heavy topped flowers, as each may be sepa¬ 
rated and held in place. The mesh should be an inch wide, the lower 
one half an inch from the bottom, the upper one same distance from 
the top of the vase. Copper or galvanized wire may be used. For 
large bouquets, fancy waste baskets or the ordinary oval shaped 
baskets may be used. A tin lining is first made, and fitted into it 
is placed a wire frame similar in construction to those used in va¬ 
ses, only it is made to conform to the outlines of the basket. Where 
the waste basket is used, if it is deep and narrow mouthed, the wire 
frame is not needed but a tin cylinder is necessary. W. C. E. 
RECEPTION ROOM AND BATH ROOMS 
I have been awaiting with much interest the appearance of the 
promised papers on House Planning announced for publica¬ 
tion in House and Garden sometime ago and, pending their 
appearance, would like to ask for advice regarding the following 
points, (i) What are the relative advantages and disadvantages 
of the little “two by four” reception-room sometimes met with in 
modern houses ? (2) How far is it advisable to provide a separate 
bath room for each bedroom, having regard for cost, convenience, 
and “ sewer gas ? ” A reply at your earliest convenience will great¬ 
ly oblige, as I am considering the plans of a new house for myself. 
J- J- s. 
The papers on house planning to which our correspondent re¬ 
fers have been in preparation for sometime, but their publication 
has been delayed by various causes which have made the collecting 
of the examples taken from actual practice needed to adequately 
illustrate them a much slower process than was imagined when the 
papers were undertaken. While it is not yet possible to fix a date 
for their appearance, it is expected that they will begin to appear in 
one of our succeeding issues. 
As to the definite cases cited by our correspondent, the following 
answers may be made. 
(1) Objection to the small “ reception-room, ” properly so called, 
which is found in many recent plans arises from two causes. First, 
because its purpose is not understood and it is accordingly mis¬ 
used even when correctly placed upon the plan, and, second, be¬ 
cause from a misunderstanding of its intended or proper use, it is 
improperly placed upon the plan, improperly that is with respect 
to its relation to other rooms. 
It must not be forgotten that a plan, like other complex organ¬ 
isms, has been put together to serve certain ends, and that each of 
its component parts has, likewise, a specific function to perform. 
If the intentions of the designer are misunderstood, or if he has 
presumed too far upon the delicacy of perception of his client, the 
plan, both as a whole and in detail, will be misused, and the users 
will be accordingly inconvenienced. In this case the plan is not 
PLAN SHOWING THE CORRECT POSITION FOR THE 
RECEPTION ROOM 
a good one because it does not accord with the domestic habits of 
its occupiers. The writer had occasion not long ago to visit an 
old house of the colonial type which was in the last stages of deg¬ 
radation from long abandonment and misuse and was about to be 
torn down to make way for a new street through the old estate. 
A family of rag pickers had squatted in the house, and the draw¬ 
ing room, a mere shadow of its splendid past served as their living- 
room, kitchen and dining-room, all in one, while the library ser¬ 
ved as the common family bedroom. 1 here was of course no 
sink in the drawing-room, nor were there toilet facilities in the 
library, and though these were provided elsewhere in the house, 
the present occupiers preferred to live more compactly than the 
original owners, and apparently did not mind the infrequent jour¬ 
neys to other parts of the house for water or waste. 
Here we have an extreme case where a plan, originally excellent 
and agreeable, has become a bad plan, because ill suited to the 
needs and tastes of the users. So it is with the rcom 111 question. 
The accompanying sketch shows the right position of the re¬ 
ception-room and its correct relation to the principal entrance 
door, the stair hall, and the drawing-room. 1 he reception- 
room is intended to serve, as its name indicates, as a room of first 
reception for all persons, other than members of the family or their 
most intimate friends, who may pass inside the front door. Here 
are dealt with the majority of such persons who thus penetrate no 
further into the house, and so is preserved the privacy of the fam¬ 
ily life, which is the most essential and fundamental condition of a 
successful home. By means of such an arrangement, the family 
comes and goes freely regardless of unsympathetic or unwelcome 
callers. 
As to your second query, it is to be said that the ideal condition 
is one in which every member of the family has his or her own pri¬ 
vate bath and toilet room. Every consideration of self respect 
demands such an arrangement and in American houses of the best 
class this provision is regarded as absolutely essential. No fear of 
“sewer gas,” that exploded bugaboo, need be taken into consider¬ 
ation as the most elemental precautions are sufficient to guard 
against any danger in that direction. Cost is the controlling 
element. C. E. 
206 
