If you have been living in cottage-chambers,—­rooms in which a full-sized man can hardly stand erect in the centre, and a well-grown baby scarcely creep at the sides, unventilated, heated beyond endurance during the hot summer days, and retaining their heat through the long, wakeful nights,—­rooms in which the furniture must stand at various distances from the walls as if marshalled for the house-cleaning battle, but in which even the making of beds is a work of supreme difficulty,—­if you’ve been living in such rooms as these, I don’t wonder, whatever architects or other men may say, that Mrs. John objects, and insists on good, square chambers.  But good, square chambers no more require flat roofs than good, square common-sense requires a flat head.  I don’t believe you will contrive a house, of whatever form or size, that may not be covered more cheaply, more securely, and more tastefully by a steep roof than by a flat one.  Of course, I’m supposing your house to be isolated.  Buildings in crowded streets or in blocks require, on all accounts, entirely different treatment.  By all means, then, have wide doors, generous windows, and high roofs; and if you must build with strict economy you may be morally certain that your house, though not perhaps as altogether lovely as you might wish, will still be cheerful and homelike.

Allow me to add, that, while faithfully striving to build a house that shall be honest and cheerful, you will surely find yourself growing in the same direction.

LETTER XXII.

From Fred.

Unprofessional sagacity.

Dear architect:  Our mutual friend John recommends me to ask your advice in regard to plans for my new house.  Possibly you may help me, although the floor plans sent herewith are about right; rooms enough and of the right size, the principal ones adapted to the usual widths of carpeting.  I am willing to expend something for the outside appearance,—­in fact, intend to have the best looking house in town,—­but think it would be foolish to build more rooms or larger than I want, much more so to dispense with needed room in order to get a certain proportion of parts.  I merely mention this because, with all due respect, I am doubtless the best judge of my own wants, and don’t care to have the dimensions of the building changed.  The relative location of the different apartments is also satisfactory, except perhaps some slight deficiencies in the rear portion, which I left incomplete for want of time.  As to exterior, would like a French roof and tower, with fashionable style of finish throughout.

Shall commence laying foundation next week, and you will please consider yourself invited to eat turkey with us in the new house next Thanksgiving.

Truly,

Fred.

LETTER XXIII.

From the Architect.