The House that Jill Built after Jacks had Proved a Failure | Page 2

209
64. THE BIG FIREPLACE IN THE KEEPING-ROOM 211
65. ONE WAY TO BEGIN 213
66. A BROADSIDE OF AN EASY ASCENT 215
67. A DIVIDING SCREEN AT THE FOOT OF THE STAIRS 219
68. BITS OF CORNICES 223
69. MOULDINGS FAIR TO SEE, BUT HARD TO KEEP CLEAN 225
70. FRAGMENTS OF ARCHITRAVES 227
71. A CHOICE OF WAINSCOTS 229
72. WOOD PANELS FOR WALLS AND CEILINGS, WITH IRREGULARITIES IN
LEATHER, PAINT AND PAPER 231
73. THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT 235
74. THE FIRST FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT 239
75. THE SECOND FLOOR OF THE HOUSE THAT JILL BUILT 241
76. THE EAST END OF JILL'S DINING-ROOM 243
77. A CASTLE IN SPAIN 263
_Also Initials, Tail-Pieces, etc._

INDEX OF SUBJECTS.
PAGE
BUILDING SITES 16 BRICKS 46, 53, 58 BLINDS 116 CHIMNEYS 179 CONTRACT
WORK 233 COMPETITIVE PLANS 237 DOORS 194 FIREPROOF CONSTRUCTION
54 FALSE CHIMNEY-PIECE 98 FIREPLACES 134 FLOORS 140 FASHION 224
GUTTERS 129 HEATING 97, 132 HEIGHT OF ROOMS 138 HARD WOOD 197
INTERIOR FINISH 221 KITCHEN ARRANGEMENTS 81, 125 PLUMBING 166, 177
PANTRIES 186, 189 PAINT 223 ROOFS 69, 113 STAIRS 38, 214 STAINED GLASS
38, 183 TERRA COTTA 61 UNDER-DRAINING 24 VENTILATING FLUES 178
WINDOWS 110, 183 WOODEN BUILDINGS 51

PREFACE
TO THE REVISED EDITION.
On a recent visit to the young woman whose experiences and observations are contained
in this book, I was greatly pleased to find her zeal and interest in domestic architecture
unabated. She sees that there have been changes and improvements in the art of house
building, but declares that while some of her opinions and suggestions of ten years ago
have been approved and accepted, it is still true that by far the greater number of those
who plan and build houses are guided by transient fashion, thoughtless conservatism and
a silly seeking for sensational results, rather than by truth, simplicity and common sense.
She has no doubt that her daughter, Bessie, will study and practice domestic architecture,
and naturally expects the houses of the future to contain charms and comforts of which
we have as yet only the faintest conception.
E.C. GARDNER. _Springfield, Mass., November, 1895._

INTRODUCTION
"MR. E.C. Gardner, architect, has consented to write us a series of articles upon
house-building," said one of his associates to the editor of OUR CONTINENT a few
months since. "What do you think of it?"
"We have no sort of use for such a thing," replied the editor. "There are treatises enough
professing to instruct people how to build houses. You can't make every man his own
carpenter any more than you can make him his own lawyer. More's the pity."
"But I thought you said you wanted some one who had sense enough to put a thoroughly
capable and accomplished housewife's notions of what a house should be into readable
prose?"
"So I did," responded the editor, "and I still want it, and am likely to want it for a long
time. I do not wish articles on _House_-building but on _Home_-building, and you will
never get such from an architect."
"Don't be too sure of that," said the other, who had had a taste of the writer's quality
before. "Suppose he should wish to try it?"
"Well,--let him," was the grumbled assent.
The editor did not believe in architects. He had built one or two houses that did well
enough on paper, but were simply appalling in their unfitness when he came to try to
adapt the occupants to the earthly tabernacles which had been erected for their use and
enjoyment. He had read house-building books, examined plans and discoursed with
architects until he verily believed that the whole business was a snare and a delusion.

After this experience he had settled down to the serious belief that the best way to build a
house was to erect first a square building containing but one room, and then add on
rooms as the occupants learned their needs or the family increased in numbers. In this
way, he stoutly maintained, had been erected all those old houses, whose irregularity of
outline and frequent surprises in interior arrangement never cease to charm. He asserted
boldly that a man's house ought to grow around him like an oyster's-shell, and should fit
him just as perfectly; in fact, that it should be created, not built. From architects and their
works he prayed devoutly to be delivered, and having theretofore illustrated that part of
the proverb which avers that "fools build houses," he declared himself determined
thenceforth only to illustrate the latter-part of the proverb:--"and wise men live in them."
Having, however, became sponsor in some sort for what Mr. Gardner might write, he was
bound to give attention to it. Very much to his surprise, he found it instead