HOMES,
AND HOW TO MAKE THEM.
E.C. GARDNER.
Illustrated.
BOSTON:
JAMES R. OSGOOD AND COMPANY,
LATE TICKNOR & FIELDS, AND FIELDS, OSGOOD, & CO.
1875.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874,
BY JAMES R. OSGOOD & CO.,
in the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington.
UNIVERSITY PRESS: WELCH, BIGELOW, & Co., CAMBRIDGE.
PREFACE.
These letters between the architect and his friends are composed ofhints and suggestions relating to the building of homes. Their aim isto give practical information to those about to build, and tostrengthen the growing demand for better and truer work.
Even those who are not yet ready to build for themselves are seldomwithout an instinctive longing to do so at some future time, and alively concern in the present achievements of their friends andneighbors, in this direction. Such will, I trust, find somethinginteresting and instructive in these pages, and be moved thereby to amore cordial hatred of whatever is false and useless, and love for thesimple and true.
SPRINGFIELD, March, 1874.
CONTENTS.
LETTER I. EVERY MAN SHOULD HAVE A HOME
LETTER II. A GRATEFUL CLIENT
LETTER III. THE BEAUTY OF TRUTH AND UTILITY
LETTER IV. PROFESSIONAL FOLLY
LETTER V. BUILDING-SITES AND FOUNDATION-WALLS
LETTER VI. GRAVEL-BANKS AND QUAGMIRES
LETTER VII. NATURE'S BRICKS ARE BETTER THAN OURS
LETTER VIII. THERE IS A SOFT SIDE EVEN TO A STONE WALL
LETTER IX. A BROAD HOUSE IS BETTER THAN A HIGH ONE
LETTER X. TROUT BROOKS ARE BETTER THAN STREET SEWERS
LETTER XI. THE STRENGTH AND DURABILITY OF BRICK
LETTER XII. THE WEAKNESS AND SHAM OF BRICKWORK
LETTER XIII. SKILL DIGNIFIES THE MOST HUMBLE MATERIAL
LETTER XIV. EVERY MAN TO HIS TRADE
LETTER XV. THE COMING HOUSE WILL BE FAIR TO SEE AND MADE OF BRICK