ummer, and be tightly closed, at the bottom, in Winter,
secures all the benefits, without the evils, of an outside door.

Constructing houses, without open fireplaces in chambers, or any other
mode of ventilation, is another sad violation of the economy of health.
Feeble constitutions in children, and ill health to domestics, are often
caused by this folly.

The _economy of comfort_ is often violated, by arrangements made for
domestics. Many a woman has been left to endure much hard labor and
perplexity, because she chose to have money spent on handsome parlors
and chambers, for company, which should have been devoted to providing a
comfortable kitchen and chambers for domestics. Cramping the
conveniences and comfort of a family, in order to secure elegant rooms,
to show to company, is a weakness and folly, which it is hoped will
every year become less common.

The construction of houses with reference to _good taste_, is a
desirable, though less important, item. The beauty of a house depends
very much upon propriety of proportions, color, and ornament. And it is
always as cheap, and generally cheaper, to build a house in agreement
with the rules of good taste, than to build an awkward and
ill-proportioned one.

_Plans of Houses and Domestic Conveniences._

The following plans are designed chiefly for persons in moderate
circumstances, and have especial reference to young housekeepers.

Every year, as the prosperity of this Nation increases, good domestics
will decrease, and young mothers are hereafter to be called to
superintend and perform all branches of domestic business, to nurse
children, direct ignorant domestics, attend the sick, entertain company,
and fulfil all other family duties; and this, too, in a majority of
cases, with delicate constitutions, or impaired health. Every man,
therefore, in forming plans for a future residence, and every woman who
has any influence in deciding such matters, ought to make these
probabilities the chief basis of their calculations.[S]

[Illustration: Fig. 17.]

[Illustration: Fig. 18.

Ground-plan.

_a_, Porch.
_b_, Parlor, 15 by 16 feet.
_c_, Dining-room, 15 by 16 feet.
_d, d_, Small Bedrooms.
_e_, Stairs.
_f, f, f_, Closets.
_g_, Pantry.
_h_, Store-closet.
_i, i, i_, Fireplaces.
_j_, Kitchen.
_k_, Bedpress.
_z_, Cellar door.

Scale of Feet.]

The plan, exhibited in Figures 17, and 18, is that of a cottage, whose
chief exterior beauty is its fine prop