BLVM ENTH A EX aa
I
P^L,
LB
ris
THE STORY OF A HOUSE WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY
VIOLLET-LE-DUC
THE OLD CHATEAU.
THE
STORY OF A HOUSE, TRANSLATED FROM THE FRENCH OF VIOLLET-LE-DUC BY
GEORGE
M.
TOWLE.
ILLUSTRATED BY THE AUTHOR.
BOSTON: .TAMES
K.
Late Ticknor
OSGOOD AND COMPANY &
Fields, ani> Fields, Osgood,
1874.
.V
Co
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874,
BY JAMES in
R.
OSGOOD &
CO.,
the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington
University Press: Welch, Bigelow, Cambridge.
&
Co.,
SRLF
URL
/
y
_^/
COXTEITS, -Page
Chapter I.
II.
1
M. Paul has an Idea Paul's Idea
is
developed, with a little Assistance
15
.
III.
The Tree of Science
31
IV.
Paul's Ideas about Aut, and how they were modified
37
V.
.....••• .........
Paul follows a Course of Practical Construction First Lesson
.
Second Lesson VI.
Third Lesson VII. VIII.
IX.
X.
XL XII.
.... ........
Paul is induced to establish certain Differences between Morality and House-Building
Planting the House, and Operations on the Ground
.
85
114
Building
in
125
Elevation
Paul addresses certain Observations to his Cousin, and 133
Paul sees the Necessity of perfecting himself' Art of Designing
XIX.
74
104
The Visit to the Work-Yard
XVIII.
72
Paul begins to understand
XIV.
XVII.
61
Paul as Inspector of Works
XIII.
XVI.
50
96
Paul reflects
RECEIVES HIS REPLIES
XV.
47
138 in
the
The Study of the Staircases
150 155
Criticism
Paul asks
144
what Architecture
i ,;,;
is
Theoretical Studies Continuation of Theoretical Studies
....
177
188
CONTENTS.
IV
XX. XXI.
A
Hiatus
Resumption of Building.
201
The Carpentry Work
.
208
XXII.
The Chimneys
223
XXIII.
The Canteen
232
XXIV. Joinery
XXV. What Paul learned at Chateauroux XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII.
The Roofing and Plumbing
....
235 243 252
Approaching Completion
262
The House- Warming
269
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Plate I.
II.
The Old Chateau Fig.
"
" III.
"
1. 2.
Frontispiece.
Plan of the Ground-Floor " " First Story
3.
4.
"
"
Main House
"
"
Attic Floor
Page 27
40
.
.
" " "
5.
Front Elevation
6.
Sketch and Section of Drain
7.
"8. "9.
58
Cellar Wall
63
"
10.
Perspective
"
11.
66
"
12.
"
13.
The Cellar Stairs Corbels and Trusses Framework
14.
Sections of Timber
80
15.
Old and
" "
"
V.
56
"
"
IV.
55
.
Section of Clay- Bed " Muddy Soil
"
43
New
16 and 17. Joining
"
.... ....
Fashioned Carpentry
81
bent Pieces
83
Couplings
"
19.
Tracing out the Site.
"
20.
The Graphometer
21.
Plan of the Cellars
" "
" " "
"
69 75
18.
"
65
83
....
87
94 105
.
22.
A
23.
An Angle-Stone
.
110
24.
Section of Sewer
113
25.
26.
The Centrings Plan and Section of Vent-Holes
27.
The Vent-Holes
28.
Economizing Material
Cavalier
108
.... ....
as built
.
.
115 117
119 120
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
VI
V.
Fig. 29.
"
"
30.
31.
The Garden Front
105
The Angle-Stones (Section and Perspective) The Window-Jambs
126
.
128
"
32.
Trimmings for the Ceiling
VI.
"
33.
Binding- Joists and Trimmers
"
"
34.
Perspective View
35.
The Site
138
36.
Concave Sections
141
37.
Rhomboids
38.
Paul's
VII.
" " " "
VIII.
IX.
X.
XI.
"
147
Model
148
....
39.
Outline of the Main Staircase
40.
String-Course for Staircase
153
"
41.
Spiral Step
154
" " "
"
" " XIII.
132
"
" XII.
130
" "
" " " " " " "
"
" "
XIV.
"
XV.
"
42.
Section and Details of Front
43.
A Bay-Window
Wall
.
.
150
.
184 186
44.
The Bay- Window for the Billiard-Room
45.
String-Courses
192
46.
Sectional View of the Hocse
210
.
.
187
47.
Plan of the Roof
48.
Frame of the Roof
49.
Roof of the Main Staircase
50.
Flaws
216
51.
Supports for Floorings
217
52.
\
53.
\
54.
)
55. 56.
Dormer-Windows (Front and Section) Tracing of a Door
57.
Details of a Door
58.
Outline of Casement
240
59.
Details of Casement
241
.
211
212 .
...
.
.
Sawed Faces
214
219
.
.
.
221
237
239
60.
Manner of Slating
255
61.
Plumbing of the Roof
256
62.
The House Opening
282
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. -o-oj^ejoo-
CHAPTER M.
•GOOD soft
PAUL HAS AX IDEA.
time
is
the country assumes
;
who
useful
the sun
garb
;
his
success,
and encour-
look forward, beyond the six M'eeks of rest and
to
it is
alluring-
of his time.
recreation, to attractive labors
Yes,
most
are
brings home, in his baggage, the proofs of the
employment
him
its
skies
All things smile for the young
Everybody congratulates him on ages
The
of vacation.
that
the fruits are ripe. scholar
I
a good time;
more
it
crowned by a
brilliant career.
seems then that the
dazzling, the fields
more
green.
air is lighter,
The dull
rain
seems charged with delicious odors.
No visit
the
sooner
is
it
daylight, than the scholar hastens
to re-
the beloved nooks in the park,
and the fountain, and
make
inquiries for the horses,
little lake,
and the farm
;
to
the boat, and the plantations.
He a nice
chats with the farmer's dame, cake, all
hot.
He
who
smilingly gives
follows the game-keeper,
who
him re-
counts the news of the neighborhood as he makes his round.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. The
of the flocks charm him, as does the monotonous
bells
song of the
little
aspires to the
Yes,
it is
herdsman,
who
has grown somewhat, and
rank of a full-blown shepherd. But, the
a good time.
first
days over, the shade
of the old oaks, the beloved vicinity, the long walks, the gossip
and even the
of the game-keeper,
some
secret weariness, if
boat,
become veiled
in a
favorite occupation does not inter-
vene to employ the thoughts.
It is the privilege of old age
alone to be content with memories, and to find joys always
new
in the contemplation of the fields
The provision
of
memories
and indolent meditation
M. Paul, tions
a
father,
at sixteen years of
projects,
him
!
age, did not
his return to the paternal acres
temper.
make
these reflec-
fine
estate
in
to the
approaching vacation time
that six weeks
Yet
in
had given
How
rise.
throughout the scholastic year, had he not made
would by no means
How many
to realize them.
do
its
gentleman farmer, who possessed a
and postponed to
not suited to
is
he had nearly exhausted the sum of the impressions to
which
many
soon exhausted by youth,
but after a week passed at the country-house of his
;
Berri,
is
and woods.
a
!
afford
It
seemed
him time
things had he to see, to say, to
week everything had been
seen, said,
and
done. Besides, his
elder
sister,
who had been
recently married,
had gone on a long journey with her husband Lucie, his
younger
sister,
she
;
and
as for
appeared to be more absorbed
in her doll
and
its
HAS
PAI'L
.1/.
AN
IDEA.
trousseau, than in the
thoughts of mon-
sieur her brother.
had rained
It
all
The farm, which Paul
day.
the fiftieth time, seemed to
The chickens,
sheltering
pensive; and even
the
visited
him very melancholy and sombre.
themselves along the walls, seemed ducks, dabbling in
a
muddy
The game-keeper, having gone out
were taciturn.
for
puddle,
to kill a
had carried Paul with him, but both had returned within
hare,
doors splashed and tolerably moist.
Paul had,
the
inasmuch as he
had heard them, with few
Add
that
declared,
his disap-
game-keeper's tales long and tedious;
pointment, found
the third time.
to
for
variations,
had
to this that the veterinary surgeon
morning, that Paul's pony must
be kept
in
the stable a week, on account of a chill.
Paul
had read the paper
news
political
little
after
interesting;
dinner, but
and as
he found the
for the
news
item-,
they were deplorably meagre.
M. de
I
randelau (that was Paul's father's name) was too
much
engrossed with his land improvements, and perhaps also with his gout, to try to raise
fore the vision of
delau,
still
the veil of ennui which floated be-
monsieur his son; and .Madame
<
lan-
remaining under the feeling of regret at the recent
departure of her eldest daughter, worked with peration
de
a
sort
of des-
on a piece of embroidery, the destination of which
was unknown
to
any one, and perhaps even
so carefully plied her needles.
to the lady
who
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. "
You have
received
a
from Marie
letter
"
M. de
said
?
Gandelau, putting down the paper. "
Yes,
this
dear,
are
They
morning.
delighted
;
the
weather has befriended them, and they have made, she says,
some charming excursions
in
time be going over the
this
Simplon into
write again from the hotel at "
Very well
;
They must by
the Oberland.
Baveno â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
and their health
Marie will
Italy.
"
" ?
"Is excellent."
"And
their
plan
important matter "
Yes
their
X
;
sojourn
sailing
from
to go to Constantinople
still
on
seems, has received a pressing letter
it
w ill be very 7
Italy
Naples in
month
a
at
the
says this, without seeming to be affected ;
and
I feel
latest
;
and they
for
Good
!
Think you, dear
ourselves
?
And was
X
is
a
thing.
They and
Marie loves him will
come out
we marry
not that agreed upon
enough
to
resist
worthy and honest
and somewhat ambitious,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which ;
she
is
of the ordeal
will return to us like
of
cannot relieve."
wife, that
that few affections are strong
company.
by the length
She
on this account a heart-burning,
dear, that the best of all reasoning "
;
They count on
brief.
scarcely expect to return under a year, Marie tells me.
such an absence
this
?
,
in
is
"
is
?
They say
travelling in
fellow,
by. no
intelligent
our children
laborious
means a bad and well bred.
successfully I doubt not,
two good comrades, having learned
PAUL HAS AN IDEA.
.1/.
to
each other well, to aid each other, and suffice for
know
each
with
other,
that
of
grain
independence which
it
is
one's necessary to have, in order to live in good accord with
kindred." "
is
Yon
none the
but this long absence
;
melancholy, and the year will seem to
less
In spite of
long one.
dear
my
are perhaps right,
I shall
all,
be very happy
when
occupy myself arranging their room here, and when
me I
a
can
I shall
only have a few days to reckon before their arrival." "
Xo
doubt, no doubt
creatures with all is
that
settled
my
we
and
!
heart,
Which
project
?
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and
shall
Paul, too
The
?
Don't do that,
them and
already for
And
this
after
Marie were
mar
my
ters of the
is
We
you wish
a part of
to
Marie's
have room enough
apart
would be a new
it
from
us,
and not
to
grief
if
have her
husband could not remain three quar-
year in the country
;
his avocations do not permit
Marie would, then, be often
it,
would
children, should they have any.
their
established
it
it
project."
beg of you.
long absence,
Besides, her
me.
I
But, since
!
erection of the house
have built on that piece of land which
dowry
embrace the dear
not see them for a year,
shall
be a good time to resume "
I too
left
alone.
What
do you
think she would do in a house, with her husband absent?"
"She self
will
when
do,
my
business
good wife, what you have done yourhas
called
away from home; yet we,
too,
me, as has often happened,
were then young.
She
will
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. busy herself with her house, she will get the habit of man-
and responsi-
aging her household, she will have occupation bility
therefore, contented with
;
she will have created about her.
of
young married people with
The woman who house, with
the
its
it
;
The wife
own
house, and
all
to
in
retained
is
girl
wife
hut she would not be in her her place
is
is
with her mother,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what Admitting this life in
from
it
a
common, want
to
difficult
is
it
is
it
all
is
desire
shown her a
too
to
;
all
young :
a
and thus, even
no coolness
practical
that
arises
there
from
results
things, nonchalance,
the dangers which attend
fulfil
A
house.
on the footing of a guest.
You have brought up your daughter ardently
was
that she
with her mother
least certain
at
and
to be here,
know
own
is
better
perpetual tutelage.
own house
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that
of interest in
even weariness and "
when she
only in her place in her
when she
charge of a
how
knows
her husband would be not less happy to
only in
a true
is
Marie would be very well here, very happy
is
aspires
and the independence which
responsibility,
who
is
life
should be met and encouraged.
responsibility,
be happy than one
;
this
wisely brought up, and has
is
consequence of
with us
common
out in this
their parents.
to be absolute mistress in her
and healthy sentiment
Believe me, I have seen
die
the tenderest family affections
and happy in what
herself,
it.
too well for her not
her duties
;
you have
also
constant activity for her not to wish, in
her turn, to be active likewise.
Give her the means of doing
PAUL HAS AN
M.
IDEA.
"Would you not be happier to see her keeping- and direct-
this.
us cheerfully, than to ing her household well, receiving
your apron-strings, with nothing
find her here, tied to
ways
do; a silent and respectful judge
husband
when
if
you
ways of doing things
a judge of your
will,
Do you
?
to
but after only
have as much pleasure in coming
will
al-
think her
to her
here,
he would experience in seeing
his business permits, as
her at home, happy in showing him what she has been able to do in his
absence,
day more agreeable and cosey a
little,
that the
which
mistress
"
is
of
a
neither
that
house, â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the
names
few tears moistened
You
made
by
reflecting
the saddest failures, are most
years of whose
first
things by their right
A
see,
married
have been
life
without a hearthstone of their own, leading a
spent thus, life
Don't you
?
young women of these times, who, despite
of being well born, have
often those the
home every
occupied in making their
of
the
nor of
the
housekeeper, to
call
young
responsible
girl
" ?
Madame
de Gandelau's embroidery.
are right again, dear," said she, holding out her
to her husband.
"
What you do
hand
be well done."
will
Paul, as he fumbled over an illustrated paper, did not lose
a
word
built for in his
of this his
young
paternal
conversation.
elder
sister
The idea
pleased
of seeing
him very much.
Already,
imagination, this future house, opposite
mansion,
prettily adorned
seemed
to
and garnished,
him
like
full of life
a
fairy
house
a
the old
palace,
and gayety.
all
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
3
It
must be
said that
charm the
to
M. de Gandelaus habitation had
had been successively enlarged, and
It
eye.
little
two long wings of rather dull aspect were united awkwardly
main
the
to
whose two
formerly a chateau,
building,
mantled towers, crowned by
Between the two wings and
flat
main building
this
a low court, always humid, protected
and the remains of a ditch used
A
with plants for soups.
flanked
roofs,
by an
for
marriage, contained
of the proprietors
The drawing-room, dining-room, were
in
situated
the
old
the
kitchen
M. de Gandelau apartments
private
As
building.
for
the
two
chambers opening upon irregu-
which necessitated a certain caution
one wished
if
through them without accident.
to get
The next morning Paul, as
the
billiard-room, monsieur's study,
main
parallel wings, they contained lar corridors,
old iron grating,
was the gayest part of the mansion.
this
:
there opened
prolonging the old
building to the towers, which was built by shortly after his
the angles.
providing
third wing, in
dis-
to his pony's health,
he was going to make inquiries
as
saw Papa Branchu coming into the
court with a small hand-cart full of pieces of wood, bags of
and
plaster, "
What
tools.
are
you going
"I am going " "
Ah
!
to
do with
to repair the pigeon-house,-
suppose I help you
work,
if
it
is
" ?
Monsieur Paul."
?
soil
your clothes
not your business.
you please."
Papa Branchu
"
No, Monsieur Taul, you will
hurt yourself;
all that,
;
you might
But you may
see us
PAUL HAS AN
M.
" "
must be fun
It
As
some,
for that,
not that
it 's
against
world
and picks up
and the
;
If a
all.
" "
A
do.
it '11
without
tools
brick,
man
babble;
my
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
his
's
his
You
spite.
has a
I
day
out,
Monsieur
see,
must pay the
plas-
and so with
;
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and boy
man
a
in
's
But excuse
difficulties.
there waiting for me."
is
Could you build a big house, Papa Branchu
Why,
and
no need of grumbling
must pay the kiln
I
a good
for
pay,
man works
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
tire-
being
kept waiting for his crowns, money must
is
be cot somehow,
my
warm, there
its
man works
gets
plaster that's in the cart,
Paul, this terer
his
a
when he
it 's
:
but as for
;
When
either.
wine when the
!
not a pastime
master like your papa, bottle of
"
to build
it 's
IDEA.
same, Monsieur Paul
the
I could, all
" ?
built the
I
;
mayor's, and that's big enough!"
Paul no longer, as the evening before, finds the hours a trifle
his
for
a
long
;t
he has an
sometimes
cottage
often
seen
which
he
he fancies
;
turreted
amid
ivies
him working on
difficult
occupies
to
to
hi'
him.
sometimes as
and clematis, with many
a
is
an architect; he
smooth board
The cousin comes Paul
:
under
This
by enchantment.
Paul.
when
implements necessary
if
it,
manor-house, sometimes
Paul has a cousin who
hands buildings arise as
seem very
cannot get the house planned
a
as
nestling
carved balconies. has
He
idea.
out of his head
sister
palace,
as
;
lias,
in
did the
liis
not
room
to
the
is
going to try to put
chateau,
all
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
10
one of the plans which occur to him on paper. obstacle
proper thing for his towers and
it
not without
be a lordly mansion with
hour of
After a full
If
a
be one that will
Paul
reflection,
he must go and find his
that
reason,
first
be the
will
battlements, a cottage, or an Italian villa?
be agreeable to her. thinks,
Shall
sister.
to be arranged, it should at least
is
surprise
He must know what
itself.
presents
But a
father. "
There, there, you Paul's
at
that.
first
your
words.
You want
very well, try sister
arranged.
are in a
to
"Eh, the
make
the
But before
it.
how
needs,
the father,
great hurry," says
has not got so far as
affair
plan it
all,
house for Marie
of
a
is
well to
know what
she desires that her house should be
have no objection to hastening matters a
I
;
little.
AVe will send her a despatch." Telegram.
From
X
To Baveno,
.
Italy.
N
Madame
Hotel
,
cle
.
Send programme.
Paul wishes to build house here for Marie.
De Gaxdelau. Twenty hours From
after the following reply
To
Baveno.
X
Arrived this morning. ground-floor,
not
vestibule,
underground,
chambers, two
.
from neck-breaking.
Paul has excellent
All well.
drawing-room,
billiard-room,
;
:
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
M. de Gaxdelau.
toilet cabinets,
laundry, wardrobes
was received
dining-room,
study.
baths
;
First
small
.
floor,
On
idea.
office,
two
kitchen large
chamber, toilet-closet
chambers plenty of cupboards
;
;
staircase safe
Marie
X
.
M.
PAUL HAS AN
moment doubting
"Without for a
IDEA.
that
IT
his
has re-
sister
answered his message in good earnest, Paul
ceived and
sets
in his cousin's room, resolutely to work, and, installing himself
he attempts, by recalling
the plan sent
ing, to realize
twice that breakfast
is
his
knowledge of
The afternoon passes
waiting.
away, and at
room with
large
and
ing the
swiftly
drawing-
well covered with plans
of paper
this looks "
sheet.
11 let
him
very
fine,"
But your cousin
criticise
M. de Gandelau,
says
rising
your project."
under his direction
lacking ;
ter
to
his
there, the
He dreamed
staircase
was a rickety
Marie shrank from ascending.
were entirely want-
ladder,
fear.
his sis-
erect, whilst
others
Papa Branchu laughed, and
with his hands, to show that they were not
The chimneys smoked
safe.
which
Farther along, the ceilings
were so low that one could not stand were so high as to create
of palaces
but there was always something-
;
Here, windows
edifices.
stiired the walls
unroll-
coming to-morrow, and
is
All night Paul was very restless.
ing
to the
facades.
"Why, we
sheet
The task
Paul has to be informed
dinner-time Paul comes down
a
lineal design-
by Marie, on paper.
serious, that
difficulties so
presents
all
horribly,
and
his
imperiously demanded an apartment for her
younger
sister
doll.
Paul looked over his design as soon as he was out of bed,
and
it
seemed
much
less
attractive
than
before; he blushed at the notion of showing
on it
the
evening
to his cousin,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
12
who
arrived about
breakfast-time
;
he hesitated, and thought
had caused him hard labor
of destroying this plan that
for a
whole day. "Father, I think
him my
"My
my
cousin will
make fun
of me,
if
that
boy,"
responded M. de
If
means
the only
is
"when one
Gandelau,
you thought you were going
a morning, you would be very foolish
an
what
of ascertaining
has
criticism,
deficient
is
and consequently of acquiring the knowledge we
in the work, lack.
show
design."
done the best that he can, he must not shrink from for
I
an architect in
to be ;
but
if,
after
making
by a design or otherwise, an idea which
effort to express,
you thought good, you hesitated
submit this expression to
to
one better informed than yourself, in the fear of provoking-
more a
criticisms than praises, that
sentiment of very ill-placed pride
you of advice which, to
would not be modesty, but
at
;
for
would deprive
it
your age especially, could not
fail
be valuable."
On
the
arrival
bring his
to
of
the
attempt, so
cousin,
that
M. Gandelau
his
told
son
amateur architect might
the
display the sheet of paper covered the evening before with
the plan so laboriously worked out. "
Eh,
want
my
to be
little
cousin,"
an architect
in our profession, as
?
said
the
Take care
!
newrcomer, all is
"
do
you
not rose-colored
on your paper."
In a few words the cousin was
apprised
of
what was
M.
"
going forward.
case a
is
"
cousin
True, close
by
And
is
There's nothing !
You must know,
order.
at
is
is
to
build quickly, the
having been able to finish
the
first
lias
digested
plan. to
have
down
set
place,
not
Call to
lias
the
tendered,
is
mind
has re-
for six years, with-
because he did not, in
it;
adopt,
once for
all,
a
well-
lent himself to all sorts of caprices,
officious
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one
pieces
about
of
the
advice of
size
another about the position of the staircase, and the style and
who
it
that he wished to do, and his
ventured to
He all
all
We
?
more useful
,
his chateau every spring
out
architect
about the
Paul, that the
weariness of your cousin, Count de
friends
he
;
And how
nothing hut a sketch.
decide upon every small detail beforehand.
rather
this
"
Papa Branchu
call
.stair-
Why,
?
the estimates, the details of execution
plans,
sumed building
or
the facades
the
?
more anxious one
the
don't quite understand
suppose we
must proceed with
to
the draw-
is
"
"Softly, this definite
;
I3
there
;
do than to put hands to the work
to
work
very good
Columns, and balustrades!
palace!
more
I
hall.
is
that's a detail.
lmt
:
Well, this
and the
ing-room,
PAUL HAS AN IDEA.
We
decoration.
have only
a
a
which the
his
rooms,
third about
year before
us,
and so we must only begin when we have become sure of not
of i
lie
making any
false steps,
what we have done.
since
your
Let's see;
system of construction
you
let
sister
us
must approve
first
desire to adopt.
agree
upon
As we
are
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
14
we have
pressed for time,
would
be
too
long and too
upon a construction
Does
execution.
we cannot think
;
bottom
We
must
that coincide with your idea
make
will
it
expensive.
to
;
do so
why
use
of
Do you ters
?
this
the rooms dark and gloomy;
balustrade,
think your sister It
see that,
is
on
decide rapid
form a if
they
And what
is
?
going to promenade in the gut-
very convenient for the this plan,
that
on the upper cornices
placed
is
of
You have
?
If they
?
are retained, they will serve no purpose here.
the
;
once simple and capable of
at
put columns to your frontage portico,
choice
mansion of cut stone from top
a
rearing
little
cats.
And
you must pass from the
But
drawing-room through the dining-room.
tell
me
I
;
hall into the
if visitors
come
while you are at the table, you will have to beg them either
Good
to wait at the door, or to see the family taking dinner.
The kitchen opens on study this more closely
the ;
shall
will get on faster with the
some good better
brevity
ideas, for
than I do. of the
billiard-room.
we
two of
us,
?
You can
fill
afforded
to
The work
and you will give me
sister's tastes
programme
and habits
out the telegraphic us.
and early to-morrow morning we will proceed in good earnest."
it
you know your also
we must
Well,
set about
!
Think
it
over,
to the project
PAUL'S IDEA IS DEVELOPED.
CHAPTER
1
5
II
Paul's idea js developed, with a little assistance.
yffc^^f AELY the Li pi in's room.
next morning Paul went to his cous-
squares, compasses,
'J^^ClL "
Sit
there,
of
result
how
little
cousin
and
board,
;
to
going
express
build the country-house for your sister
Yes
;
it
is
?
in the little valley at the
;
which runs the stream which turns Michaud's "
it
Show me where
to
"
beyond the wood, about three thou-
below,
sand yards from here
the
First,
methodically.
you doubtless know the spot where your father proposes
"
T,
on paper, as you know so well
Let us go on
tools.
ready
pencils.
are
you
;
our consultation use our
to
was
Everything
:
it
is
on the plan of the
bottom of
mill."
estate.
0, here
is!" "
You
there
see, cousin, it is
are cultivated fields
on the north, towards the
:
some
of the plateau, fields
and
with a few
the
southern elevation
then the land descends, a rivulet.
watercourse, coming out of the slope
On
there.
at
trees."
Here
is
wood on the
the
a fine west.
bottom of the
little,
running
On
the
valley, are
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
6
"
On which
side
"
Towards the bottom of the
"
How
"
do we get to that
wood
crossing the
By
"
Good
"
from here
?
then you descend to the bottom
;
you go over a
;
and then ascend obliquely
here,
?
valley, in the southeast."
field
the valley, by this road
of
"
the best view
is
this
which
bridge,
way by
is
the plateau."
then we must put the house nearly at the sum-
;
mit of the slope which faces the north, while sheltering from the northwest wind under the neighboring wood. entrance should face the ascending road
it
The
but we must dis-
;
pose the principal rooms of the mansion on the most favorable
for
side
exposure, which
we ought
sides,
and not
side,
to
profit
that of the southeast
running watercourse, which de-
on the right towards the bottom of the
scends
are going then to
place the house
has
favorably
arranged
so
We
plateau.
thus
shall
southwest wind, and
which
is
we
for
be
shall
let
us
see
your
some
us,
tolerably
ourselves.
tends
this
lived
in
sister's
that
is
From what your
sheltered
necessary
to a
winter,
from
and
to
view.
the
programme. ;
She
we must
the
Thjs does
consider
father tells me, he in-
house as a permanent residence
summer and
below the
yards
not have in front the plain,
not indicate the size of any of the rooms this for
We
valley.
on the spot which nature
pretty dreary, and extends beyond
decided on,
be-
;
open view on the same
by the
the
neglect
is
;
contain,
great landed proprietor.
to
be
therefore,
all
that
He
is,
proposes
PACTS IDEA
two hundred thousand francs
to devote it
a matter, then, to be
is
and her husband wish
them
in Paris,
and
be
its
comfortable.
construction as
studied,
seriously
to
to
1/
I
sister
your
have visited
found their house admirably arranged
I
;
;
was nothing indicating a love of mere display.
there
but
DEVELOPED.
IS
We
can, then, start out
the
plan
of
from these
the ground-floor.
Let us begin with
data.
The
principal
room
the
is
drawing-room, the place where the family assembles together.
We
can scarcely allow
it
less
than five metres* in width by
Draw
from seven to eight metres in length.
way, you are too fast
At "
I
this
Take a
!
I
?
You
don't
and
That
a width
referring
* The French metre knowledge,
the reader
is
to
a
may,
little if lie
the text in English measurements.
list
not
taken
When
you wish
all
of all :
you
the necessay,
such
bv such a length, with such
many
persons.
If,
for
in-
a dining-room, you say that
ten, fifteen, twenty,
is
me.
a complete
is,
a surface, in order to contain so
must accommodate
meant by
your plan has not
Listen to
offices.
room must be such
you are
is
any other building, you give the archi-
programme, that
sary rooms
stance,
that
scale."
that
indeed,
notice,
to erect a house, or
a
not
no,
know, perhaps, what
such a thing into account.
tect a
Ah
dimensions.
word, Paul looked inquiringly at his preceptor.
forgot.
a scale
these
representing
lelogram
a paral-
first
twenty-five people;
over one yard and three inches. chooses, calcutate the
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Trs.
it
With
dimensions stated
if
tins in
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
8
to a
bedchamber, that besides the space
must
for the bed, it
hold such and such pieces of furniture, or occupy a space of 30
36 metres
of
7
metres by
But in the
4.
you know that a surface of
given by a square of 6 metres a side, or by a
is
parallelogram
by
Now
or 36 metres, etc.
case
latter
5.15
or
nearly,
metres
of 9
room would not
the
have
dimensions convenient for a chamber, but rather those of a gallery.
Then, independently of the space necessary for a
room, you must have, between certain
room well
indicated
relations
intended.
is
enough
for ten or
A
by the
square
purpose
drawing-room
but a dining-room, which
;
is
for
is
Do you
in the table.
to
not in
width.
understand
be only an outline, adopts
takes,
for
first
each
t
A A
there-
up
scale;
of
these
his
that
plan, is,
he
of equal parts, or simplify
divisions, fiftieth
the
of a
two
metre.
case he says, scale of five millimetres* or of a
half-centimetre *
a
number
hundredth or the one-hundredth or the In the
is
you do leaves
To economize time
each representing a metre.
work, he
it
?
divides a line, on his paper, into a
the
is
room
afford
You must
Well, then the architect, in order to draw
though
the
extended in length according to the
guests, but
of the
it
length,
which
chamber
or
fore put stretching space in the dining-room, as
"
its
twelve persons at table, must be longer than
wide, since the table
number
breadth and
its
f
per metre,
or scale
millimetre
is
the 0.003937 of an inch,
centimetre
is
100th of a metre.
of
one two-hundredth
;
PAULS IDEA the second
in
case
he
DEVELOPED.
IS
metre, or scale of one one-hundredth
you draw
a
up
infinity
what
add, that
to
is
per
9
per
third, scale
Thus
he executed.
you can make proportional
fifty
It
scales
is
to
millimetres per metre as per
100 metres, or per 1,000 metres, which
done when they prepare maps.
down on
to
really
of one, two, or three
;
metres,
is
Just so the details are set
the scale of 50 centimetres per metre, or one half
which
of that
the size
to
is
metres per metre, or one
The
and in the
two hundred, one hundred, or
plan
smaller than
needless
10
;
centimetre
centimetres per metre, or scale of one fiftieth.
of two
times
one
of
scale
says,
1
be constructed
fifth of
of 20 centi-
;
and so
the real space;
on.
adopted, the architect thus gives to each part of
scale
the plan dimensions which
If
are relatively exact.
he has
taken the scale of one centimetre per metre and wishes to a door
indicate
of
metres
1.30
in
width,
he takes 0.013
metres. "
Do you
quite comprehend
practice will
order to plan.
make you
show you how useful the
it is
proportion
of
six metres
the
two
taken by the compass, to your frontage, high.
I
familiar with
Your drawing-room
pose that
me ?
and
by
is
is
scale
which
An
a metre.
find that
it
not sure of
it
in a few hours. is,
I will take
is
eighth
;
but In
your
Let us sup-
a parallelogram.
eight,
sides.
am
nearly the relative of the
I carry this
your ground-floor
long side,
measurement
is
nine metres
Just imagine what, not only your drawing-room, but
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
20
your hall would be
The height
be a well. of
scale
the hall
scarcely four metres long, and
is
nine metres between floor and ceiling
it is
yet
;
is
not,
Take, for your
your plan.
accord with the
see, in
you
sister's
on this graduated
twenty-eight millimetres
That would
!
drawing-room,
which
rule,
will
give five metres sixty centimetres, on the scale of five milli-
metres per metre. the
Very well
Now
drawing-room.
;
that
is
the
shorter side of
on the
take forty-one millimetres
same
rule,
which will give eight metres twenty centimetres
that
will
be
the
Your parallelogram
side.
long
You
traced in perfectly exact relative dimensions. to
surround this room with walls
receive the joists
by
itself.
Shall
Where
can
tell
we
shall
you must enter
it
locate
;
reason a
centi-
stand upright
In the country-
it ?
from the drawing-room.
directly
be on the right or on the
it
will thus
fifty
After the drawing-room comes, in importance, the
dining-room. house,
are going
necessary to
than half a metre, or
less
Your drawing-room
thick.
metres,
are
now
is
and a wall through which chimneys must
;
should not be
pass
walls
;
;
left
?
Neither you nor I
but chance must not decide the question. It
little.
the dining-room
;
to
have there.
want
to
smell the
dining-room,
cooks.
's
very easy to put the kitchen next to
but the kitchen
ment
made by the
is
Let
When fumes
and yet so
you are
of
The far
is
an inconvenient apartat the- table,
cooking,
kitchen off that
you don't
nor hear the noises
ought
to
be near the
one would not be
re-
PAUL'S IDEA IS DEVELOPED.
minded
of
houses,
the
houses,
and so
necessary,
to
on,
small
a
poultry-house,
he
to
ought
must not
near the
forget that
r
}
our
kitchen.
who
sister,
keep the house, had the precaution '
wash-
kitchen-garden,
It
is
that the kitchen should not have a southern
too,
We
aspect.
Moreover, the back-yard, the out-
existence.
its
21
to
her brief
say, in
'
She
proposes
was
programme,
kitchen
Underground
kitchens are unhealthy for their occupants, are
difficult
look
to
underground
!
right.
and spread their odors through the
after,
We
ground-floor.
not
will
place
it,
on the same
then,
floor
with the dining-room, but not having direct communication with
it,
so
as
to
avoid
smell and
the
examine the aspect and views of house, and
favorable aspect for the offers
We
the
least
the
southeast,
towards the north.
these
latter
that which, in this case,
is
that
billiard-room
room,
is
this
for
asked
we
northwest.
exterior angle
the kitchen, which will
we must know what
It
for.
the hall, ami a study for If
its
the
with the drawing-room ami
thus
must
be,
with
the
the
relations hall.
A
dining-
Then we must
have
your brother-in-law near the
front
situated towards the
entrance.
of
Don't be in a hurry to mark out
apartments,
they should have
least
and on the right we will have the
and beyond
dining-room;
The
our ground.
will put the drawing-room, then, with
towards
be
view,
agreeable
Let us
the noise.
southeast.
place the dining and billiard rooms, which
should be about the same size as the drawing-room, side by
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
22
with this as to
side
length, the drawing-room will
its
be lighted from one of
In that case the drawing-room would be
the hall in front.
very gloomy, and afford a view of the
Then
side.
country only on one
mark out the dining and
us
let
we must put
smaller sides, for
its
only
rooms
billiard
perpendicularly to the drawing-room, while having the latter project in the direction of the
Let us give to
best aspect.
each of these rooms seven metres of length and centimetres
fifty
Then
sions.
We
of breadth.
These are convenient dimen-
the hall
trace
metres
five
in
front
the
of
drawing-room.
will determine the size of the hall presently.
"
Now
let
us try to place the walls of these rooms in the
demanded by the
position
the drawing-room
must pass from
The
dining and billiard rooms.
the
into
We
construction.
opening from the drawing-room into the billiard-room must be
large
gether,
for
enough
and
persons in both to
with
to converse
that
you should be able
also
from the
it
is
were, to-
it
necessary, too,
from the billiard-room and
to go
the
into
dining-room
But
ease.
as
be,
hall,
without
passing
through the drawing-room.
We
have already said that there
must be side-views
the
drawing-room,
have a length
of
from 8 m.
20
c.
the side-views, and then 0.50
c.
If
we
the
entrance
iard-room as well
partition of as
the
2 m. 40
to
is
for
c.
for the thickness of the wall
of the billiard or dining room, there to
take
which
the
will
remain
drawing-room
dining-room
;
5 m. 30
our
being 5 m. 50
c.
billc.
in
PAUL'S IDEA IS DEVELOPED.
rooms will
width, these trance
Never mind
partition.
second
always
wall,
m. 20
extend
beyond
us
mark out the
thickness
of
half a
There are the three principal rooms set down. billiard-room
the
of
we
drawing-room, of 2 m. GO
On
c.
dining-room
tion
separating
shall
which
enter is
of
1
we
m. 30 c,
open a door upon
will
20
in.
c.
from
dining-room, not
more convenient
for
;
in
the
axis,
to the ladies.
parti-
Thus we
but laterally,
you know that when people
go into and come out from dinner, the gentlemen
arms
the
the drawing-room from the hall.
the
the
into
the side of the wall sep-
arating this from the dining-room
the
metre.
In the axis
make an opening
will
en-
this
Let
that.
a
having-
c.
2$
offer their
It is necessary that in going in
and out
there should not be any obstacle to obstruct the progress of
The door leading from the drawing-room
the couples.
into
the dining-room, moreover, should not be in the axis of that leading from the
door should the same ney.
We
drawing-room into the billiard-room.
This
be the counterpart of the window opening
side,
will
and between them we
will
place
on
the chim-
open a central door from the hall into the
drawing-room. "
In front, along the billiard-room wall, we will place your
brother-in-law's
study, with
a
small
where people who have business
witli
out having to wander about in the
dining-room
we
will
put
the
antechamber adjoining,
hall.
butler's
him may
wait, with-
At one
side of the
pantry.
The
study
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
24
must be
We
metres wide.
at least 3.90
will have the
hall
project a little so as to form a good front.
"A
question in regard to every house
serious
This ought to be in proportion with
garding the staircase.
the building; neither too wide nor too narrow.
be put in a useless or inconvenient place access to the upper stories
we put large,
ous,
a part of the
— 4 m.
90
c.
and
;
5 m. 50 a,
by
in the
staircase
a house
in
But
width.
it
to go directly
and
the
all
is
like
1
m. 30 c, and place a
of the ground-floor, according to the
passage
of the rooms, should
of
1
4 m. 50
be
4 m. 20 c, reserving
The
of the first-story floor.
centimetres
we must have
a width of
from 25
c.
upon
We
or
of
9
thirty steps.
must
stair-
in
c.
able
30
m.
in
find
for
height
;
dimensions
the
thickness
steps
of
expansion
of
ascend 4 m.
to
50 c,
Each step should have
The c.
staircase
for steps of
30 c, since
Let us take a mean this
for
c.
30 centimetres.
metres
step.
steps of an easy staircase should
thirty steps.
to
first
Let
this will give a vacant
;
thus furnish us an expansion of 7 m. 50 width,
m. 30
on the right of the plan.
placed
The height
therefore,
very
from the hall into the dining-room, the pantry,
services
be nearly 15
If
conspicu-
we should be
a
of
is
of a
steps
at least
that
also indispensable
be
this
The
?
which
us reserve
space
must not
must give easy
hall,
— would
must be
this
it
;
It
must be conspicuous.
it
and would we gain any room
case
that re-
is
figure,
8 m.
25
25
c.
we count
— 8 m. c.
must
at
25
c.
least.
PAULS IDEA
We
DEVELOPED.
IS
then, establish a pavilion
will,
in
that,
2$
the angle of the hall,
at
around
passing
a
sufficiently
projecting
which
be in the prolongation of the wall at
will
of the
we
drawing-room,
antechamber on that
we
you, and
come
first
story
I
mark out
this
staircase
story.
place water-closets
to
reach the
it
of the newel
in the line
the right
shall
return to
will
newel,*
The
anon.
and the
below the
farther
first
wall,
by the
fifteen
for
steps
and enable us
part of
the
tread,
the family, on the ground-floor.
for
"
On
the passage beyond let us locate the pantry, then the
circular
servants'
kitchen
the
latter
then the
staircase,
in a wing, a bake-house,
and a wash-house, the
an exit from the kitchen
permitting
pantry, then
servants'
the kitchen-
to
garden.
Turning round, we will place
horses, a
carriage-house for two carriages, a saddle-room, and
a small staircase
and groom, and side
of
court vants.
the
and
to to
stable larder,
We
will
ascend
to the
a
stable
rooms of the coachman
the fodder-room under the roof.
we and
will reserve will
separate
put
the
a
direct descent
water-closets
stable
and
of the
circular servants' staircase
;
for
its
from the rest of the house by a wall with a rig] it
three
for
At
the
to
the
the
ser-
arrangements at
trellis,
this will
the
give us a
court for the kitchen, the stable, and the carriage-house. * a
A
newel
is
" the upright post about which are formed winding
cylinder formed
ster's
Dictionary.
by the end of the steps of the winding
stairs,
" stairs.
In or
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Web-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
26
we
front
will reserve a space
the poultry-yard, rubbish-
for
hole, etc. "
Now
that the plan of our ground-floor
us try to improve "
It
it
is
marked
out, let
in detail.
would be a good thing
end of the draw-
to have, at the
ing-room looking upon the garden, an alcove or bay-window.
Nothing prevents our placing one
at the
end of the
billiard-
room, with a divan where the gentlemen can smoke, and a third at the end of the dining-room,
which would enable the
dishes to be passed through from the servants' pantry, and a
side-board or table to be placed there for carving. will utilize these additions "
But you must pass
on the
directly
iard-room into the garden. to
I
first
And we
floor.
from the drawing-room or confess that I
am
bill-
not partial
those outer flights of steps which are so hot in the sun,
and so disagreeable when
it
side of the billiard-room,
we
blows or rains
interior staircase, in the angle witli
the billiard-room,
excellent arrangement.
it
;
if,
then, on the
establish a green-house with an
which the drawing-room forms
seems to
me
that
it
would be an
Thus you might pass from the draw-
ing or billiard room into the green-house, where you might take
your
coffee
when
by a covered way.
the weather was bad, and reach the garden
A
few flowers and shrubs, disposed along
the glass side, would add a gay appearance
room, without shutting out the
light.
real flight of steps in front of the hall,
to
the billiard-
But we would put a
which we should take
—
\£-
Fig. Fig.
i.
Fig.
2.
2.
— PLAN OF THE GROUND-FLOOR. — Page — PLAN OF THE FIRST STORY. — Page 28.
27.
PAUL'S IDEA IS DEVELOPED.
and
care to shelter;
this the position of
2J
the staircase would
enable us to do.
"
Now
draw
examine
it
when we have
again
arrangement of which the ground-floor.
studied the
Let us
first
mark where the
the wall on the right of the hall
is
we
up a second
space to put
never have too many.
will
out
make
the
will profit
partition,
To
afford
;
by the
which will
closets, of
which
light for this space
the upper portion of the partition, which shuts of
antechamber,
madame
in a line with
chamber of the mistress of the house
will put the
have doors on both sides and give room for
we
staircase ends.
Over the drawing-
but as this chamber would be too large,
ladies
the
story,
the top stair brings us to
;
the antechamber situated over the hall.
superfluous
will
us to alter some of that of
which we need
last of the thirty steps
room we
first
we
;
(Fig. 1.)*
" So far so good.
The
force
may
you can
as
plan, as correctly
this
will be
more
There
glass.
being
retired in her chamber,
from the noise of those going and
two
doors,
and shut out Besides,
coming.
this
second private antechamber will enable us to establish a direct
communication with monsieur's apartment, which we * A, sieur's
hall
;
B, drawing-room
study; F, green -house
;
C,
;
G, pantry;
K, L, bake-house, wash-house; M, stable;
P, carriage-house;
to cellar;
c,
dining-room
;
D, billiard-room
H, kitchen;
servants'
/,
;
V,
E, mon-
;
servants' pantry;
court; N, S, poultry-yard;
R, saddle-room; a, servants' staircase;
groom's staircase
will put
IV, water-closets.
/.
0,
descent
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
28
on the side having the best aspect
;
that
is,
over the
bill-
iard-room.
" As this space
and bath
for a toilet-boudoir
we
also too ample,
is
will use the surplus
madame
for
;
and we will enter
monsieur's chamber directly from the antechamber, by a private passage, which will also open
toilet-room, placed over his study,
upon monsieur's
bedchamber, and upon these two rooms.
for
Thus, by closing the two doors leading to
be completely secluded.
on the
upon the
two water-closets provided
the
and mistress of the house
the antechamber, the master
floor
upon madame's boudoir,
right,
we
will
Eepeating the corridor of the ground-
shall establish a
communication between
the antechamber and the servants' staircase, the laundry (an
important matter), which a large wardrobe for
and a nursery
we
will
madame we must
(for
locate above the
kitchen,
on the right of her chamber, foresee
everything), which, as
The
well as the wardrobe, will be put over the dining-room.
make an
ground-floor alcove, carried up, will
excellent toilet-
cabinet for the children's or spare chamber on the
first
floor,
and that of the billiard-room will make a very agreeable addition
room,
we
to
monsieur's room.
will cover
chamber a
antechamber
A,
wardrobe
room
;
7,
;
;
;
of the
that
drawing-
where an awning and flowers can be
(Fig.
2.)*
B, madame's room
E, monsieur's room
laundry
for
with a terrace, which will give madame's
fine balcony,
placed in summer. *
it
As
;
;
C, toilet-boudoir
F, toilet-room
P, rubbish-room
;
W,
and bath
water-closets.
;
and bath
G, room
;
H,
;
D,
toilet-
PAUL'S IDEA IS DEVELOPED.
"You
little
see,
order.
It
stroll,
and
be breakfast-time
soon
will
our plan begins to assume
that
cousin,
we
this afternoon
29
will
;
us
let
take a short
resume our work
;
that
is,
proceed to consider the elevations."
As Paul descended
to the
mansion with a new
him
to
garden he examined the paternal
interest.
had never before occurred
It
puted the space wasted by the endless passages
and
dark places
there,
opened badly
room, and
the
steps,
along,
know
was necessary
it
and up
six, to
;
he saw, here
The
staircase
the house well to find
The kitchen was
time in his
first
which led nowhere.
one must
;
the ground-floor.
two
He com-
observe the construction of the house.
to
far
away from
to cross a carriage-way, go
seemed barbarous.
on
the dining-
reach one from the other.
life,
it
down
This, for
As he
strolled
waiting for the tinkle of the breakfast-bell, he asked
himself
if
would not do well
his father
to
demolish his old
manor-house, and build a new one on a fresh plan, matured
by himself aided by the advice one by one its
mansion,
He
too
He
calculated
the faults in the arrangement of the paternal
numerous snares
for breaking necks.
saw the gloomy drawing-room, flanked on two
two old little
all
of his cousin.
towers,-
which intercepted the side-views;
study, lighted
sides
by
his father's
by a narrow window, and preceded by
a large apartment which was unused, and served as a fruit-
room "
in the
Well,
autumn
my
;
and many other
lad," said
his father,
faults.
when they had
sat
down
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
30
at
"
table,
it
seems
you
have already been at work
this
morning." Paul, all absorbed in his subject, gave a tolerably accurate description of the resist
some
mansion.
critical
plan they
had developed, but could not
remarks on the subject of the paternal
THE TREE OF SCIENCE.
CHAPTER
3
1
III
THE TREE OF SCIENCE. {
tp^^^^jfIS mother looked
J "
his
for
If
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
5
Paul, this house pleases your mother, and such as
pleases
me
inherited
You and your
also.
from
it
additions to this
it
as
my
sisters
and
father,
were necessary.
happiness or sadness
it
;
honorable generations.
bread
who
dren, advice in
are in
their
They have no need
as well as
find those
not lose is
at
we
do,
I
made only such not a corner of
is
me some memory
know
chateau,"
want
of
differences,
to be told
it,
that
they find
clothing for
of
where the staircase
my
study
and they know as well
in
the
their
here chil-
and aid when they are
as
It'
long passages.
some distance from the dining-room,
it
is
ill.
which
is,
for they
;
neck-breaking places to which you themselves
it.
consecrated by the work of three
leads to your mother's room, or to it
There
is, it
All the people of the country round"
call it the
when they
is
it
were born in
have
I
house which does not recall to
about,
As
him with astonishment.
he became grave, and spoke as
father,
follows:
at
know
we where
to
refer,
and do
the
kitchen
large
enough
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
32
to hold the harvesters
and
per,
the
house
for this
to
think
have the right
I
everybody's house here
is
any more than
forget,
repair hither for their sup-
when they come
shepherds
I don't
accounts.
when they
I,
that
in
to
of
whilst
injury,
abandoned and "
When we
the
all
have departed
shall
have any advice to give you, keep to stand longer
make "
I
it
know
it,
times
doubt
;
father,
without
were
chateaux
no longer a protection as well, it
old house
this
as
it
it
to
but
;
for
commit many
it
is
some
sell it to
to
faults
for our family. all that is
a residence in unison with the
hasten
modern customs.
is,
and probably better than you,
and should I
he would
world, your mother
demolish
it
rich
taste of
proprietor,
no
and erect a more
comfortable house, or chateau, which would be to
grandfather
than your time and that of your chil-
you would have
for
wanting to make the
my
this
if I
to
all this,
pillaged.
you will do what you will with
Keep
my
neighboring
I,
dren.
change
1793
and
good
their
settle
and you ought not
;
remained here alone with his wife and fear
to
But what he might do
more proper
I could not,
and
ought not.
"These worthy
folks
wooden shoes on and who would, proved
it
to
if
who come
their feet
need
here to talk with me, having
and rough cloaks
be, protect
me), would not
my
come
to
to
their
backs,
old house (they have a
new
house, which
they failed to recognize, and where everything would frighten
THE TREE OF SCIENCE. and confuse them. and, while
it
seems
should gradually cease to see them
I
me
to
like
introduce
to
themselves,
them
;
quite natural to see them, at any time
of day, in this ancient habitation, which
awkward,
33
is
simple and a
would probably appear strange
it
apartments arranged and
into
trifle
decorated
according to the fashion of the time. "
What
regarded
eyes must not be dis-
has become familiar to the
;
the
country
unite
people
proprietor and his house
in
change the
;
their
thoughts the
and they would
latter,
no longer recognize the former. "
Your cousin knows,
and how
of an old manor-house are,
more
attractive
;
for
changing something habits
I do,
he understands in
these
what the
faults
might be made much
it
yet he never has suggested to
might be made,
settled
you and
better than
as
buildings,
me
well a
that changes
as
that
I
in
derangement of
around us would ensue, which could not be
otherwise than to be regretted.
"Here you
are,
ing; and before
which
that "
knowing whether
exists,
You must
an architect of two or three hours' stand-
you think
for a
man
or
his
and that when a dwelling
roof,
it
is
excellent.
;
when you have
studied long
will find that the dwelling
family, a
manners and habits
you could improve
of demolishing.
be more modest
and seen much, you
or not
garment made
is
of those
in
perfect
who
How many
are
to
to be,
ought his
measure
:
accordance with the sheltered
proprietors
beneath
have
I
its
seen
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
34
who, in destroying the house replace
them by
left
by a habitation conforming,
it
the exigencies of the
bond which attached
fathers, to
they thought, with
as
same time broke the
at the
moment,
their
humble dwellers
their family to the
of
"
the neighborhood
!
Paul had no other response to these arguments than to
embrace his father and mother he had to "
the
and
born, for her "
It
to
which
born,
your
and
is,
is,
on
and
persuade the the
name
of
all,
;
so
to
speak,
with
a
known and
like the old
attached.
mansion
you were
If
and mother were no longer to
live
on
impunity tear for it
;
this
down
Marie
sister
your
well,
little
age,
estate
the
would not be more
not
living,
with her old
house
difficult to
neighborhood to accept this new house than the
bonds with this sequently
of
for the neigborhood,
new one
erect a
First
it.
returning
husband, might
but you are of an
subject,
your father
sister,
he finds
where we were
house
old
name than yours
another
it
"why my
sister, since
for us."
delicate
name
the
preserve
comprehend
now
respected to
a
is
cousin,
bears
to
necessary
my
for
when
cousin,
park after breakfast,
father wishes to build a house so
was the best thing
it
understand," said he to his
quite
they had gone out into
it
and
do.
don't
I
;
new
little
establish
proprietor.
She would create new
world which surrounds you, and con-
other
relations,
probably,
between
this
THE TREE OF SCIENCE. and
new
little
world
exist
between your father and
her
relations
between
midst of
whom
family, his
than
35
those
now
which
The
liumhle neighbors.
and
in
the
he has always lived are the result of
tra-
father
your
the
peasants
ditions transmitted without interruption through several gen-
He
erations.
and
them with
inspire
obtain
therefore
could
a
confidence,
accorded to new-comers with a these
also,
name
than
other
Were
the
with a new name,
by your father serving "
its
manor
old it
would
to
to
not
his.
without
which they know, from a long experience, ested.
services,
which would
benefits
accept
countryfolk
them
from
be So,
distrust,
be disinter-
be occupied by a stranger,
lose the prestige so justly valued
then there would be no advantage in pre-
;
special aspect
and arrangement.
M. de Gandelau, who does
nothing
has quite
hastily,
understood that some clay or other, and by the force of
cir-
cumstances, his house might not be convenient for his children, for
and, before
your
sister,
letting
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a
ities.
new
the
known by every one
erects
new one
a
art
of
making
herself
;
for
beloved,
hereal touts for her lovely qual-
People will become accustomed to the habits of the household, and nobody will then find
old house a
he
mansion which will gradually become
Madame Marie knows is
disappear,
the neighborhood, and form a fresh nucleus
familiar to
and
it
is
altered
transition from
or torn down.
customs which
Your
it
strange
father
is
if
the
preparing
are passing away,
even
in
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
36
the
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which,
country,
toms which are to the
clings
not
does
when and
will
in
ways seem
As
epoch.
be, because
to
would
difficult
those
has understood so well will
when
he
how
as
your
they are the results of several
Besides, this domain, which
habits.
the habits
natural
be for a new-comer
it
of
time
the
foresees
presence
transmitted continuously through
habits
able,
new
cus-
best relics, he
its
and
the
to
then, that if he
see,
preserve
in
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
exist,
You
perpetuity,
disappear,
the
of
to
tries
its
forcibly
necessities
father's
so
and
past,
still
them.
to replace
believe
it
however,
to use,
and
to
generations,
conform
to
to
M. de Gandelau
make more
valu-
be of necessity divided among his three children
He
dies.
intended as your
has
sister's
already
dowry.
set
the
apart
portion
Well, he intends that this
by means
part shall, from this time, be put in harmony,
of
the
house that we are going to build, with the habits of
the
new
are
necessarily
on,
you will be able
let
us get to work."
proprietors,
who
different
are
young, and have ways which
from those of your
to appreciate all these
Later
father.
things.
Come,
Paul tried to make the serious ideas of his cousin clear to his
mind.
He
recalled the conversation he
had recently
heard between his father and mother, and ideas wholly to
him evidently absorbed
the
and
old his
his thoughts.
mansion now assumed thoughts
fault with its
recrardin^
it
to
him
However
new
that was,
a venerable
aspect,
wandered wide of finding
bad arrangement and
its
awkward
exterior.
PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART.
CHAPTER PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART,
^^ EFORE "
know
in
not
any
will
present
above the other
's
that
;
and
that
very
well.
sonable,
the openings
Now, do you
"
Well,
Good
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
You
and,
being these
when in
first
must,
of
really existed.
if it
possible, for
you
the one
these
built
are
floors
convenient
in
see
walls
and
so
places.
elevated,
plans
That
?
rea-
do you
is,
"
on
?
no."
!
yourself as
the
that
;
of the
are
We We
plans.
floors are upright,
the capacities
cousin,
do.
and that the con-
see the house erect, with its floors, roof, "
our
of
difficulties
they would be when actually
as
you wish to
practice,
on the two
separating the rooms
said the
pencil,"
marked out a sketch
that they can be put
struction
That
your
must know what
have
1
IV.
AND HOW THEY WERE MODIFIED.
resuming
you
37
many
architects
they
have
traced
tracing
these
plans,
erected figures
in
their
carefully,
all,
I
are
fancy.
know
that this
is
scarcely
no further advanced than
horizontal
do
house to
this
represent
not
see
Think a
plans
on
their little
and try in your mind
to
paper
;
buildings ;
examine give
them
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
$8
some appearance Take plenty of
in elevation, before taking time.
1
accounts to put in order
me
the
have a while
;
of one
elevation
am
doing
front face, for instance, on the northern side,
discuss the result.
house,
— and
— the
we
will
only recommend one thing to you,
I
put nothing on paper without having
to
try to give
so,
of the
sides
pencil.
write, and some
to
I
of the
up your
letter
reflected
first
— on
the convenience and utility of what you propose to design.
Come, have courage, and don't furget the tions
of
scale
propor-
" !
Paul was much embarrassed, and found the task a very
His
hard one.
enough
at
first,
ideas,
had come
which
now seemed
him
him.
desert
to
to
plentifully after a
Still,
laborious hour and a half, he handed his cousin an outline. "
That
might be
given a height of floor
why
and -do
ceiling,
worse,"
4 m.
50
and that
is
cousin.
to
the
ground-floor between
c.
what we decided
is
you give the same height is
not necessary to give the
and four metres will amply
dows on the ground-floor
better ventilation first
suffice.
floor
or
staircase are
middle
blinds.
Good
!
do
;
?
;
but
The
therefore
so great a height,
But why round win-
supply with sashes, and are awkward to shutters,
to
to the first floor
Round windows
?
You have
the
rooms are smaller, and there it
"
said
fit
are difficult to
with fastenings,
Your windows
on
the
main
not out of range, and would be cut off in the
by the
steps,
which
would
obstruct
their
being
PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART.
and
opened,
render
the
liable
panes
Then your
stroke of the foot.
39
be
to
broken
by a
staircase-frame does not rise
above the cornice, and would not permit access to the
under the "
roof.
It is the
same
while in
a
like
place
That
slopes.
We
tins.
make
You have marked
Gables would be better.
no harm in
I see
is
it
but
;
how
No
chimney-tops
must be knock
head
his
above your roof
Your
in sight. if
are
attics
oval
dormer-windows
You have
inconvenient, and hard to shut. in
And
how would
build
you
blocks, with ashlar, with
and brick "
Let
plan
thing
's
is
to
know
your walls?
freestone
and
?
these
one would
The
lintels
two metres above
They
?
is
With
ashlar, or
are very
the door-
traced
the Chinese; but that
perspective, like
steps
set of pilasters
he tried to look out-doors.
And why
floor.
you construct
low, and
least
difficult.
chain-courses in
but you
;
too
dormer-windows must be at
of these
the
rise
with a
roofs
repairs
will
your perspectives of windows encircled by a
worth
scarcely
must have
simple slope, and without hips, which
the angles.
Your
in regard to the servants' staircase.
made with two
are
roofs
floor
a detail. freestone
with stone
?
"When a ground or horizontal
study this together.
drawn independently consider
is
how
The most important point of covering
it,
of
the in
the
arrangement,
building a
shall
construction
since every construction
be is
the
first
protected.
the
means
designed for interior
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
40
uses
is
a
That
shelter.
what do you
plans of which are
now
before
www
bed,
We
take
Now,
will if
no
we mount
and most
b d,
account of gables
triangles
the
on the walls
of
the
and
alcoves a,
line
b,
a
c,
c,
e
f
inclination
resistance
to
the
the
for
and
it,
being shorter than
g
wind.
slating,
the
ram-
shall
have
d,
we
we
If
those
a,
b,
e,
d,
c,
the
f,
g,
c
the
snow
does
two
erect
a
is
the
as
inclination
this
h.
staircases.
which the bases will be
having a similar inclination on the walls walls
paral-
and the inclinations at 60 degrees, which
convenient
a
parallelo-
first
by a second parallelogram,
cut
would not remain upon give
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a
3.
parts of which will be equal to
two equilateral
3),
the
building,
Two
?
Well,
?
tJ~WH
Fig.
a
(Fig.
not
it
of your
your eyes
grams which cut each other thus
lelogram,
is
undeniable,
main body
the
in
see
is
not
gables h,
triangles
these will
be smaller, and their summit will not be as high as the first.
Then the
roof
erected
on
the
smaller parallelogram
PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART.
that
will penetrate this penetration
channels
I
;
on the
raised
re-entering
mark
these
i k,
k
and
larger,
m
I,
n
n,
form by
-will
which are
angles,
by
41
called
gutter-
For, the incli-
0.
nations of the two roofs being equal, in a horizontal projecthese
tion,
two equal angles
;
the
divide
will
gutter-channels
you know enough
right
into
angle
geometry to under-
of
stand that. "
building
and the most simple
;
two
that our
the cornice of the
the best.
is
building
We
and furnish an additional
will therefore
will establish roofings for them.
be
shall
staircase,
in order
Now,
envelope of masonry, must rise above
especially for them.
and
of protecting our
should enable us to get under the
staircases
frame, or
their
roof,
method
the most simple
is
Here, then,
elevate
floor,
these frames
One, that of the large
pyramidal, with a quadrangular base, and
that of the smaller staircase shall be conical. "
on
Nothing prevents us from erecting alcoves, small gables, the
tion of
which
two walls q
z,
s
t,
with
always
will
upon the large gables a
rest
laundry on the
first
roof over
this
part,
floor,
with
on the large gable the
base,
of
the
c,
As
I d.
for
the
the kitchen on the ground-floor, and the
we
will
pursue the same method;
and by erecting a gable on the wall u
at
inclina-
GO degrees, and to cover these with two small roofs
building devoted to
rest
same
the
b d.
roof
two
v,
we
shall
over the
then have
lodge
have
which will
inclinations,
We
shall
s
(,
a
a
also
junction,
and of that
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
42
over the laundry.
We
the
which
interior
pipes,
and will throw
shall
at
Then the
t.
projection of this group of roofs will be
you observe on these
roofs, as
should
at
rise
have pointed out
I
least
the
to
level
may
neys
buildings,
we
As
not smoke.
which are lower and
now
will not just
ridgine:,
roof, so
that
only have
to
that
is,
out-
the
ground-floor,
deal with them. gables, rising vertically,
arrange guest-chambers very conveniently,
we must provide
besides
rooms
lighting
them by dormer-windows
which
windows with
lent
a
tops
the chim-
of
coverings
"Let us keep in mind that these will enable us
pass above
will
the
of
the
for
horizontal
you, and these
to
above the upper edge of the highest
roofs
the tracing which
The chimney-tops
3.
Fig.
two
these
penetrate
water
the
off
have a shed, in order to avoid
will
if
balconies,
the
for
servants,
and we can have excel-
;
we
for
choose,
the
rooms
looking out upon the gables. "
This decided on,
under the of
the
would be well
Good
floor.
which, necessarily, should
chimneys.
Trace
walls which do lost
by
space
a
line,
Now
!
rise to
a
at
the inclination of the
as
the
trace
the
all
roof,
metre's
the
thick
since
distance
are
able
to
servants', will
roof
;
you
utilize'.
will
within the space
thus have
The main
ascend to this
walls,
they carry
not carry gables, which .indicates the
which you
as well
to divide off this floor
Put a piece of tracing-paper over the plan
roof.
first
it
floor.
the
staircase,
Starting
Fig.
U
i
i
i
i
I
i
i
i
i
l"i
i
5.
i
—— ————— i
)
i
i
i
i
I*
-eFig. Fig.
4.
Fig.
5.
4.
— PLAN OF THE ATTIC FLOOR. — Page —FRONT ELEVATION. — Pag<e 44.
43.
PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART. from
the
main the
thick
staircase,
southeast,
which,
bearing-wall
joins
the
which
is
of
angle the
communication with the
ter,'
We
the main staircase.
rooms,
A
G and
two smaller rooms,
The water-closet other part, and staircase,
H,
can obtain
and B, with their
in
we can
drains,
direct
a
dispose
separate 'quar-
of the in
will
apartments by
this
two good
part
a and
h ;
then
having a chimney-place.
all
be
will
W.
at
In
the
communication with the servants'
easily find
and
7,
a
cabinets,
rooms
these
for
toilet
I),
we
aspect,
rest
the
main body towards
the guest-chambers, which will thus form in
from
extending
the
best
43
four
servants' for
L,
water-closet,
rooms, E, F, G, the
domestics.
(Fig. 4.)
"
Over the
find,
stable, carriage-house,
under the
roof, three or four
man, groom, and so
"Now "
We
let
us
make
aired
dampness
of the
servants, coach-
a sketch of the fronts or facades.
horizontal
ness of the
band
than
the
c.
will
under the
30c
to
that
in
We the
those of
our cellars
ground-floor
We
ground.
flooring.
ceilings
smaller
outside, so
and
height of 4 m. 20
are
for
will raise the soil of the ground-floor a metre and a
veniently
between
rooms
on.
half above the soil
a
and wash-house, we can
rooms
<>i'
be con-
from
the
the ground-floor a
give
Trace at this level will
this
give a
will
tin-
protected
ceiling.
height;
may
heighl
the
first
go>und-floor.
be of
the 3 m.
Hour,
Now
thick-
70
c.
which
trace
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
44
thickness
the
ing,
of the
with
cornice
its
which will
height of
angles of the
the
The
c.
determined by
be
the gables, will then commence.
55
at
sill,
roof-
that
Taking the entrance
of
front,
building, the
doors
and the win-
dows, vertically, according to the plan.
Now
you have the
project
outline of this front arranged."
The cousin then took the drawing-board and sketched the front
(Fig.
A
5).
small scale, to
and
criticism,
fair
be
sent
copy of
was made, with a
this
all
Madame Marie
to
1ST
when her
to be put in execution
her
for
,
response was
received.
Paul began to get an inkling of some of
which
the
himself
how Papa Branchu, who
of
plan
slightest
building
the
entailed,
scarcely
difficulties
and asked
knew how
to read
and count, could have built the mayor's house, which was from a bad-looking one.
far
When "
is
he asked his cousin about
Papa Branchu understands the a good rustic mason,
shoulders, see
his
and
is
honest.
build
as
has
they build
better, since
He
He
in
of
latter replied
his
is
;
he
carrying a hod on his
learned the
is
by
intelligent,
practice
and
country,
hard-working, alone
perhaps
he voluntarily reasons about what he
observes, and
trade
:
mason, and does what he used to
Besides, he
do.
practice
who began by
the son of a
father
this, the
how a is
to
little
doing.
neither conceited nor foolish; he avoids *
the faults of some, and copies the qualities of others.
Should
PAUL'S IDEAS ABOUT ART. you see him
45
you would sometimes be surprised
at â&#x20AC;˘work
defends
his
and the average practice of which he
opinion,
knows how
make
to
tions the sense of
some one gives him
If
use.
lie
again, one
up
the
all
plete
understood, and thus
has
one, all
the
doubtful
incomplete
or
obscure
by
Papa Branch u, because comprehend what
to
tenacity,
of the
everything,
with what
quality
answered is
needed
;
for
and
to
com-
propositions.
I
like
points,
him
to do,
to
he wishes
every
objection,
in
points.
all
to take
you
tenacity with which he seeks
enjoined on
is
it
explain what
to
forces
which makes him seem a bore
mind a precious
instruc-
which he does not thoroughly comprehend,
he says not a word, but comes next day he thinks
at
which he
the justice of his observations, the pertinacity with
He
some,
to
is
this
my
have foreseen
to
and
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and
become familiar
left
the service of
your neighbor, the chatelain, because they made him undo
Ask him about
to-day what he had done yesterday. curious to hear him.
is
This worthy man,
who
this
;
it
-understands
nothing but the most elementary practice of his trade, but
who
this
possesses
thoroughly,
who
the materials of the country and the for
the work in
hand,
that interminable edifice it
to
knows
"As
you,
in
his way.
a great deal
will is
tell
you
is
manner that
an ignoramus,
Still,
it
is
clear
with
familiar
of using
the
that
them
architect
and he
will
this
all
of
prove
architect
more than Papa Branchu.
a general rule, before giving an order, you must have
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
46
thought over seven times give rise chu,
otherwise,
;
who
word.
now and then
find a
it
can
Papa Bran-
show you that you have been a madcap,
will
An
will
you
objections to which
the
all
in a
architect has, of course, the resource of shutting the
mouths of
when
objectors,
these are placed under his orders
;
but you do not prove to people that they are wrong by imposing silence upon them the
director of
work
possesses his share
account.
founded, incapable if
much
if
you
a
as
is
reject
only one
way
out a work like this
more about culties
of
it
its
subordinate
more
the
;
some days
is
after,
the
Everybody
which must be taken into is
to his observations
flattered,
and sees
when they
are well
he disposed to think you
without examining them
you show him shortly
There
if,
contradictory orders.
gives
to listen
so
all,
of self-esteem,
As much
you willing
above
;
after that
he
may
;
especially
be in the right.
of establishing discipline in carrying it
is,
to prove
to all that
you know
than they, and to take account of the execution."
diffi-
PAULS COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION
CHAPTER
47
V.
PAUL FOLLOWS A COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
H-IAXWHILE
the letters and papers brought every
A
day melancholy news.
week
before It
was hardly
called
upon every
had been invaded by the enemy.
M. de Gandelau was
seasonable to build.
moment
to
him
tell
drafted
their fears
be
to
who came
the peasants in his study,
receive
and seek
incorporated
advice.
his
in
the
of peasant
The shops
militia.
men and women wandered
to
The youths were
neighborhood were closed for want of hands.
the
the land
in
Groups
along the roads, and,
contrary to the peaceful custom of this province,' talked excitedly
;
some of the women were weeping.
suspended
;
people
felt
everywhere, as
it
dering; in the cottages lights gleamed
ing
;
cattle later
voices
home
the morning.
sooner than
On
they tarried a long time to each
on
were, a dismal shud-
till
one in the morn-
were heard of people calling each
returned in
Field work was
his
the talk.
way, they hurried
their steps to the
usual,
roads,
and
other. Avere
let
when two men
The out met,
Sometimes, instead of going off
neighboring village.
together,
and
directed
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
48
was the 20th of August, 1870; on meeting
It
in the
early
on previous
morning, Paul found him more anxious than clays
and
;
it
was not an attack of
which made him anxious. "
The young
too
are "
M. de Gandelau. I
If
on
to
become
will
war
but
;
children
who
;
all
all
all
feverish indolence. so
years older,
men who
are
God knows what
engaged
course to take
Do
ills;
;
in to
a
senseless
remain here
;
let
us work
;
will not
that find
is
us
laborious days than after
after the
I foresee that
Paul will not be able to
soon to his school at Paris.
rather than another.
not let us abandon
and misfortune
nothing obliges you at this time
pended.
said
these anxious families, deprived of their
more deprived of courage
return
five
be long, they say.
are a little out of their heads.
for
young,"
and try to give occupation to these people,
to wait
remedy
gout
but happily for his mother he
;
ourselves, nor yield to vain anxieties
the
too
these other young
we have only one
his
there.
hoy was four or
our poor country,
of
the midst of
in
will
It
the rest are
old,
follow the flag
too young.
is
The cousin was
this
would send him with
called
his father
to
Your business
As
for you, cousin,
remain in one
place
will be everywhere sus-
Piemain here, where you can make yourself useful
as long as the country does not need you. "
"Who knows
?
If the
war
is
the same to build Marie's house.
ing
employment
to
idle
arms.
a long one, It will
You
can
we
be a
will try all
way
teach
of giv-
Paul,
by
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
the
practice,
haps,
that
in
indispensable
make
Well, that will
with
We
it.
let
a supreme
first
them
effort,
we
Madame
of dispensing
useless
recriminations;
better prepared
must be had
to
old
all,
if,
in
men and
soil."'
de Gandelau joined her entreaties to those
of her husband, establish
way
Let us not, then, give
shall only be the
recourse
per-
fail,
materials, arms, and the where-
for a while.
children, to defend the
to
for
to discouragement or indulge in
us work, and
As
sinew
shall
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; money. building,
necessary to find a
it
have the
withal to nourish
way
We
elements of construction.
49
it
was not
to persuade
difficult
himself at the chateau
;
the cousin
and three days
after,
having attended to some matters of business, he returned, supplied with an ample provision
of paper
and instruments
necessary to the execution of the details of building.
They were sister
to
forced to
should be returned, approved
work
and the cousin decided
;
giving Paul the tling
wait until the plan
that
these
first
ideas
of
lessons should
sent
to
Paul's
or altered, before setting to
employ the interval by
constructing a dwelling, set-
take
place
in
the morning,
and that in the afternoon our embryo architect should write out his evening.
lesson,
to
be corrected in the family
Thus the days would be
circle
in
profitably filled out.
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
50
First Lesson.
"If
you
wish,
little
cousin,
we
will
our
take
lessons
walking, and for a good reason."
This
way
he was
of proceeding pleased Paul at
method
not used to this
not at
first
to
first
appeared to be
architecture
attempts
a
idea
brother-in-law's
Still,
eyes.
in going
to
which
of vacation,
to reflect that
plan was perhaps at that moment under his
his
had
thing from his
fine
and though he was quite proud
;
walls,
him harmonious with the
a boy of sixteen conceives of the sacred hours
though
The
taught.
and corrected between four
walls,
seemed
being
between four walls, written out
prospect of taking lessons
between four
of
for at school
first,
sister's
cousin's
his
and
room,
he had looked with a covetous eye upon the big trees in the verdant fields which shone between their
the park and
A
black trunks.
of satisfaction
sigh
escaped from him in
descending the steps of the house. " to
Let
us
build the house,"
out
doors
" ;
towards the spot
go slowly
a
said the
cousin, as soon
knowledge of the ground There
that the architect should possess. several soft
kinds
of
locations
and compressible
to
firmest foundations, on
provided
at
least
that
;
where we propose
some
various
are
is
as
the
are,
as
resisting,
degrees.
not
first
of all
you know, others
are
Eocks make the
which you can' build with they have
they were
been
all
safety,
excavated
or
PAULS COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
We
deranged.
which we
find in the state in
have
ena
placed
spot which has
hand
of
to
soil'
'virgin
name
'
of
spot
'
made ground
to
been overturned or deranged by the
man, vegetation, or sudden torrent
you must only build on virgin
there are soils
every
I
which the geological phenom-
and the
it,
every
rule,
name
the
give
5
you must
yet
soil;
distrust, as I
will
As
alluvia.
a
these
among
show you pres-
ently.
"We made of
must, then, altered
or
to
try
ground is
elementary geology
to
;
do
this,
necessary.
granites, gneiss, the crystalline slates,
which the cooling of have
crust
even
left
clay, disposed
ure, are
construction,
"The
hill
zontal
is,
and
So, too,
and make use of walls.
limestone,
deposited in beds, like
as
laid
it
were, an excellent
you can
bare
is
see,
to
its
you the
layers
may
rest
of
site.
sister's
escarpments made
cross
;
observe
that
disposed in nearly hori-
a limestone, excellent
upon which you can
security.
state in
the
our right, towards which your
presents,
is
in
press-
here on
It
remain
by the waters under an enormous
which seems
beds.
crystallized rocks,
sand,
by the stream which we are about the stone
knowledge
and the upheaving of
Sandstone,
and present, as
woods extend,
a certain
Thus
from
soil
chalk,
that
stratified,
earth
the
them.
a virgin
distinguish
for building
your building
in
upon,
complete
excavate cellars in those banks,
excavated material
"We are now walking
on sandy
for
clays
erecting
mixed
the
with
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
52
It
soil.
an excellent, not compressible,
This also forms
limestone.
otherwise
is
they are upon a declivity of the
water which
house
ping down attention if
on their surface
sometimes find
also
we would
villages,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; by
situated
for instance,
if,
the effect of the
they
descends
with
them.
You
slopes,
slip-
therefore
pay great
method of laying foundations
the
such a danger.
avoid
and the
slip,
on clay
must
AVe
the valley.
into
to
soil,
between their beds
filters
erected
not that they are
;
they are not packed,
if
compressible, but,
with pure clays
upon
Sometimes,
clay,
when
also,
they are strongly compressed by a heavy building, the clays
under
yield
the
The
by a seesaw motion. are
excellent
needful,
form an
artificial
moistening
from
The
them.
finer
clay, the better it is
grains close
unfavorable
an
;
because
the
much
so
;
soil
by
sand
that
so
you good
ground, and by thoroughly sand,
and the
freer
it
is
for all these small, heavy, equal
have but slight intervals between them, and are in contact
with
each
other
several
at
settling
is
regular,
and hence
limetres,
but
alluvia
is
not
formed
dislocated,
by sluggish
its
because
If
points.
free .from
building thus descends, according to
The
off;
gravelly,
the
transferring
weight compresses the bed of sand, and forces this
farther
little
foundations,
receiving
moistened
beds of sand to
up a
sea-sands, pure, fine, or
when
settles
naturally can, if
for
swell
to
weight
it
to
the
settle,
The
danger.
weight, several milit
sinks
watercourses,
regularly.
that
is,
by
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
mud
lakes, thus
or
rivers
beds
compose good
are deposited little of
by the weight
it
When
which have innumerable
would a heap of decayed turf-pits.
You
under the
least weight.
a
point
tins- thick,
and
low
shakes
pits reach to
that
matter,
These
hay.
Stop
bed.
its
You
we
called
are
deposits for
upon them,
here
;
this
betrays
soil.
turfy
in
no cur-
between them, as
cavities
can erect nothing
which
take root
to
they sink
near the stream,
are
very phenomenon.
Stamp
see that the earth sounds hol-
Sometimes
under the shock.
these
turf-
such a depth, by the accumulation of vegetable
you cannot sound their bottom
over them, your building
would sink
little
;
you
built
little,
often
if
by
unequally, by reason of the declivity of the subsoil, so it
is
of detritus are formed under a slight
Thus successive beds
at
lias
It
each year take their places.
these plants die, others
pressure,
water
as the
for,
;
or
and are well settled
little,
plants and weeds
permits
because gravel
soils,
water which disposed them.
the
otherwise with marshy soils rent,
by
53
would lean
one
to
side.
It
is
that
thus that the towers
of
Pisa and Bologna in Italy inclined, whilst they were being built,
at
pressed either
moment when
the
under
their
you must
clear
weight.
away
pit
was
When
you
the
completely comfind
the turf until
yÂť>u
these
reach
or gravel, or else sink piles very near together, like a of
ninepins,
until
they
can be
on the tops of these piles they
driven
raise
an
no
farther.
artificial
soils,
rock
game Then
foundation,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
54
a sort of frame of carpentry work, between which they run
and
concrete,
upon which
masonry.
Entire
dam
upon
rest
they
towns are so built of
forests
the
place
first
Venice and Amster-
;
sunk into a
piles
spongy mud,
formed under a shallow sheet of water which
enough "
But
to it
compress
understand the nature of the
to
soil
upon which you propose
ine
the
to build
watercourses,
clay-bank, slight as
you must
;
how
or
water acts upon their surface or in presence of a
not heavy
is
it.
does not suffice
subjacent
of
layers
may
it
flow
the
their
also
exam-
of
rain-
interstices.
The
be,
between lime,
sandstone, or sand beds, ought to be taken into account; for these banks, being water-tight, that
is,
not permitting rain-
water to penetrate their thickness, favor currents or sheets of water, which might occasion grave derangements in the foundations. is
clay,
Observe this verdant bed along the escarpment; but very
but supposing
which will on
it
slight,
was
and could not obstruct the water;
and
will
tion of the clay-bed
;
take little
its
by
may
way
will do,
rain,
according to the inclina-
little it
lottos, and a concealed current.
or foundation wall descending latter
The
centimetres in thickness.
fifty
will be arrested easily penetrate the gravel above,
this bed,
little
it
wash against
and will
necessary, in this
fill
it,
your
case, to
below
will
will
If
form
von make a
this sheet of
penetrate
cellars.
turn aside
cavities, like
That
it,
is
cellar
water, the
whatever you
why
this sheet of
it
will
be
water, in
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
Lend me '
clearly
from your
off
it
drawing
your
building
means
l>y
memorandum-book, and
by a tracing what
I
am
telling
you
(Fig.
46
Fig.
"
Let
AB
be the clay-bed,
which water can penetrate.
erse the clay. at I, with
wall
GH
"But
if
it
6).
!
CD
the
or
gravel
sand bed
There will be formed a sheet of
E
to F.
since
it
This sheet
G H,
and
can neither remount nor trav-
must, then, establish a transversal drain
openings upward, by which the
the gutter, as
the water
You
it,
show you
if
be arrested by the foundation or cellar wall
will soon penetrate
drain.
6.
running water, after every shower, from will
will
I
a
of
55
the tracing
K
receives wherever
perfectly dry.
shows.
water will enter
This drain will carry
you wish, and
You comprehend,
will
leave the
do you not?
you lay your foundations in the open clay you
must take precautions with another
object
;
for,
as
I
told
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
56
you just now,
it
might be that the whole clay-bank would
slip.
"Clay-banks
slip,
above
when, in their
all,
sent such a section as I trace thus (Fig. 7)
bank,
B
a clay-bank.
from
D
to
C, will
this
pass
G
at
under
this
its
A
be a rock-
own weight
above
;
clay-bank
form, from
soapy bed, so that the clay-bank
bed by
let
;
they pre-
The rain-water accumulating above,
the rain continues long they will thick,
slope,
all,
C
C BE
if
and
;
if
to E, a soft,
will slip
that weight
is
on in-
creased by a building at G.
Fig.
"How C
in a
avert this danger?
7.
First, in collecting the
sewer or a drain, so that
the clay-bank
if it
is
it
shall
not pass
if it
very thick; secondly,
water at
under
has only the
'
thickness of a few metres, in to the rock or gravel,
sinking the foundation-wall
H
and in making a collecting sewer
at /,
C I K,
being
as I said just now.
"Then
the triangle of the clay,
cannot
slip,
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
The clay portion below, not
checked by the well-laid wall.
being moistened underneath, will not
how important
see
to resist the pressure
C I K.
of the triangle
You
is
it
that
is
Remember despised
the
this well
that
;
study,
and how
;
know something
should
architect
account
take
to
ground upon which you are to operate it
H
But the wall
slip.
and the sewer / must be thick enough
"
S7
of
the
essential
of geology.
for the architects of the last generation
and
left
in
it
instances
many
to
their
builders.
"We
will also refer to slimy, flat soils, soaked with water,
where you cannot dig because they have scarcely the consistence
of
mud,
compact
in
which
When
the less resistance you encounter.
contain
turfy,
but
little
more you penetrate
the
vegetable
such lands are not
and are always
detritus,
penetrated by the same quantity of water, you can build upon
them, since water like
a
boat
Your building
is
then
whole question consists in preventing the
the
;
not compressible.
is
water from escaping from under the weight of the building as
it
full
When
does from under a boat.
bath-tub, the water ascends
equal to the
at
you plunge into a half the
volume of your body.
sides
But
in
a quantity
suppose
that
a
plank, cut to exactly the contour of your body, prevents the
water from
rising
the
which would
water,
when you wish
to
about you
;
you could not descend
carry
build on a
you on
muddy
soil,
its
surface.
into
Well,
the problem con-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
58
sists
as
fast
n.ud from rising around the
preventing the
in
as
sinks
it
you the proper way case (Fig.
must make
I
in.
1
-\
s
!
r
jp
i,11
fnf'ii
1
!i|l
«i
is
have dug into a made
not safe to build.
this is very moist,
— an
At
ii
i|ii
,i
Fig.
it
good result in such a
--A -
,
We
show
to
8).
A
"
at a
arrive
to
a drawing
house
8.
soil,
B
K
«
we
A, that
is,
a
on which
soil
reach the virgin
soil
;
but
old mire soaked with water and into
which you would sink in walking upon dig into this the more moist
we
find
it.
it.
A
The deeper we
sounding-line sunk
two or three metres will always reach the same bottom, and the holes
it
makes
will
be at once
driven in sink to their heads.
Now
filled
with water.
Piles
you see very well
that,
to erect
an ordinary building, you cannot spend double the
sum on
the foundation that you would on the building
We
must
reflect.
walls which
We
will
make, in order to receive
in the trenches will
the
form the perimeter of the house, trenches from
E
50 to 60 centimetres in depth, such as I trace at
we
itself.
and on the whole
;
then,
surface' of the construction
run concrete of a thickness of from 60 to 80
metres between the trenches, as I trace at F.
We
centi-
shall thus
have made a sort of cover, of a homogeneous material, which
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTIO.X.
mud G
prevent the
will
The weight
from ascending. compress the
compressed under
IT,
of
the
Thus you could
rest.
A
soil
its
will
borders,
suffice
on
safely build
59
to
this pla-
teau. "
You asked what learn
will
you
sketches, Paul
concrete
after
and
"
The
situation
to be built. "
whence
soil,
we can
also
with which we can make brick.
emerges below the divert
last
of
along the
it
useful, for it will give us
carry off in a sewer
will
Here
â&#x20AC;˘
"
seems
It
worked tions,
at
to
several
cpaarries
limestone banks
the
where
house,
will
it
the
me
the
that
slops
and
banks
these
We may
points.
made
the
is
wood and
we may
;
be
doubly
water for household purposes, and dirt,
which will be
excavation which I see on our
lost in that old
have
take
course of the running water which comes from the
easily
We
Here, on the lower declivity, are distinct
stone for building. clays,
was
a good one," said the cousin.
is
This
had readied the ascent of the
his cousin
an excellent limestone
sandy
made.
is
it
While talking and making
a while."
slope where the mansion
and how
is,
as
carelessly,
is
have
too
already
been
these excava-
in
find,
left.
often
the case
in
the country."
"How
can you
tell
the
that
stone
is
fit
to
build with?"
asked Paul.
"It edge,
is
as
not always easy, and
with
many
others,
it
that
is
with this kind of knowlexperience
ought to con-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
60
firm
Among
theory.
with certain
the
sandstones,
quarried and
some
cut,
which
limestones,
usually
which can be
material
are hard, others
soft
est are
not always those which best resist
time.
Many when
water,
contain
limestones
composition of which
blocks, the
and
silex in a greater or less quantity.
clay resist dampness and frost.
despoiled by an erosion,
it
black
block, the
solid
covered with lichens
come very slowly themselves
to
;
this
swell
and burst
Limestones as here,
of lime
from
free
see
you
banks
easy to distinguish those which
is
Thus, look at this big
not.
and naked face of which has been
it
;
retains
this
carbonate
is
When,
good from those which are
are
;
as
parts
the
easily
but the hard-
the corrosions of
and
clay,
come the clay
the frosts
comprise,
of an excellent quality, for lichens
is
as
and,
they have been able
and give
stone,
this
it
to
gray,
attach
speckled
appearance, the limestone must have long resisted the decom-
posing action of the atmosphere.
Above, you see a bank of
almost pure white, and apparently very sound. this
good appearance only because, at each
and
its skin,
its
surface
is
will find that a white dust will is
so,
you
is
it
not
?
it
has
frost, it
lets
fall
you touch
remain in your hand.
Thus the quality
see that underneath
If
decomposed.
it
Well,
of this block
the grass
is
is
you
it,
That
bad, and
strewn with
small
limestone exfoliations, whilst the grass under the gray block is
free
from
architect,
all
dust.
when he wishes
It
is,
therefore,
to build, to go
very useful to
and observe
an
quarries,
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION. and how the banks composing them bear the
between
what
us, it is
free air
6
1
and,
;
nowadays scarcely take the
architects
trouble to do."
Second Lesson.
Paul was much pleased with his cousin's method of giving
him an elementary
down
he had written concerning the his
to
text
;
soil
all
that
had been explained
before
him
to
he had even skilfully added drawings
;
and corrections had been rapidly made
But on
dinner.
The evening
idea of construction.
this
after
day the rain prevented them from going
out/and the cousin decided that the second lesson should be given indoors. "
We
shall
have examples enough before our eyes
We
chateau will furnish us with them. cellar to
method
garret,
and
will
study
will
materials
its
them
of construction, criticising
examine
if
it
as well
the
;
from
as
its
they are bad, and
taking note of their good points."
When
master and scholar had descended underground, the
former began thus
next the court,
is
" :
Observe that this
That comes from two causes
off,
:
taken, in elevating the wall, to coat
the water would slip secondly, mortars
which
is
humid, and that the mortar which unites in
stones has nearly everywhere fallen top.
cellar wall,
down from
the
especially towards the
first,
precaution was not
on the outside so that
it
soil
have not been used
in
to
the
its
base;
and,
building, con-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
62
lime
one
:
'
called
because
fat,'
it
the
to
itself
is
when
glutinous
it
is
with
plaster-beater
slackened,
which
you may have
is
and when mixed with sand, thickens
seen,
Used above the
slowly.
soil,
mortars
made with
become very hard, but preserve more or
finally
it
This lime, being sunk in water, emits a thick vapor,
puddled.
time,
baking of the compact lime-
usually found at the top of a bank, and which
is
and attaches
as
obtained by the
is
stone which is
There are two principal kinds of
hydraulic lime.
taining
a
certain
plastic
easily diluted
thickening slowly, aye case never
become
These
quality.
hard.
Hydraulic
this
lime for
less,
a
however,
mortars,
by water, and limes, obtained
in
that
by the
baking of clay-lime mixed with sand, rapidly assume, on the other hand, a great
when '
the mortar
it
They make
and remain
a wet place.
in
is
hydraulic,' because
in water.
hardness,
is
employed
artificial
in
They all
more
the
all
call
this
so
lime
masonry established
hydraulic lime,
when
the soil
does not furnish clay-lime, by grinding up a certain quantity of
with limestone
clay
The hydraulic lime then "
told
it
fizzes,
It is
is
recognized
but produces very
by mixing
little
it
with water
they mix with
it
are
the
I
Having prepared the mortar,
a certain quantity of hard pebbles, of about
the thickness of an egg into
made.
:
vapor.
with hydraulic lime that the concretes, of which
you yesterday,
mixture
proper for making ordinary limes.
;
they puddle the whole, and throw the
excavations, where
they ram
it
in
witli
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
wooden
made, a real rock conglomerates,
the lime
If
beaters.
or
is
is
good and the concrete well
thus composed, which resembles natural
The water with
pudding-stone.
when they have taken
penetrates these concretes
and thus you avoid the subjacent in cellars "
made
If the wall
in very
you
would be
wall,'
it
when
difficulty
consistency,
which occur
infiltrations
soils.
had been
would be
as hard as the stone
stand that, fied the
wet
see here
with hydraulic lime,
6-
the water has
and
intact,
itself.
little
built with mortar
by
its
made
junctions
You
will easily under-
little
diluted and lique-
mortar of the layers and that joined to the base of a
the stones of which
rest of the
it
is
This
building suffers.
house, looking
upon the
composed
settle,
why
is
court, betrays a
which are repaired from time
to time,
the
and so
all
front of
number
the this
of fissures,
but without, of course,
getting rid of the cause of the evil.
Fig.
"You
see that the cellar wall
very thick, latter is
9.
much
thicker
than
which receives the vault the
ground-floor
wall.
is
The
only sixty centimetres in thickness, whilst this wall
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
64
is
nearly a metre.
interior
to receive
mainly
A
vault,
sketch
arrangement
This additional thickness
will
there are to
being at
soil
in the
first
fore,
summer
'
you the reason
of the of this
we put
at fifty centimetres
B
and the exterior
be
being given to
Your
be fifty-five centimetres.
you must reserve
at
E
a
by a
projection,
on the outer
wall
this
At A'
five centimetres.
be proper,
C, it will
soil at
place, to indicate the interior soil
let this
the wall will, there-
Then
is
it
of
resting-place
at
least
to
twenty
and
sixty centimetres in thickness, for
the
wall which
upon the oblique have a good
we
to
is
at
G
be
shall
and would
be,
as
"
erected
must not bear
we
it
would not
'
or
starved,'
say,
it
as
I.
But come into
this other cellar,
part of the chateau, and
is
builder did not wish to lose
building with
;
F
have at
reduced in thickness by the arch which would penetrate in the tracing
sum-
eighty centimetres at
layers of the vault, otherwise
seat,
'
sub-basement
the
firmly set
this projection being of five centimetres,
;
}
well to give on the side of the earth a
greater projection, in order
least
D
vault being traced at
centimetres, to receive the first keystones of the vault mers.'
if
;
be cellars under this ground-floor, the interior
a greater thickness ;
given to the
is
be the thickness of the ground-
wall of a house, which
floor
side
A
call the
for
illustrate
Let
(Fig. 9).
what we
'
hewn
to the oldest
built with excellent stone.
any space on the
w as r
stone,
which belongs
anxious
not
The
interior,
and,
waste
the
to
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
material.
What
wall
same thickness
the
did he do? (Fig. 10.) that
as
of
He
65
only gave his cellar
the
He
ground-floor.
placed, at intervals, large corbels at sixty centimetres above
the soil
;
on these he keyed in arches with a projection of
,!.»»"'
•
Fio. 10.
twenty-five
centimetres, and on these arches, which
replace
the surplus of thickness, or lining-wall, of which I spoke just
now, he keyed in will
enable
us to
his
vault.
seize
this
This
drawing in perspective
system of building.
upper wall leaves the vault independent, and on
its
tively.
understand, do you not?
staircase,
It is
"Well, let
upright
us examine
tin's
which, perhaps, you have not observed attenfour old-fashioned
feet
in
width, or one
thirty centimetres; a sufficient width to carry
wine.
rises
lower facing.
"You little
Thus the
See here
(Fig.
11); the creeping-vault
down is
metre
butts of
composed
of
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
66
as
many superincumbent
well, is solid,
are
and easy
established,
arches as there are steps
;
it
looks
In short, where stone steps
to build.
on these are placed successively a wooden
centring, which, of course, juts out at each step, and on this
centring an arch
is
placed, being built rapidly, as the stones
Fig. 11.
are already cut. steps;
and the centring being
each arch, lowest,
Thus the arches
upon
the
follow" the
carried,
following step,
two men can key in
after
profile
of the
the closing
of
commencing with the
five or six of these arches in a
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
there
If
day.
twelve
are
"
walls
the
of the
interior soil,
the
interior
the
aiTL'st
it,
fall
when
a construction
the walls, and
have
bitumen place
of
Waterproof
to
It
is
made
is
men
the
lime.
made retard
only
put to its
and the coatings
evil,
then,
especially
in the country, to prevent the
the
at
it
stones
the layer of
this
escapes
are
is
level
of the
soil.
At-
sometimes been made to interpose a bed of
between
But
which
stone,
from ascending into the thickness of
arrest
is
the
of
mortar,
method
to is
sub-basement, at the
prevent the stones from
it,
The best way
'
called
capillary
a very inefficient one
under the weight, because
hard enough to resist the
these
necessary,
sucking in the moisture, which tion.'
the
alters
coatings
but
saltpetre,
soil
resemble
formed on the
is
eats off all the paint
a crust.
like
dampness of the
tempts
and
of
soon
which
Saltpetre
facing.
and do not destroy the
appearance,
observe how, on the
and which, by the dampness of the
wall.
effect
;
which
saltpetre,
on the
ends by gnawing
on
is
itone,
crystallizes
see,
efflorescences
betray
That
carded cotton.
this construction
and B.
Let us ascend to the ground-floor
interior,
may
creeping-vault
and geometrically, in your
in perspective,
A
to-day's resume,
You
two days.
therefore be closed in
must be indicated
this
steps,
67
or is
it
to
does
it
;
attrac-
the bitu-
not
grow
changes and combines with interpose
held in the bed of mortar, between the
a
first
layer of slate,
lower strata of
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
68
The
sub-basement.
the
slate
the
arrests
entirely
effect
of
and the moisture cannot ascend into the
capillary attraction, walls. "
Observe now this front wall on the of
sort
at
hump
itself
taining
wall
this
as
vertically,
Why
rounded.
Because
?
'
be
to
ought it
Instead
bulges.'
the
might be a
It
?
It
ground-floor.
is
to
push
in
a
first,
horizontal, can
push
certain
sense,
which
order
Formerly, in
happens.
beams were
laid
is
from one wall
these, lighter pieces
this"
wood, even
own
bent,
so
if it
of is
flooring,
order
for in
But
what
see
and
the other, ;
upon
then these
gravel,
or
joists
sand,
and
mortar was formed, to receive the very heavy.
Well, as a piece of
be very square, bends, after a while, under
weight,
that
is
much
the
more
heavy burden. ercises
area
All this
pavement.
its
an
;
or
a flooring, thick
establish
earth,
You
flooring stretches,
possible.
to
this
is
staging.
staging,
called joists
of wood,
were overlaid with a bed of above
a
out of place
not to
is
no vault on the
is
must be supposed that the
it
it,
how it
it
case,
What
be the
therefore,
only, at
understand,
scarcely
which
can
but there
vault,
main-
of
been pushed by a force
has
acting from the interior towards the exterior. force
We
the height of the first-floor staging.
that
therefore,
say,
It forms a
court.
The more
to
it
say,
will
straight it
as
become
it
becomes
is,
bent
under a
bends, the more pressure
on the interior facing of the walls in which
it
ex-
it
has
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
been
fitted.
It is this pressure
on the interior facing which
tends to push the wall outwards. the
burden
trusses,
the
arm
this
of
the
pushing
of the lever
A.
beams, you effect is
is
longer.
69
But place
still
(Fig.
if,
as here, to relieve
underneath wooden
more 12.)
obvious,
A
because
drawing will
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
yo
and unless the
tralizes
end
this
pressure
K
so weighted that the weight neu-
is
caused by the
beam
at the extremity
This has not been done here, where a corbel has been
L.
put in place of the wooden slight hold in the wall,
with bad
This
truss.
has but a
corbel
and the wall, built of small materials,
masonry, has not sufficient consistency to
resist
the pushing caused by the rounding of the beams. "
But,
will
you
ask,
.
why
height of the flooring of the cause,
by the
the wall
thus
jammed
inclination
effect
and not above
floor,
we
bulging which
in the second flooring, its
direction of the
the
first
produced at the
effect
is
itself,
so
exaggerated
I
that
the
in
show you
it
has
curved
M, where
in
you more
strike
may
it
and
facings being placed,
perpendicularly
upper beams, as
Be-
?
observe here,
inclined, above, towards the interior,
is
their
by
of the
effect
this
is
forcibly. "
You
see that each detail
in building "
In
and search is
why
it
for its
does not
all
way and
cause, suffice,
become familiar with the provide for
worthy of
attention,
cases;
in
to to
avoid an evil
determine
its
is
to analyze
effects;
that
order to be a good builder, to
which cannot
rules of construction,
you must
see
and observe much, and
ascertain the defective points in old buildings
way
and that
you must take account of everything.
things, the only
all
is
;
in the
same
physicians learn to define a good physical constitution
by studying maladies and
their causes.
We
only appreciate,
PAUL'S COURSE OF PRACTICAL CONSTRUCTION.
most so
what
often,
much
good by a knowledge of what
is
An
that the crood exists. to
assist
often
said
to
must avoid
me,
'
My
the
in
of
you
find
to
easily
If
out.
discover
it
;
you were born an
if
examples which I should
you
talent
" ;
to
in
showing them
may
and such
"But
it
wisely.
you
telling
in
a matter for
is
architect,
you
will
could show you, the you,
A
would not give of the
sight
finest
pervert the minds of students,
of these
works succeeded in mak-
because they avoided falling into
such
faults.
that
fair copies of
look
I
you
them, the master does not explain
to
them how the authors
ing them beautiful,
that
display to
and he spoke
achievements of the art if,
all
not,
for
that
consists,
age,
you what
tell
as
building;
what the good and beautiful
was about your
1
can
I
friend,
art
bad;
master architect, who desired
old
with his advice, when
me
is
1
we can admit
in the absence of the bad,
so, that,
7
all
is
enough
these
to
fill
sketches,
over this evening."
up your day's in
drawing
it
report.
up,
Make
and we
will
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
72
CHAPTEE PAUL
IS
VI.
INDUCED TO ESTABLISH CERTAIN DIFFERENCES BETWEEN
MORALITY AND HOUSE-BUILDING.
HEN
Paul's report of the
that evening, in
\\
the family
delau interrupted phrase, incorrectly set
down
day's lesson
" :
the
circle,
was
M. de Gan-
reading at the
Good
is
read,
following
only the absence of
evil." "
Oil
!
oh
" !
said the father
the absence of
who begs bread
of you;
not try to save a neither do "
It is
I
if,
knowing how is
to
man
swim, you do
drowning, you do not do
ill,
faults observed in constructions, I said,
the absence of evil
that,
in
and perhaps in many other things which belong
to
that which
is
good
bad.
I
confess,
oped
my
idea.
Two
to the poor
you give nothing
man who
Apropos of
purely material
"
something besides
is
you do well."
think, that
building,
charity
not quite what I said to Paul," replied the cousin, "
smiling.
If
evil.
" ;
is
order, to
besides,
do well that I
is
;
that
to avoid
have not
is,
sufficiently devel-
things are necessary to become a good builder
;
an
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES. exact mind, USj
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; an d
"
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which
belongs to the moral nature of each of
experience, which
is
acquired.
The observation and experience which
us to recognize what
is
and avoid
bad,
are the result, aid
it;
but
in
if,
spite
not endowed with an exact mind, naturally reg-
of this, one is
one to avoid what
ulated, experience, while enabling
does not of itself suffice to discover what "Besides,
73
in morality good
if
of circumstances,
it
is
is
is
is
bad,
good.
absolute and independent
What
not so in building.
good in
is
bad in another, by reason of the climate,
habits,
and of the quality of materials and their adaptability
to this
one place
or that
is
circumstance.
local
If
it
is
good, for
instance, to
cover a roof with slate in a moist and temperate climate,
would not be
so in a hot, dry,
some
buildings are excellent on is
and windy sites,
Wooden
climate.
bad on
If
others.
good in dwelling-houses to open wide doors, and
this
intense,
is
bad in southern countries, where the light
is
and where the heat must be guarded
absolute
rules
reflection
taken.
there
glaze
against.
If,
you can make a code of morality, you cannot establish
then,
best
is
it
the northern climates, because the light
large surfaces, in
dim,
it
in
building
;
since experience, reasoning,
must always intervene, when
Young
authority
architects to
consult
a building
building.
I
the
have told them
was none, because a work could not provide
cases, for all the special circumstances
under-
me what was
have often asked on
is
and
which come up
for
all
in an
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
74
A
architect's career.
text-book
furnishes rules
but ninety-
;
nine times out of a hundred you find yourself dealing with the
A book
exception, and have no use for the rule.
on building
good to accustom the mind to conceive and accomplish
is
methods
certain
according to
it
;
you the means
gives
solving the problems proposed, but does
only one in a thousand.
at least solves
telligence
and observation
to
of
not solve them, or It
is,
then, for in-
supply in these thousand cases
that which the rule could not foresee."
Third Lesson.
when
"Yesterday," said the cousin to Paul, "
tered his room,
we
visited the
cellar
the latter en-
and ground-floor
day we will go through the garrets of the chateau. I
am
going to show you what
The most simple two
rafters,
two inclined
rib
in
rafters unite
the drawing
D
that
;
(Fig.
13).
is
piece C, the in
king-post.
:
The
rafters, the horizontal piece
the vertical
upper ends of the
you
composed of four pieces of wood
A, are the
pieces,
first
called a rib of framework.
one tie-beam, and one king-post
tie-beam, and
the
is
is
But
to-
;
B,
The
the king-post, as I show
to say,
with the aid of two
tenons E, which enter the two mortises F, and of a shoulder G,
which causes
which we in
call
the same
all
the wood-pieces
'
franking.'
way with
to
The lower ends
.fit
in the notch
1",
of the rafters unite
the two extremities of the tie-beam,
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES. as is seen in
H.
of the tie-beam
The king-post by a tenon, but
upon the tie-beam.
wooden pins
is
also united to the
loosely,
which
you, so as to hold the whole well together.
upon the summit
press
31,
the two rafters from the foot
middle
and without pressing
The tenons having entered the
are driven into the holes
mortises,
I point out
to
The more you
the more you tend to turn ;
7$
away
but these being fixed at the two
ends of the tie-beam, tighten the latter like the chord of an arc. it
is
Then
this
strained,
tie-beam
is
the less likely to bend the more
and the king-post
is
only there to hold
the middle, and to unite the head of the rafters. rafters
may bend under
therefore
two
trusses,
in
But these
the weight of the roof, from 1\ are added
it
M
to
N\
to arrest this bending,
by carrying the weight upon the king-post, so that the
latter
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
y6
in
is
turn
its
stretch, the point
P
is
M
from
strained
to
The wood cannot
P.
and therefore the two points
fixed,
are also fixed. "
Now
that
you know what the most simple
rib
is,
let
us
go up to the roof." This roof was times,
had been repaired and consolidated many
old,
and formed a piece of disordered carpentry work
diffi-
cult to comprehend. "
Formerly,"
said
the
cousin,
carpentry work was done
rying a rib
that
;
as
Now
cure a large old forests
then, be
;
it
number
composed a at
intervals.
less plenty,
and
it
is
difficult to pro-
The
of pieces of considerable size. soil
So
it
fine
of France have been fool-
and extensive woods of oak are
economized.
rib,
and there was no need of econ-
plenty, is
ago,
each rafter car-
was only placed
which covered the
ishly wasted,
here
it
to say, each of the rafters
is
Then the wood was it.
more than a century
you see
excepting a tie-beam which
omizing
"
rare.
They must,
has become usual to
establish
firm ribs, at a distance from each other of about four metres.
On
these ribs purlins have been placed; purlins are the hori-
zontal pieces which you see on this side
more
or less long, have
of the tiling
been
;
and on these
fixed, to receive the
and the bottom of the
slate.
But
rafters,
lath-work
all roof-car-
pentry ought to be established on sleepers, which are those horizontal
pieces
which bind and
that
repose
isolate the
on
the
head of
the
walls,
tie-beams from the masonry; for
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES. you must observe that wood the free
the
You
masonry
and
as pure
is
"
half
is
it
;
wood
see this piece of
above, which
rafter
indefinitely preserved dry
reduced to rottenness, whilst the free air, has a
in the
is
partly in contact with
from decay as
if it
dry appearance,
were new.
In former times they made the floorings by placing
These
on beams and the walls.
you can
visible, as
joists
see in the kitchen
still
ries.
among
But
it
joists
and beams remained and the
large
room
The
on the ground-floor which serves as a lumber-room. circulated
by
but decays rapidly in contact with a moist body
air,
like stone.
is
77
air
these woods, and they might last for centu-
was discovered that these
visible
were
pieces
not pleasant to the sight, that they were not clean, and per-
Then
mitted spiders to weave their webs in their interstices.
under these
they nailed laths
work with a coating which we being thus shut as
the
soon attacked ble joists,
say, that
it
which had
air,
the
add that formerly, before using wood precaution
submit
They even bathed of sap,
with
visi-
centu-
from rottenness very soon after being closed up.
will
years, to
and rottenness
resisted the action of time for
fell
the
The wood
floorings
ries,
took
lath-
became overheated,
fermented,
quickly, that
so
it;
is,
and covered the the ceiling.
call
and deprived of
in
carpenters
joists,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; sap
it
it
of to
leaving
the
it
action
for a certain
out
of
in
time
in
building, they
doors
of the rain
T
for
several
and the sun.
water, to purge
it
being the ferment which causes the decay of the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
78
When
wood.
the wood, stripped and cut in broad
had remained in the open
But we
and
then closed up
is
it
It
cut.
not dry, retains
is
employ wood
to
hesitate
architects
for
Prudent
rotten.
Still
floorings.
grave results, worst
could
that
There
would be
happen
and
cracks
roundings. air.
then, no great inconvenience in employing fresh-
is,
wood
ly cut
The
were not closed up between coatings.
if it
.They would dry in use, as they would in the open
which
roof carpentry,
for
would dry
It
its
even in a state of imperfect dessication, would not have
use,
"
its
ferments rapidly, so that
it
few years the largest beams become
a
in
if
used.
and they now often use wood
;
which has not been a year sap,
was
air rive or six years, it
in faster times
live
squares,
would become
It
in its place.
usually left
is
open.
distorted,
but
would not decay.
"As we
house,
we
and we will
try,
sister's
your
beams
;
to give "
should not be able to find perfectly dry wood for the
great
trees
not
which
aspect.
Nature, I imagine,
oak or
intelligence
the
has
materials which
is
qualities of
you that nature has nourished these
tell
we
visible
by simple and not expensive means,
them an agreeable
I will
of
floorings
But you must know something of the various
woods.
the
make
will
use,
for
our
pleasure
scarcely occupied
spruce
suits
known how increase
our to
;
and
advantage
before our eyes,
our needs.
knowing whether
in
purposes
derive
or
it
is
if
human
from the
after
having
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES. recognized
and
Unhappily,
it
lost the habit of observation
"
it
more
or less loose or
power of considerable resistance
a
pressure which
exercised lengthwise on these
it
bends
or breaks
easily,
centimetres
fibres
to
a
but
;
on the contrary, under a press-
ure exercised crosswise on these same ten
we have
with which they were familiar.
compact, possesses is
wood
might be confessed that
a composition of fibres
Wood, being
in which
way
our ancestors, or that
than
less instructed
are
results of this experience
to see the
employed nowadays,
usually
we
and
;
by experience.
properties
would seem that the
do not tend to increase is
their
established
79
Tims, a log of
fibres.
diameter and a metre long, placed upright,
will support a pressure of
twenty thousand kilograms,* with-
out breaking or bending
whilst this weight would break or
bend the
log,
if
it
;
were
laid
horizontally, as
would break a rose-stem under your
easily as
Take a
foot.
you
bit
of
good healthy straw ten centimetres long, and put your finger
on one end, holding
hard to bend
to press it
when
The
it
vertically
whilst
it,
the
laid horizontally will flatten
tree
is
composed of a
will
have
slightest pressure
upon
on a table
series
it.
The more numerous these tubes
gether
and
pressure, whether
shows us *
they in
are,
The straw
more
are,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the
will the
kilogram being a
is
a tube.
closer
trunk
the length or the thickness.
that, in order to
A
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the
you
of tubes one within
other.
finer
;
But
anto-
resist
this
preserve the quality of resistance
little
over two pounds three ounces.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
8o
in wood,
you must use
more
as nature gives
Each piece
used formerly. of tree
it
of carpentry
it
make
it
was
was taken from a
or less thick, but they did not
their length to
and thus
;
saw the
several pieces of carpentry
;
bit
trees in
for the core
A 1
r
'
!
Fig. 14.
being harder and more compact than the sap-wood (which
is
the spongy envelope placed under the bark), and the concentric layers of
ing as its
the
wood being the more compact and
they approach the core,
length, one of the
sides is
if
much more
other, the equilibrium is broken,
ing
is
easily produced.
recent, are
The
more spongy and
layers near the core
;
you saw a
tree in
resist-
two
in
resisting than the
and under a weight a bend-
exterior loose in
layers, being
tissue
the most
than the older
consequently the dessication, or drying,
causes in these exterior layers a more considerable contraction
than in the internal layers; hence, the bending (Fig. 14).
Let
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES.
A
be a piece of sawed wood those, C,
have softer
In drying,
fore produce a concavity
in D.
If the
wood
neutralize each other,
is
the layers
this piece of
on the exterior left
B
are harder
and
which contain more moisture and
more compact than fibres.
;
81
entire,
wood
side, as
as in E, the
and the piece will remain
will thereI
show you
effects
will
straight.
Fig. 15.
"
Look
at this old-fashioned carpentry, the rafters of
carry trusses (Fig. 15).
The
interties
of oak, the core being in the centre.
A
were squared
It is the
which
in pieces
same with the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
82
rafters B, the
tie-beams C, the false tie-beams D, the king-
posts E, tie-pieces F, and the
G
jambs
;
and neither of them has bent, be-
preserved their rigidity,
cause they were used dry and in unsawed other hand, at this rib
much it
is
these parts have
all
of a recent date
J,
because of the weight of the rafters
Look, on the
bits. it
;
bent, not so
is
bears, as because
it
sawed and the carpenter has unskilfully placed the core
Had he done
on the inside.
the contrary, had the core been
placed on the side of the rafting, the rib would probably not
have bent, and perhaps
it
and become convex on
its
men, and do not
make work
can avoid
it.
He who
venient to place
than turn "
it
stiffness,
But carpenters are
external side.
for themselves
placed this rib has found
when they more con-
it
according to his plane of sawing, rather this plane
under the
rafters.
Considering this quality of wood, especially of oak, the in-
outer layers, zontally on
its
when they wish
which
to
to place a piece of piles,
wood
and give
hori-
it all
the
susceptible, to carry a weight acting in
it
two
in its length,
and turning
the exterior, pin together the two pieces, as I
show you here as
it is
middle, they saw
the faces
closer together than the
which are harder and
two points of support or
resistance of
and
it
and put
ternal fibres of
on
like to
would have even acquired
(Fig. 16).
Then the
cores are 'on the outside,
the two pieces tend to curve and thus to form two
convex surfaces,
as
fastened with pins
you
see in
fortified
A
(Fig.
by good
17), if
plates,
they are well
they are forced
PAUL ESTABLISHES CERTAIN DIFFERENCES. to
remain straight; the tendency
83
bend in one neutralizing
to
the same tendency in the other, the two contrary efforts tend to give greater stiffness to the piece;
as, if
you take a wood
=] Fig. 17.
naturally
somewhat
bent,
and place these two pieces so that
the concavity shall be underneath, after having
overlapped
Fig. IS.
them, putting the end of one against the head of the other,
you
will give to this piece
of which
it is
susceptible.
of
wood
all the resisting
power
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
84 "
Couplings, and all double pieces,
ing to this method.
must be disposed accord-
Here, for instance (Fig. 18), you see that
they have rightly placed a pair of couplings, by putting the
sawed parts on the
We
call pieces of
outside, to
replace a decayed
wood which, usually
double, hold fast two
or several pieces of carpentry, couplings.
by means
of notches in the
rafters B, the king-post
C,
tie-beam.
These couplings A,
middle of the wood, hold the
and the two trusses D.
Iron pins
with screw-nuts exactly clasp the notches of the couples as
jaws would do, against the pieces which they are designed to
keep in place.
But
have enough
do to write
to
this is
our lesson in carpentry."
enough out,
for to-day,
between
this
and you
will
and evening,
PLANTING THE HOUSE.
CHAPTER
85
VII.
PLANTING THE HOUSE, AND OPERATIONS ON THE GROUND.
X
Marie
m
pressed
dated at Naples, in which she ex-
,
the
hensions concerning
late
return to France
Constantinople would
embark "
We
at once.
;
if
assisted
ever
it
Paul's
events. ;
brook
patriotic
sister
her husband
no
delay,
by our
cousin.
to
and forced him
to
called
:
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
seems to us to have been
it
would please us
It
could be put into execution
in our poor country, think of building
the
begged
him
letter closed as follows
;
appre-
could not just
which
the business
have received Paul's plan
somewhat much,
The
and most
liveliest
family to join her at Naples
then
Madame
a letter was received from
^^fifS^rEXT morning
but
;
Come
1
who
botli
very
could now,
rather and be with
us here."
"Well," "
read,
said
M. de Gandelau,
you see your plan
delay to
its
far as this
execution.
is
If
after
approved Messieurs
;
the
letter
had been
let
us proceed without
the
Prussians come as
and burn our old house, according
to their custom,
they will not burn the walls of a building scarcely begun, and
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
86
what we have spent in erecting
will
it
not go into their
pockets."
The
by Paul, who made the
cousin, aided
he had never done so much before,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
calculations,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; counted
up the
esti-
mates, which reached the figure of 175,000 francs (835,000).
The earthwork and masonry entered
into the foreseen expense
at 85,000 francs.
Papa Branchu was "
He 's
when gives
it
called.
the right sort of man, your father," he said to Paul,
was agreed that they should begin next day
people work
when good workmen
everywhere, and old fellows like me, going to starve
all
winter.
I
The
turned
who cannot
he
away
fight,
are
'm going to drink his health
with Jean Godard, the carpenter, satisfied all the
are
" ;
who
will be
mighty w ell T
same."
rest of the
day was occupied in putting the principal
numbers on the plan in order
to
be able to trace the exca-
vations.
Early next morning Papa Branchu appeared on the ground,
armed with water-level, "
You
cords, pickets, nails, pins,
a large square, and a
and was speedily joined by Paul and
see," said
the cousin to Paul,
"
that the
his cousin.
numbers on
the plan indicate the distances between the axes of the walls.
Consulting them,
we
will plant these axes on the ground,
the aid of cords attached to what
composed of two stakes fixed
we
solidly in
call 'pins,'
the
earth,
by
which are and of a
tVi-'
:
.
'.-•••
Fig. 19.
r
• •
.
>\;t»y.
— TRACING OUT THE
SITE.
—
Page
87.
PLANTING THE HOUSE. The
traverse.
direction
one of
of
according to the aspect
we wish
axes beincr decided
the
to
87
choose, the
disposition
of the others will follow according to the distances sketched
on the plan, and the measurement of the square."
The cousin soon decided on
the
of axis
line
dining and billiard rooms, according to
Then, on
this
first
line of axis for the
others
the desired
another
established
drawing-room and the
on the
it
was necessary
main
the
building,
Branchu
ordering Papa of one
tance
Two
right
the
fixed,
The axes of the main walls
plan.
were thus traced on the ground by cords fastened
of
aspect.
at
These
hall.
the
were disposed by means of the numbers previ-
ously written
As
for
A,
by means of a small graphometer, which was
angles,
the
line,
he
19.)
(Fig.
to
establish
the to
cousin
to pins.
under the whole
cellars
contented
dig the whole
himself with
ground
metre outside of the lines of
the
at a
dis-
perimeter.
diggers, with their pickaxes, set to work to trace out
the excavation. "
If
you "
digger, ful'
of
which
find,
pretty
it;
work
it
like ashlar;
and pay you accordingly.
them out whole, and put them
may
be used.
and sand
If
you
said
;
we
find
he to the
will
make use
any blocks, get
aside, so that the best pieces
To-morrow or next day we
plan of the cellars. lime,
certain,"
rock of a slight depth and of good quality, be care-
and not botch
it,
is
will give
you the
Meanwhile supply yourself with
you know that
in
this
country
it
bricks, is
pin-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
88
dent to look out in advance in order to have in
als
We
time.
are
So
now," continued
the
cousin,
You
duties.
and
frosts."
first
to
speaking
name you
soon as they returned, "I these will be your
materi-
September, and our cellars must
in
be finished at least before the "
these
as
Paul,
inspector of works, and
come upon the ground
will
that
the orders
given in your presence are strictly carried out.
Thus you
every morning,
will
have
at
will
first
take account of the
to
from the excavation, have thickness,
two
according
to
metres the
it
to
see
quantity of stone taken neatly on
piled
width, and
in
the
production of
it
one metre in
an indefinite length,
Having thus
quarry.
each day ascertained the augmentation of the cube,
we
shall
be sure that nothing has been abstracted from
You
will
have a will
memorandum-book
down
this
initial
each page.
set
Branchu
supervision fast as the
in
your
daily increase,
This
cube,
only, for the
moment, a
but your duties will become more intricate as
;
work advances.
If materials arrive,
half high
if
;
this,
a
laborer's box, a
being
filled,
will
you
will take
they are bricks, and by
they are sand and lime.
if
will have brought
a
which you
in
and you will have Papa
is
note of the quantity, in number, the
pocket,
it.
For
this
purpose
I
metre by a metre and therefore
hold a half a
metre. "
You
will say to
Papa Branchu that he must
erect a shed
with planks, which shall serve as a depository for his
tools,
PLANTING THE HOUSE. and
under cover until
shelter the lime
had a regular
contractor, or one with
it
is
89
used up.
whom
If
we
a bargain had
been made, we should not have to bother ourselves about the quantity or cube of the materials brought on the ground
we
but here
obliged to
are
him
we
the materials
We
of funds.
will give
come from our
purchase, or which
You
for
employ elementary means,
Papa Branchu cannot make advances
on account.
not be
taken away or wasted.
re-
must
perceive that these materials
sources,
;
"We only pay him for the
This requires on our part more attention and
actual work.
supervision, but
we
can be certain at least that
we
shall not
be deceived in the quality of material by a contractor
who
would, perhaps, be interested in furnishing us with stuff inferior to that "
We
Your
will
father
which we had bargained
make
a similar arrangement with the carpenter.
me
tells
for.
that he has
some pieces of
within a year or two, and stowed
away
at
Noire t's farm.
Let us go and look at them, and mark those which to
use.
Our numbered plan
oak, cut
we
select
gives the lengths of the floor-
ing-joists."
As they through the banks, and
passed along little
beside
the
stream which
valley, the cousin attentively
now and then rapped
every
trickled
examined
the sides
its
with the
ferule of his cane. "
"
What I
do you see there
think that
we
" ?
shall find
said Paul.
good material here
for
making
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
90
You
the cellar vaults.
a sponge.
makes
It
see this yellowish stone, as porous as
a present which
is
the modest
It carries in its waters carbonate of lime,
us.
each day incrusts
on the grass and vegetable
itself
which are on the borders and in forms a
light,
and
soft
very porous long as
as
friable
'tuf,'
bed.
its
was larger than
it
is
Take
full of cavities, of
is
it
it
is
this
stream
seems to have deposited a
and examine
this piece
which
rock,
Formerly
which appears on
tuf,
detritus
remains in moisture, but on
it
now, and
very good thickness of
which
This stream also
a calcareous
being dried acquires a certain hardness.
ders.
stream
little
it
present bor-
its
You
closely.
small cylindrical galleries
see that
here were
;
twigs of vegetables, around which the carbonate of lime was
These
deposited. for
a long the
in
cells
how
which
break
try to
it
have decayed and been destroyed
envelope has remained and hardened
the
;
Observe
air.
posed of
But
time
twigs
are
light
with your heel its
week
yet more
will
resist
blow of the hammer to break
"This
is
;
sharp edges. ;
stone
thicker
scarcely
ure scarcely affects it
this
then
it
than
resists,
egg-shells.
and the press-
Well, dry it
being com-
is,
it,
and in a
will require a
heavy
it.
perhaps the best material with which to build
vaults, because of its lightness, resistance, its cavities,
and a
ruggedness which causes the mortar to stick so fast to the junctions
when
that
it
cannot be detached, and that the whole,
sufficiently dry,
seems to form but a single
piece.
PLANTING THE HOUSE. "
is
We
not
men
will send
difficult
quarry several metres of
to
when
:
91
the tuf
moist in
is
This
it.
natural bed,
its
it
can be rapidly taken out in lumps." Noiret's farm
They soon reached
barn wall, under
along the
cut
up,
piled
in
aside those
shed,
there, sure enough,
black from
number with
certain
wood were
of
pieces
and
squares
large
The cousin marked a
a
and
;
his knife, leaving
which were crooked, knotty, or
rolled. "
"
And what
"
Rolled woods are those the fibres of which
a
is
round the
spiral
'
property of resistance
become
turning,
have
diseased
are
ders,'
these being a
from the wood in
It
it.
its
often
which are not
fibres,
less
turn in a
their
lose
distinct,
and leave deep cracks between
therefore
are
as
rejected
attacked
between
parts
or
asked Paul.
?
these fibres, because of their irregular
;
well as those which
the
see
more
disjointed,
Such woods
them.
You
spirals
wood
piece of
rolled
core.
and form
vertical,
'
moisture.
the
at
their
defective,
core,
called
layers,
kind of interior ulcers which solid
resistance,
happens
the
that
as
or
which
'
malan-
first
take
and then develop decay malanders are not
visi-
ble,
and then carpentry wood which seems perfectly sound
falls
to dust.
As
these diseases are frequent or rare accord-
ing to the ground to
know
the
in
origin
forest
produces
oaks
which
rapidly
decay
which the wood grows, of
the
which ;
wood used have
another
a
in
fine
furnishes
it
is
necessary
building.
One
appearance,
but
which
are
oaks
92
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
always sound.
In general, woods grown in
are "
those which
good
;
You
will have
as
they will
side,
they will
do
come from moist clay
was
the
cellar
As
for
these
to
It
's
tion as
chu
how you
we have
to
know
have
centre,
is
parallel
all
here to
it
of
The
by means
some degree
set,
"
Paul
said,
I asked
in.
is
Papa Bran-
legs,
a
This
of three screws spirit
circle.
verified
the
glass
cirits
centre
of
are exactly
place this on a
the
circle horizon-
and by turning the level on the
in
which the tube
is
by means
of
a
centre
turned
done, and the prop being placed at the point is
You
operate.
at
You
establish
must always be
of the circle
not neces-
and above with an
spirit-level,
first
is
movable on
circle,
and the axis of the
and
it
composed of a graduated
which turn on a pivot
level
The
ground, which
Explain
such an opera-
the world, in
show you how we
with the plane of the
the pivot.
scaffoldings."
the morning, but
360 degrees.
into
prop with three tally
it
provided with
circle.
;
of
instrument carried to the chateau, so as not
with
eye-glass, both
the
being
engaged
that the graphometer
divided
cle,
bits
use the graphometer."
just been
my
to be bothered
sary
make our
the simplest thing in
have
to
fires.
arches
and the two companions breakfasted at the
late,
me, cousin, "
for
"While the table was
farm.
put one
pieces
be good for making
spruce, they will serve to It
soils are bad.
these rolled and crooked
that, or
for
soils
dry
light,
to.
under This
marked on the
plumb-line passing
PLANTING THE HOUSE.
of the plateau, the glass is directed to a fixed
by the centre
point where a stake crossed
The
by two
base
It
is
two
of the glass,
Then,
surface of the glass
which mark
must
hairs
But, previously, the is
placed
then the whole of
turned.
The
placed.
of the
intersection
the
is
hairs, at right angles,
be observed.
to
93
if
for
you wish,
the point
or scale, at
indicator,
on the zero of the
instrument which
the
centre.
its
on
fall
instance,
to
is
circle.
has
been
form a
right
angle on the line uniting the point where you are placed
with the at
is
man
first
90
you turn the
stake,
degrees
quarter of
(a
the
You send
circle).
with another stake in the direction of the
make him
the
to
it
carry
exactly on the line of the
the stake
is
put down.
It
right
stake,
or
is
angles, give
on the
the
first
circle divided
and
base
into
is
line
second
placed, to the
are
a
Then
glass.
then certain that
forms a right angle with the
two diameters, cutting a
glass,
until its middle
left,
vertical hair
drawn from the point where you
right
until its indicator
glass
line
since
;
360 degrees at
90 degrees for each quarter of the
circle.
"With the aid of this instrument, having previously indicated
on the plan of the angles which tain point, "
ing
building
is
intended
to
erect
the
form certain lines between them, from a cer-
you can
transfer these angles to the ground.
Suppose you want found
it
the
centre,
Hav-
to plant a semicircular portico.
and
traced
the
semicircle
on
the
ground, you can, by placing the graphometer on that centre,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
94
determine the lines which will regularly cut the circumference,
and would
umns
of pillars.
instance, the
indicate, for (Fig.
to the point
B
grees into as
many
axis of the
As you have from
20.)
col-
the point
A
180 degrees, you will divide these 180 departs
as
you wish on the
circle of
the
graphometer, and the centre of the glass will give you, at a long distance, the same divisions on the
semicircular
por-
tico.
"
In the same
ing a building,
that the graphometer serves
way
serves to take the
it
Suppose that the base been
measured
EF
with a glass a point
c,
whether
instrument it
be a
picket;
you have then the number of
which
the.
upon your plan E,
CEF
angle ;
then,
includes.
plant-
bearings of a ground.
known
of a
your
placing
;
is
for
length, at
which has
E, you
sight
tree, a steeple, or a
degrees, on
You
'carry
the circle, this
angle
carrying the instrument to the point
you sight from thence the same point G ; you obtain the
same angle
C E F,
which, carried upon the plan, gives you
exactly- the position of the point
C,
and the unknown
dis-
PLANTING THE HOUSE.
95
tance between
E
other of these
lengths serves you as a base in
and
C,
and operating from the point point
D, you
ascertain
you can operate f
triangulation,'
here fast,"
all
the
F
between
the
C
or
and C;
F, in
lengths
D
operation
we come upon another
in
subject.
their turn,
sighting a fourth
F D.
and
over a section of country first
then one or
;
it
is
making a map. Come,
let
's
to
Thus called
But break-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
96
CHAPTEE
VIII.
PAUL REFLECTS. ÂŤ\/
ham
:
pIS
omelet eaten, Paul remained
"Why,
little
you seem
cousin,
must you have
'm neither thirsty nor hungry, but I
I
;
difficult to
me
telling
you
still
another
?
No
ready
be pensive, and
are
:
"
omelet "
to
as
hungry
be rapt in
to
something beyond the real world so
silent.
the
al-
understand what you have been so kindly past
four
escape me, and I begin
to
days
there
;
are
wonder whether
of
any use in the construction you are
to
me
that
I
taught
me
is
have much to all
find it
mixed up
learn-;
my
in
the
which
points
can really be
I
It
erecting.
you have
that
little
head, and
seems
we have
not
yet even set to work." " for
Already its
discouraged,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; come
work, and a building
you cannot, each evening, add cal
knowledge
itself
without
in your head, for
more you
fill
it,
is
now
confusion.
the larger
it
suffices
not erected so quickly that
little
the head
Each day
!
is
by
little
All
to
this
your practiwill
a marvellous
classify
box
;
the
grows; and each thing, classed
PAUL REFLECTS. the
in
which
compartment
is
The point
always be found.
is
97
destined
receive
to
may
it,
to well arrange the compart-
ments, and only to place in them objects which have been scrupulously studied and tried.
"But
it is
each
plain
necessary that the work done should be leaving nothing
clay,
I set to you, that
is,
the
The
chief thing
most will spot will
suffice
two more
;
still
which we
materials,
Two
not to get behindhand.
is
you each day
these notes
for writing
have three or four hours
to
"
Did you begin 0,
out.
architect's
of
office,
who
On
!
had
see
you
occupy yourself with fields." "
leaving college,
way I
?
entered
an
two years made me copy designs
for
monuments, of which
nor use; then I
You
to learn architecture in this
by no means
hours at
your notes on the
for taking
the details of execution, and to run about the "
call
only a question of exactness and care.
is
attachments',
The task
morrow.
the daily verification of all that enters
upon the ground, and the use of '
the
to
made
was
I
to color
told neither the age, country,
them with the
Mean-
tints.
while I followed courses of mathematics, geometry, and orna-
mental designing.
Then
Fine Arts, where
I
were exhibitions grand
prize.
years.
Still,
was able
I
only had enough to pay
medals, and,
remained
was necessary
my
to enter the School
for
of
much, but where there
not learn
for obtaining
There it
did
I
three
me
if
one could, the
years.
to get
my
Total, living,
lodging and purchase
five
for
1
clothing.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
98
I
had
for a
get a
to
situation, that
There
architect.
busy
work
is,
made
I
had never seen the
"
But
their experience
by
plied
Seeing that
my
learn
set
out on
edifices
already
shown
to
a
and the contractors sup-
strict,
what was wanting
to
tour,
to these details.
paper.
I
of
which were only
compared, saw
observed,
working, visited edifices which were
practical
road, to
the architecture
study
and not of those
built,
me on
!
and having inherited several thousand
profession,
I
francs,
;
would not lead me, by a short
all this
copies,
God knows how,
least part of a building executed
patron was not
my
and more
copies,
but sometimes certain details of execution for I
much an hour
at so
the
falling, so
as
understand the causes of their ruin.
to
"By its
try
more years
five
practice.
niche for a dog.
procured
protector
agency of public works, where
I
my
of
and
ten years,
Total,
A
knew enough
I
had not
I
me
gather in
to
my
a
an
to
saw methods used which
of old
studies
built
admission
were scarcely in accord with the observations able
profession to
had been
I
If
architecture.
per-
chance I indulged in comments
of this kind, they stared at
me
did
and the
;
cially
what "
A
as
I
I
not remain long,
an excellent opportunity presented
itself
espe-
to utilize
had learned.
large
important build
was that
result
company was making
works.
Roman
It
edifices
had for
an
them
constructions of
architect ;
this
who
rather
some very
professed
troubled
to
them.
PAUL REFLECTS. They did not deem Loire edifices
duced I
first
to satisfy
my
was begun
me what
was
I
materials
visited
I think one
modifying
furnished a
I
I
;
my
of the directors
became
their
first
had
operations
mansions
city
architect,
and
work than
must always be studying,
for the farther
The work
attendance on the ground,
an excellent business, and more
do, as
works, consulted
finally
;
deficient in, so that
Most
chateaux.
rural
soon
I
employers.
close study, constant
;
met with approval. and
a negro, to acquire all that was
like
studied
intro-
plan to me.
they explained their
;
was
I
which by no means pleases me now.
plan,
gave
directors
contractors,
large
the splendor of Rome.
and worked
listened,
needed
essential to erect in the valley of the
it
recalling
the
to
99
had
I
could
I
reasoning, and
you advance, the more
difficulties
you encounter." "
"
How,
then,
Why, by
is
architecture studied
practising
At
it.
" ?
least,
employ no other method, and perhaps "
But how do those learn
to
about the world, as you did, and struction
is
construct
who
they
now
the best."
who do
follow
not go
the
usual
They
are
in-
?
to conceive
structed,
it
France,
"
"They do not taught
in
learn
how
to
construct.
only
and plan buildings that cannot be con-
under the pretext of preserving the traditions of
'high art'; and
when they
are tired of putting these concep-
tions on paper, they are appointed to an agency,
where they
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
100
do as you are going to do
;
only they do
with disgust,
it
since they see clearly other methods." "
But in beginning as
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what
study the "
The
more in
theory,
easily, for
the the
little
the summit,
to
that,
without practice, will
ing account the
by
of
rules
No
word
?
it
built,
from the founda-
in
inexplicable
the
much
study of the
forms, certain practice
;
arrangements enjoined
and
forms
arrangements
be pure fantasies in the eyes of those
grammar
their desires
to
you or
the
to
explaining the
are three
making them
When
years old talk, to
?
ex-
they can talk nearly
mechanism and
rules
write
learning by what laws the words to write
By
?
them when they
and needs. I,
who
necessities.
taught them, and then they can
and how
and much
enable you to understand
do they teach children to talk
as well as
before
Certainly,
you will have acquired
practice
but by talking to them and
;
press
are
is
of
have no idea of these
How
" ?
in seeing
will
of certain
to
about to do, can I afterwards
give you the habit of reasoning, and of tak-
necessities
which appear
"
in a
art,
tions
This
am
shall I say
a house, or
building
art.
I
of language
correctly.
But
ought to be placed,
compose a phrase, they know the
sig-
nification of each of them. "
If
cation,
we had not
in France
we should begin
ginning, and
very strange ideas about edu-
the study of architecture at the be-
not at the end.
"We should give the scholars
PAUL REFLECTS. elementary practical methods of
these
10 1
the
making them copy the Parthenon
before
art
of building,
Baths of
the
or
Caracalla, which, in default of these first practical ideas, are
only images to them
youthful minds
lead
and recognize what they are wanting
to reason
or
in,
in place
budding vanity by exercises purely theo-
of exciting their retical
we should thus
;
when they cannot understand
artistic,
the
forms
given them as models." "
A
house like that
we
are going to build
me, a small matter," said Paul
" ;
is,
it
seems
to
and such a construction
can scarcely furnish information necessary to the erection of a great "
edifice."
Don't think that,
leisure,
cousin
is
a
only
method, a habit of
an obedience to the rules of good sense.
must have good
that
pretence
who
it
visionaries, as there tors
;
tists,
but as
if
it
costs dear,
is
and
among
as
much
exercise
erect a house as
inspiration, writers,
permitted to
you and
then, the right to consider
the to
Well, then, you
Unhappily there
it.
it
I
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
is
is
who pay
we have
for
painters,
men
nobody, architecture
it 's
reasoning,
disdain this natural faculty, under
hampers
are
fantasy
hurts
and consult
sense,
a school of architects the
of
construction, outside
;
and practical knowledge which you can
a certain scientific
study at
little
and sculp-
of letters and ar-
another thing; for
it.
We
at least inopportune.
reasoning
construct
have,
You must
powers and good sense
the
Louvre, just as
it
one
to
can
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
102
much
betray tact and wit as
The value
volume.
a letter as
in
of an architect
an octavo
in
not measured by the
is
quantity of cubic metres of stone which he employs. size of the edifice is
"
Thus
not the important thing."
you admit that
it
I
the
do not say
just
ability
to
" ?
that the
I say
that.
much
as
requires
build a small house as a great palace "
The
faculties, the
reason,
measure, the exact appreciation of the disposable
elements and their wise use, are as construction
most
of the
much
manifested in the
modest house as in that of the
noblest edifice." "
I
can, then, learn a great deal in following the construc-
my
tion of
sister's
house
"
the will to learn greatest
because one learns
First,
Certainly.
palace,
;
" ?
secondly,
because in a house, as in the
you must see
whole operation of
building,
pass
from
twenty doors or two hundred,
way
of
making a
gle door suffices " Still,
we
;
that
if
you
door, of building
you have no need
shall
before
Whether
that of the decorative painter.
the
not
much when he has
make
doors
of
your the
eyes diggers
the carpenter
the to
makes
wish to understand
and setting
it,
a sin-
to see a thousand."
here,
ÂŁor
instance,
like
those which belong to the apartments of a sovereign."
"No
;
but the principle of structure
the same in both
parted
from
that
;
when
and
it
one
becomes
is
'is,
or ought to
these principles
visionary
and
be,
are de-
nonsensical.
PAUL REFLECTS. "When you learn how a that
its
employed
structure ;
is
joiner's door is
made, you will see
according to the nature of the material
wood, and the place where
the
After that you
can study
of these elements
how
the
it
like
them,
and Jiow, without neglecting the
tions.
you have
if
But before
and not copy
made use
masters have
they have produced simple or very rich works talent,
and seek
after
;
be put.
to
is
principle,
you can do
new
you must know how a door
all,
at hazard, before
acquiring
this
first
applicais
made,
practical
knowledge, the various forms which have been adopted, good or bad."
Paul continued it
to be thoughtful
all
the rest of the day
was evident that he caught glimpses of great
;
difficulties,
and that the building of
his sister's house took troublesome
proportions in his mind.
Returning to the paternal mansion,
he examined the doors, windows, woodwork, as
if
he had
never seen anything of the kind; and the more he looked, the
more
it
all
seemed
hard to comprehend. fices
these
pieces
of
to
him
He had
confused, complicated,
and
never thought by what
arti-
wood had been brought
together,
and
found no very satisfactory solutions of the questions which he proposed to himself.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
104
CHAPTER
IX.
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS. dear Paul, and
||OME, my |
tions are, this
;
where the excava-
see
morning," said the cousin, the day "
after the visit to the ground,
me an
account of
Carry with
it.
and a memorandum-book of
what
has
ground, and will
tell
the surface of the
Meanwhile a copy
there.
it
me
soil,
the
if
plan
of
the
tions, at least, will
far
advanced
But take
cellars.
house,
many workmen
carry out your father's intentions."
somewhat embarrassed by
reached the ground.
;
is
and
found
but some excava-
have been made, as I told Papa Branchu
to
as
the
are found near
of the
ground-floor
put on
as
he could
his
new
find, in
order
functions,
soon
Aided by Papa Branchu, he measured
the excavations, indicated the
note of the
examine
will
movable earths are deep.
to
Paul,
and measures
what has been excavated and what
The work cannot be
it
shall give
metre-measure
a
&x\y stone-banks
if
or
You
done.
sketch the plan of the
I will
of the
mark upon
been
already
you
will take notes
you
;
and you
points where
depths as he could, and took
rock
and loose earth were found.
This occupied him for two full hours.
Pig. 29. i.(B>. -j
i
i_i
i
i
i_
1
'
t
Y"yy"ymty/ Fig. 21. Fig. 2i. Fig. 29.
— PLAN OF THE CELLARS. — Page — THE GARDEN FRONT. — Page
122.
105.
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS. "
the
said
Well,"
cousin,
working-room, "here us see
how
and
we
is
if
make any changes
on a level with the
under
cellars
will
in
soil
Good
it.
The rock
!
on the south, and the
We
will therefore place
drawing-room, dining-room, and
the
the
establish
Here
(Fig.
is
21)
axes
lines of the
walls,
Let
rock,
front
which will be cut
out,
and
of
the
those
especially
parts,
bil-
and carriage-house building, on a good masonry-work.
stable "
the
reaches pretty regularly a depth of three metres
earth
liard-room, along the lime
we
in
with what you have found,
towards the north of our buildings. the
seated
the plan of the cellars (Fig. 21).
is
this will be arranged
are to
nearly
loose
when they were
105
the plan of the
ness of the walls
You
The measurements
are written
see the
of the thick-
down, departing always from
see that these figures are Greater where the
would carry the springing of the
wall
cellar
you
;
they indicate the axes of the ground-floor
;
and should not vary.
these axes.
cellars
cellar
vaults,
according to what I explained to you the other day. "
AVe
have
a
small
watercourse which
we
household needs, by means of a reservoir which as high as
ling
;
We
possible.
supply the
will
will place
have not yet established the level-
but at a glance I should judge that, by reason of the
of this
stream and the rapidity of
its
flow,
at
fall
one hundred
metres from the house the reservoir will supply the water so that
We
it
may
must
reach,
by conduits, the
verify this.
level of
the
first
floor.
Otherwise we shall have recourse to
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
106
pump worked by
a
then
as
you
see
at
that
so
A,
and will be connected with the water-closets
The running water
we
basin which
will
This rejected water
"On
excellent for fertilizing the vegetables.
These will be
1
m. 50
You
will
can then use the
sround-floor bein" 1 m. 50
be easy to ventilate the
have marked case on the servant's
at
H.
staircase
to
seen to
carry it
You
right, situated
will serve to carry
case
he
me
Yes
;
the beginning of
m. 50
1
that
cellars,
in the
down
c.
These
c.
cellars
and so
cellars
on.
The
by vent-holes,
will descend to
is
not only for stor-
above the exterior
them by the
soil soil,
as
I
stair-
near the wash-house, and by the turret.
The
provisions,
right-hand
staircase
and the opposite
up the wines and other
things.
Papa Branchu has had the
from the excavations, properly arranged "
to
c.
vegetables, a cupboard,
ing wines, but
it
the profiles of the
have three metres under the crown, which
will therefore
of our
G
indicated at
the vaults, and the vaults will rise
very good.
D, and
C,
below in the kitchen-oarden.
establish
is
at
will thus carry off the impurities to a
the plan, I have
cellar vaults.
sewer
this
water used in the house by a conduit, B,
the
collect
E.
will
conduct this watercourse in a sewer along the walls
north of the house, will
We
windmill
a
or
horse-power
stair-
Have you
-materials, taken
" ?
he has so far only found some small pieces which
calls 'soft bed,'
but he has had them piled up, and
they will be good for the foundation walls."
tells
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS. "
He
is
the open
right
but
air,
'
this
;
bed
soft
'
is
permits good masonry, because
is
naturally taken
"
out in
little
it
what he
is
what he means by
me
told
it
from ten to
pieces
but he added that that con-
;
stones
they require between them
don't quite
I
but
;
and
with
must therefore be cavities
mortar
adhere
not spared,
is
the
to
would, and
make
this
is
The
layer, so
the
excellent; the
is
mortar
as
to
fill
masonry, when
rough
surfaces
than smooth surfaces
better
body with
a solid
surface.
that
this
much
mortar
forms a single mass.
and
in
is
it
their
are extremely rough,
between each
plentiful
and
;
on
cavities
of mor-
you have observed
if
you have seen that they
riddled
understand
the more layers
these pieces,
sand,
is,
that."
"Well, the smaller the
the
in
frost
in layers, that
is
parallel
sumes a great deal of mortar, and
these
the
centimetres in thickness."
That
tar
to
subject
hard and does well in cellars; besides,
is
it
fifteen
107
it,
and soon the whole
But you must not spare the lime and
what made Papa Branchu say that
this
stone consumes a good deal of mortar." "
Papa Branchu
stone
for
making
also
said
lime,
on
build with, and asked "
Certainly lime,
we
will
;
if
the
that
the
had found some good
limestone-banks, proper to
he should put
if
lime-burner
make some
lie
;
it
is
it
cannot
one
side."
furnish
not hard to do, as
plenty of fagots from the last wood-cuttings."
us
with
we have
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
io8
"
Papa Branclm
be carried " '
You
will
the rubbish should
him, to-morrow morning, to dispose
tell
have need of
What
and
on the right
cavaliers
"
me where
to."
'
shall
asked
also
'
a
is
left
excavations
the
of
to level the approaches " cavalier ?
in
it
we
;
to the house."
it
'
^^> e
t=
V=r~
'
A
J
A :
7L/
B
i;-V J
c
D
Fig. 22.
"
an
It is
mound which
artificial
is
deposited according to
a regular height and thickness, so. as to be able to take the
cube of
it
easily.
Thus when we take up the rubbish
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the employing,
wheelbarrows,
we
are
is,
occupy on the
D
C
length,
soil
is
earth
first
inclination
sufficiently
obtain
an
full
without
embankment
seen, '
which the
surface
;
let
A B
method
the
cavalier
(Fig.
'
is
at
is
that
trouble.
Thus,
ABB.
far-
taken, .the barrow-men
embankment an
B, leaving to the
slanting
to
22) be the
This done, the point B, being
where the rubbish
dispose the
wheeled
have
you
traced out
the width.
thest from that
as
in
the
barrows
little
by
may
little,
be
they
Then from the middle
F,
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS. half
of the
of
1
m. 50
then
they
They end by
the earth
carried
is
its
upon slopes
finished,
I
width, from n to
its
get 40
metres of
this figure
are
surface
at
You know,
quantity of earth, and
pay,
if
us
per-
earth,
slipping
degrees with
the
embankment.
10 metres of
suppose, of
This
in
mid-height
this
mean
level.
that
then,
Multiplying
'cavalier,'
we
find
you have moved
what consequently you have
to
you remove your rubbish and embankments by the
cubic metre
removed
And
"Not
;
or
at
what
is
you get the cubic metre of done by the day."
does this cube give that of the excavation entirely.
natural
soil,
the embankment.
abounds
price
work
earth, if the
The
'
more or
less
many
We less.
earth,
compressed
cubes
removed, and leaves
'
let
as
by multiplying 10 metres by 4 you
b,
this
the
given by
by 2 metres, the height of the
80 cubic metres.
"
the
m, and 4 metres
to
fast
The 'cavalier' being thus
it.
and having,
from
mid-height,
beds.
sloping
done with shovels, as
is
the nature of the
to
horizon, according
of a width
There remains the
angles of nearly 40
they form
is,
being
which
fill,
regular,
fectly
that
to
i
with
triangle
the
b,
coming of the barrows, and
A GF triangle G F E.
up the
filling
a
they leave a path
E,
the going and
for
c.
fill
path g d h
A
slope
109
than
spaces
that
" ?
packed down
which
has
on
been
between the material of
say, then, that
the
Sea-sand does not
earth '
carried off
abound,' whilst
pebbly earth, mixed with vegetable detritus, 'abounds' a good
no
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. You must
deal.
in
then,
your reckoning, take account of
the void in the excavation, to get the cube of the '
moved, and cube the
'
them, the mass of earth which
know, when we use
so as to
cavaliers
we
earth re-
have to carry
shall
-else-
where. "
Now, put
this plan of the cellars to a scale of
tres per metre, so as to
then
I will
be able
two centime-
to write the figures legibly
show you the points on the
plan,
;
where the rug-
ged ashlars must be put." "
"
What
are the rugged ashlars
The cut stone
is
and which
is
dation,
has
not visible
which
layers, faces,
stone
are
separating
which
only cut on
faces. its
which are the
are the
so called,
" ?
A
cut
surfaces.
always
surfaces
surfaces,
Thus
placed at the foun-
layers, that
its
stone
horizontal
visible
is
and
let
;
which
possesses
one
or
two
several
its joinings,
which
an
angle
us suppose
carrying a pilaster, and having the
is,
form which I in-
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS. dicate here (Fig. 23)
the c
cl
and lower
upper
h i, d
the
You
surfaces.
under the
soil,
is
on
uncut
economized
it
alb g,
b
surfaces
stones
are
gch,
efj k,
touching are
placed
not necessary to cut
is
that
and on
faces
hij hi
stones
the
visible to
;
g
ef,
surfaces
when
that,
perceive
vertical
d
neighboring
would only be
therefore its
the
c
and the
faces,
in the foundation,
the faces, which cutting
The
layers.
joinings,
ab
surfaces
ij are the visible
are
afkl these
e
the
;
Ill
the
is,
stone
is
laid-down
its
The
moles.
left
layers.
They choose for these rugged ashlars solid stones, resisting burdens, but which in other places would be affected by
and which could not be used well
in
the
open
ground, they are preserved from the action of the
you must be
cautious,
more
air
frost,
under
;
frost.
But
with regard to these stones
so
than those used in the elevation, to place them according to
their quarry
layers
and
their
natural stratified position
otherwise they might break, or be crushed under the of -the
;
weight
masonry above.
'When
our plan
is
finished,
we
will
where the rugged ashlars should be color.
indicate
put
by
a
the places particular
These will be the angles, the junctions of the walls
which receive the relatively heaviest weight.
Between them
the masonry will be raised simply with ashlar stone.
'The
soil
being
good,
making the foundation area of the
cellars.
we
at fifty
will
content
centimetres
But when we
shall
ourselves
only
with
below the
have reached this
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
112
cut
the
level,
these cellars
stones
We
no longer be rugged ash-
will
will not
but those which will
looking,
have visible faces in
necessarily
these materials
;
but cut stones.
lars,
will
take
best
and best
the finest the
resist
weight,
and
We
will
which, in this country, are the coarsest of aspect.
put cut stone at the angles of our the
the jambs
cellars, at
and vent-holes, and at the newels of
doors
the
of
stair-
cases.
"But you have enough work
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; morning
Oh!
I
If
forgot.
for
and to-morrow
to-day,
Papa Branchu meets with
which bother him,
me know, and we
springs
or leakings
will
once establish channels to collect them.
at
us
enable or
'
radier
'
What
"
It is the part
firm
is
a
flat
'
will
the
floor-bottom,
sewer,
upon which
to give to
;
"
'
radier
?
of a
canal, sluice,
or
the bottom, which should be established so
solid that the force
of the
not
will
current
wash
sewers must therefore be made of
The beds
of
stones, or,
better
away.
good it
and
This
of our collector."
"
the water runs
it
upon the level
to fix
let
still,
of hydraulic
cement when
can be procured, as the water finds means of passing be-
tween the joinings of fully
used,
perfectly besides,
it
while
forms, throughout
water-tight to
stones,
give
to
the
homogeneous the
if
the cement
length
of
a
skil-
the canal, a
They take
mass.
floor-bottom
of
is
care,
sewer a slightly
concave form, joined at the sides without angles
;
for
water
PAUL AS INSPECTOR OF WORKS.
profits
by angles
sides, angles,
nals,
sewer
are is
not
to
cany on
when you wish easily
that of
its
work
to clean
cleansed.
which a section
Flo. 24
out subterranean ca-
given here
,Z?Âť
Be-
of destruction.
The best form is
113
to give (Fig.
to
24)."
a
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
114
CHAPTER
X.
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND.
n|^ESPITE more
the news of the war, which became
M.
grave,
Ganclelau
cle
work should not be pants
chateau found a
of the
thoughts of the
sad
useful
the
in
conflict
and
occu-
the
from the
distraction
execution
the
that
insisted
interrupted,
daily
the
of
pro-
jects arranged by Paul and his cousin.
In alas
!
the
evening,
recorded
the
after
disaster
after
with eyes fixed on the hearth
by an
of will, forced
effort
was getting
on.
reading of disaster, ;
the paper,
which,
remained
silent,
all
but soon M. de Gandelau,
how
himself to ask
the
house
Paul, in his capacity of inspector of "works,
gave an account of the operations of the day, and began acquit
himself of this task with no
He showed
actness.
thanks
to his
cousin's
his
memoranda
corrections,
little
clearness
to
and ex-
of calculations, which,
were npt badly made up,
and which, by aid of the daily review, indicated the expenditures
made.
enough materials quarries.
The
soil
excavated
had
so
far
to avoid the necessity of resorting
About the
loth
of
September,
the
furnished to other
cellar
walls
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND.
began already
to
appear in the excavation, to construct which
wooden centrings were to bring
been
for
115
necessary.
The carpenter was asked
sawyers to cut up the poplar trunks, which, having
some
part of the
time
cut,
The
were held in reserve.
wood was sawed
in thin planks to
make
best
scant-
Fio. 25.
ling,
which that
"slabs," to
make
the
would be is,
the
used
parts
centrings
at
the
near the
of the
cellars.
and the
proper
time,
surface,
were disposed
As
gave two vaults the arches of which were
the
plans
different, the
only dia-
grams were soon made, and the carpenter prepared the centrings,
which were raised at the
moment
the
cellar
walls
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
Il6
reached the level of the springing of the vaults.
were cut conformably to Fig. 25, that
trings
These ceneach com-
is,
posed of a tie-beam A, a king-post B, two rafters
D, which held
braces
of poplar,
slabs
by means
the king-post,
beam by an
iron
curves formed by the nailed
fast the
shown
as
and
in E,
of a
On
pin.
fixed at
these
made
the vaults thickness above. vaults,
bolsters, that
of
It
20
is,
of tuf taken
L, 8
was necessary
which was
to
be
much
the same
manner
of 1 m. 50
m. 50 c, receive
to
which a
haunch
of the
c.
;
as for
of
tracing
above the exterior
was necessary
who
to his inspector,
him
difficult for
un-
to
Papa Branch u,
it.
the
vent-holes,
at
as the profile of the sub-basement, a height
This tracing gave a plan
to a
1
stream, to
disturbed by
His cousin had given the
As
tie-
spaces for vent-holes, a task which gave Paul a good
he did not seem
"
of
thick,
provide, in the
to
derstand and arrange in his calculations
It
on
was given, with a good cope of mortar
c.
deal of trouble, or rather
26.
c.
along the
H
carried on the
centrings,
joists,
G and
and on the
mortise F,
beams K, and having a space between them were placed
and
C,
B
for the
soil.
and a section A,
as
cousin to explain this
did not at
first
sight
in
Fig.
tracing
comprehend
it.
the light comes from the heavens," said he, " according
mean
angle of 45 degrees,
that the cellars
poses a course
must be
D
it
lighted.
is
As
according to
this angle
the sub-basement com-
placed half under the
soil,
two
free courses
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND.
EF
y
and a retreating course, we
to
give
carrying the springing of the vaults, 90
c.
the
of
the
fixed
m
axis
;
cellar
wall,
The wall above
the interior soil having 60 c, this wall gives side
117
30
c.
on each
but the sub-basement having
an
-
M
Fig. 26.
exterior of projection
of
10
c.
there
will
he 40
axis to the exterior face of this sub-basement. rior the ries
wall descends directly to the
the vaults.
You must have 20 c.
'
summer
c.
from the
On
the inte-
'
to receive
which
car-
the latter.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
Il8
Then from the will
be
total
90
exterior 1
m.
50
on the interior and
c.
The low course
c.
at
15 c, since
there
remains
soil
50 c,
which
axis below the springing of the vaults
disengaging
face
terior
above
by a chamfer,
c.
M shows.
it
as
it
traced
is
'
rebates
splay the
of 5
in
c.
vent-hole
i,
in
in
I trace lintel O,
which
section an
winch 20
X
a,
this I place
a
and
care
O,
c.
45
m
inclined line
vault,
will receive the thrust it
take
I
at
n,
rise of
20
the
of
I
45
25 c, as
lintel
with leave
to
'rebates,'
c,
above the
vaulting
and the curve
of
tracing X.
arch
which in
Thus
this
of the key-stone of the vault,
upon the two cheeks
have only traced
;
c.
on the exterior, to a metre.
shall be the
c.
c.
to get the light, as the ex-
projection will give the
and will carry will
35
in.
course
from the bottom of these
will penetrate the
horizontal
arc
have
to place frames or bars if desired.
with an opening of only 80
a
15 c, 1
these
a clear piece
Behind
on the plan.
a chamfer,
I
must
;
the
I cut the first retreating course at
degrees, as traced at 7, leaving
you see
above
itself
sub-basement
the
exterior
opening of the vent-hole in the second course.
cut the third 10
two
on the
c.
figure, divided into three, gives for each
I take the
'
40
there
this curve
X
on
P. ,the
Papa Branchu bolsters
of the
centring to form his vaulting." It
was not
certain that Paul quite seized this explanation,
though several times repeated, and he did not wholly com-
prehend
it
until he
saw Papa Branchu do the masonry work
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND. on
the
vent-holes,
and these appeared
with the
119
centring
taken away (Fig. 27).
Fig. 27.
"
I
spare you the details,"
said the
cousin,
who saw
Paul scarcely comprehended the construction of the "
fur
the
vaults,
cellars,
structure of the vaults, of their penetrations,
matter that calls for long study.
and you
We
that
is
a
have only made simple
will observe that the doors of the cellars all
fall
upon tympans, and not upon walls receiving the springing of
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
120
the vaults.
I avoid useless
expenses with the
will put hard stone in the sub-basement, but that,
will
remark
excepting in the angles and for the vent-holes,
it is
only in
it
does not
make through '
which, with the good mortar
we
stone,' that
We
take the whole thickness of the wall.
is
We
you
the casing,
lar,
difficulties.
ashlar
form
shall unite
projecting it
more
roof.
toothing-stones
does not
have excellent ash-
use, is
necessary to carry two floors and a
is,
resisting than letting this
By
on the
interior,
we
better to the haunches of the vaults (Fig. 28),
Fig. 28.
and we shall thus economize the freestone. the .basement, you will see how, the freestone, while
when you
making excellent
In elevation, above wish,
you can spare
constructions.
We
find,
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND.
on the neighboring plateaus, thin lime-banks, which
besides,
imbedded
are
which
in a
'
scappled stone.'
manner.
rustic
Behind
a small dressing agreeable
20
to
Scappled stone
and
c.
'
is that
This
is
which
this faced stone,
to the eye,
which contrasts with the purity of the
ordinaiy ashlar. 13
'
c.
placed with visible facings, layers, and joinings cut
is
somewhat
gives of
regularly, following a height of 15
are excellent
which
121
and the
rusticity
freestone, they put
obtained in places where this ashlar
found naturally in quarry, an inexpensive sort of masonry.
But
foolish
is
it
amuse yourself by using picked
to
it
must be cut
in small
You
see that this
is
where freestone abounds, and where pieces to obtain this appearance.
ashlar,
not to
act according to common-sense, to cut big blocks of stone into
small pieces, and that it
is
when
the quarries yield only the former,
wise to use them by reason of their dimensions, and
to
conform the construction to the nature and height of these
Here we have, when we choose
stones.
blocks, but they are not plentiful. far as
We
with
in
descents
to
more than of
projected
a
the
in
cellars
were
metre above the
the
elevations.
outline.
regular aspect than
which the
soil
abundance."
The sewer was completed and the
details
ought, then, to keep as
possible to the quality of the materials
furnishes us
lame
to ask for them,
placed; the soil.
It
That upon
Paul hoped thai that
vaults
upon the
closed in
ba-cineiit
was time the it
front.
to
garden
the
;
rOS6
to
study the
was
would have
He spoke
a
only
more
of this,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
122
he had seen a number of country-houses near Paris which
for
seemed
him charming, with
to
angles, their porches in the
as
pepper-boxes front,
for the
and
with
their zinc-
too good an opinion of his
the facade of his
criticise
had been projected
it
"
"
middle of the
He had
ridges on the roofings. cousin's learning to
their four
sister's
entrance front
;
house,
but in his
mind, he would have preferred something more in harmony the
laws of symmetry.
sizes
somewhat offended
with
and
These openings of his
taste.
When
all
shapes
the fronting
on the garden was traced, which, for once, presented a symmetrical
with
it
asked
aspect
(Fig.
29),
Paul
himself
declared
satisfied
and when the family came together in the evening, he
;
the entrance fronting did not have the same sym-
why
arrangement which was so agreeable on the side of
metrical
the garden. "
Because," said the cousin,
of the garden,
"
the plan gives us, on the side
rooms in counterpart, the dimensions of which
are alike
and the design the same, while on the
entrance
we
ments.
You
have, next are
now
to
side of the
each other, very different apart-
raising, little cousin, a
There are two methods to follow.
You
grave question.
either project a
metrical architectural box, in which you try, as well as can, or
to
distribute
the
apartments necessary
to
a
sym-
you
residence
;
you dispose these apartments on the plan, according to
their importance, their relative position,
each other
;
and you
erect the
and
their relations to
box by reason of these apart-
PAUL BEGINS TO UNDERSTAND.
1
When
merits without seeking to obtain a symmetrical aspect.
a great edifice
which
to be erected, the exterior aspect of
is
must preserve a grand
unity,
it
is
23
well to try to satisfy the
laws of symmetry, and not to give the edifice the appearance
and
of having been built of bits
the imperative rule
and
make no
to
is to first
satisfy the needs of its occupants,
Symmetry applied
of the
Middle Ages, are not symmet-
at all hazards to private architecture
modern invention, a matter
a
is
The residences
useless expenditures.
ancients, as well as those of the rical.
In a private residence,
pieces.
of vanity, a false interpre-
The
tation of the rules followed in the best periods of the art.
houses at Pompeii are not symmetrical
which Pliny has
of
house,
not give
a
left
us
;
a
the
villa, or
does
full description,
The
appearance of symmetry.
general
country-
castles,
manors, and houses erected during the Middle Ages are any-
You may
thing but symmetrical. land,
in
England, Hol-
Sweden, Hanover, and a large portion of Germany, a
number
of habitations
their dwellers,
marvellously adapted to the needs of
which are constructed without regard
metry, but are none the less aspect, for
visit,
for
the reason
which they were
to
sym-
comfortable and pleasant
that they clearly
of
the purpose
betray
built.
"I know that a good many people are willing
to
suffer
a daily inconvenience to have the vain pleasure of displaying,
outside,
regular
believe your sister
is
and
monumental
fronts
one of them, and that
but
:
is
I
why
don't I
did
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
124
not hesitate to follow what seems to ine the law of
when we planned
sense,
With her
her house.
slightly ironical smile, she
Why
there "
If I replied that
it
was
'
this side,
?
or,
where
'
such a pretty view
is
cousin,
room
this little
have you not opened a bay-window on
ami
quiet
would ask me, 'Why, dear
have you pierced so large a window in '
common-
?
to satisfy the rules of
her smile would probably broaden into a free
symmetry,
of laughter,
fit
and perhaps she would think that Monsieur her cousin was a fool with his laws of symmetry." "
of
Alas
" !
M. de
said
vanity before
petty tradesman,
who
is
sacrifice
interior
outside,
and a
comfort for
;
the retired
a
symmetrical
building,
he desires that the uncom-
;
'the
the
bad plaster sculptures,
lot of
of
angles
should be called
place
consider matters
the great thing
is
very poorly lodged
fortable
who
builds a country-house, wants his turrets
placed regularly at the
where he
those
everything are but too numerous in our
To make a display
country.
"
Ganclelau,
chateau'; and he will
satisfaction
zinc
of
displaying,
ornaments on the
gewgaws which must be renewed each
roof,
spring.
Let us make, dear cousin, a good house, well sheltered from
sun and
rain,
cpiiite
conceded to this
dry within, and where nothing shall be
false luxury, a
in our country districts than
thousand times more offensive
it is
in the city."
BUILDING IN ELEVATION.
125
CHAPTER XL BUILDING IN ELEVATION.
'T
we
agreed that
shall
build
our outside walls
with freestone and picked ashlar," said the cousin,
â&#x20AC;˘[
p
is
"
while they were levelling the ground-floor.
gpjj
have a good part of the materials on the
We
"We will bring
soil.
the stones of large pattern from the Blanc cpuarries, which are
Our
only a
few kilometres from
window
frames, our borders, cornices, dormers, gable-copings,
made
shall be
This
how you
is
of the
ing
of freestone.
will
stone
it
;
order is
here.
is
less
and
to a
per cube
easy.
Xow
Papa Branchu about the
dress-
In
of the
very simple.
order
all
with
a
Let
85
height of 46 c, which
banks in
A
this vicinity.
c.
is
c.
part
the quarries
send
is
more uniform
in thickness in the height
(Fig. 30)
the stones for erecting
length
is,
the cutting
our walls are GO
of
that
;
this
measure given in advance, and the price
according as
of the ground-floor.
and
Let us besrin with the angles.
country they cut pattern-stones
them according
door
angles,
be an angle
;
them from the same
by a width of GOc, and the ordinary height
you will pattern,
a
mean
of the quarry
These angle stones will be placed as
126
I it
show you
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. here, one a b c d, the other, above,
will result that
a ef g, whence
each stone will form alternately, on one
a
BUILDING IN ELEVATION.
127
three ranks of this ashlar in the height of each stone course,
and the construction
floor
we have 4 m. 20 make
the layers, will
c.
;
the
of
thus nine stone courses, besides
Let us see
the height
We
window-frames.
of our
dispose
by the perspective
Between the looting and the bordering
tracing B. first
will rise as indicated
how we
shall
must keep the placing
blinds in mind, as these cannot be dispensed with in the
of
front without a bad effect, country, and cannot be put on the
besides that they
would quickly
deteriorate,
would be hard
to
the necesopen and shut, and would impose on the occupants a rather
of
si'v
must be ments
sufficient splayings
Our
curtains.
between the frames
we can
on the
the case-
interior, so that
windows
largest
are 1 m.
our ground-floor walls are GO
;
only, then, range
the
in
c.
three
the
alone will enable us
sheet-iron
spaces
left
thickness of 5
jambs
(Fig.
outside
the
strengthening piece B, to in the frames, of 10
of these leaves 6
c.
in
c.
C.
in thickness; total,
for the splaying
on the
thick-
Sheet-
obtain this result, since
to
on each other, together with
Observe, then, ;
c.
working of the hinges, have only a
for the
c.
31)
folded
plates
26
blinds in the frames by
dividing each of their wings into two or three leaves. iron blinds
There
gymnastics.
Hush the walls, and shall leave a space between
shall not
them and the
ness;
of
unpleasant species
mask
We
being
c.
at
trace
A, we
the will
window leave
a
the leaves of the blinds folded
will give
Then 4:'Âť
how we
will
27
conic
c.
for the
the
lodgement
window
sleeper,
There will then remain 17
interior, at
D.
c.
128
THE STORY OF A HOUSE. "
buz
we
r
in
Observe,
i?,
how
shall dress these open-
fr
ings
I dP
a supporting stone
;
in one block, at F, then
G
,
a course
it-
f1
45
to
c.
a
ing
of from 40
mak-
in height,
the
in
toothing
c.
ashlar; a soft stone, H,
having
same
the
only
thickness as the frame
G
third course, I, like finally, i,
the
thickness that
is,
remain
We
'
of the
37
c.
to
frame,
there will
;
us,
behind,
exactly in the place
c,
to
;
only give this the
will
23
lintel.
a
;
key
in
a
brick arch
K (the bricks being 22 c, with
and 23
c).
the
This
carry, our joists, are
the
any
to
front
joining,
arch if
will
there
be put in on walls,
and
it
will prevent the breaking
of Fig. 31.
the
lintels.
Besides,
BUILDING IN ELEVATION. we
will pass a grappling, L,
more
A
under the
effective at this level is
grappling
I2g
I find a grappling
latter.
than at the height of the
an iron sinew which
is
placed in the thickness
and clinch the whole construction.
of walls to bind
But we
to crack easily.
Make
time.
them, and
gone *'
fair
we
wrong, liable
is
will speak of this again at the proper
sketches
of these
copies
and
Papa Branchu the
will give
me
let
details
see
we have
over.
It is necessary to
they nowadays make
and
is
an ungrappled construction
;
not
It is
this always placed in houses built in the country, but
and very poor economy
ceiling.
for
know how all
to
make the
the ceilings of iron, double
spans of 5 to 6 metres they take iron of 12
the vertical section.
They 'pug'
or
At
ceilings.
rough- wall
T
square, to
c.
Paris
14
this
c,
iron
spaced at intervals of about 70 c, and united from metre to
metre by square iron cross-pieces of 0.018 m., by thin plaster
work
;
this is certainly good,
fillings
of
but we have here
neither the iron, easily procured in the great centres, nor the plaster of Paris, capital,
but which
especially
make our that
which
for
is
interiors,
ceilings
of
is
somewhat misused, perhaps,
none the
when wood.
less
an excellent
especially at
its
material,
"We must
employed.
But
have already told you
cut, rots
I
in water,
very rapidly
extremities fixed in the walls.
then, the ashlaring system
the
wisely
wood which has not been long bathed
been scarcely two years
at
applied to the
when
and has
closed
in,
"We will adopt, walls,
to
receive
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
50
ends
the
we
of the joists,
and
as
we
possess
will content ourselves with dressing
two (Fig.
faces,
32).
and we
it
unhewn
timber,
with the saw on
will place it diagonally as I
show you here
For the spans of from 5 to 6 metres, which are
J\
/
BUILDING IN ELEVATION. at 50
Their extremities will
c.
show
in the ashlaring, as I
are the bricks
laid
joists,
shall be
decorated with painted
light
and agreeable
thus
established do not
to the
eye
(as
composed of These
coatings.
making them
fillets,
The
seen in II).
re-entering
give
which
interjoists,
pugged with mortar and
flat,
may be
ceilings
A, and the
between the
intervals
the notches, or mortises,
lie in
at
131
angles
joists
difficult
to
keep clean and between which spiders spin their webs.
"As
for the ashlarings B, applied against the wall, as
the
section
C shows
corbels
D, spaced at one metre at most, and by fastening
cramps
/,
take the for
to
of those
plaster
necessary to
by small
This will
which are good
cornicings,
plasterers.
support the upper partitions,
joist, a
which
section of
of two pieces a and
b,
When we
it
becomes
will place an
I trace in E,
composed
with a hoop-iron between, the whole
held by bolts d from distance joists
in place
and which we could not conveniently put up
where we have no good
exceptional
be held
prevent an inclination of the wood.
place
nothing,
here,
you, they will
to distance.
These kinds of
are of a perfect rigidity.
"As
the joists rest upon ashlarings,
we have no need
trouble ourselves about openings; but
we must have
mers' on the right of
shafts
hearths
;
and
to receive
will see that pieces of
under the hearths
;
so,
the
chimney
to
'trim-
and under the
these trimmers, binding-joists
You
wood cannot be placed without danger on the two sides of the rising of the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
132
chimneys, at a distance of 30 joists are placed,
which receive 80
clear the
in
which are gathered the
at
binding-joists,
E; we
by a
lining D,
will join the
trimmer
or 90
of the wall
c.
we
joists.
will take the type before indicated
upon a good stone
resting
E
D
and
by an
/.
G
The space
chimney
;
it
K
be below the hearth
will
will be 80
c.
in width
we do
shafts
All
trimmers this, it
structure
Here '
;
will be
c.
to stiffen
but in the neighborhood of the
not have to fear the (Fig.
and
The binding-
should be inserted in the wall about 10
on the wood.
and
This
will receive, like the ashlarings, the extremities of
them and unite the
'
will
F; then we
the mortise G.
pugged, with brick, to the iron interjoists L.
chimney
We
corbel.
iron strap
H in
trimmer by a tenon
of the upper
E
and
'
the joists at
joists
;
will reinforce (Fig. 33) this joist at its extremity,
unite the two pieces
'
c.
width of the hearth, a piece called a 'trimmer,'
to
"As
of the hearthstones, stronger
c.
34)
is
the
effects of
aspect
of
moisture
these
joists
under the chimney hearthstones."
must be
confessed,
seemed somewhat strange
to
Paul, accustomed to the unchangeable solid and white ceiling,
and never before suspecting that these simple surfaces could hide so complicated a structure.
Fig. 33.
Fio.
Fig.
84.
33.— BINDING-JOISTS AND TRIMMERS. Page 132. —PI RSPE< IVE VIEW. ,.
1
— Pa
SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS.
CHAPTEE
1
33
XII.
PAUL ADDRESSES CERTAIN OBSERVATIONS TO HIS COUSIN, AND RECEIVES HIS REPLIES.
^AUL,
with his head bent over his paper covered
with
-ly^-i
sketchings, his
thinking to himself
-;-,
on his
hands
how
knees,
had marked
cousin
his
kept
over a good deal of paper in making the ceilings, which had
seemed
always
Paul saw
little
to
him the
simplest
distinction, in
his
paper spread upon a board, and a "
asked him,
cousin,
where
quite
"I think
said,
little,
Do you
why
not
make
the
the
world.
mind, between a sheet of ceiling.
understand
and added,
so,"
in
thing
" ?
his cousin
Paul, hesitating a
after
and
floorings
When
a pause,
ceilings
as
"but, else-
" ?
"It seems complicated to you,
my
cousin,
and you wish
simplify the task."
to "
Are
It is not all
these
entirely that
;
means used?
but I
how
I
"None
made
'.
have not seen any of these
ashlavings, binding-joists, trimmers, ceilings
are they usually
and corbels
in
any of the
have known; cannot they, then, be omitted?" of these are omitted in ceilings
made with carpen-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
134
but they are concealed under a plaster coating
try,
;
and as
I told you, this plaster envelope is one of the causes of the
wooden
ruin of
In
floorings.
all
such are binding-joists and
trimmers on the right of the chimney-hearths
sometimes ashlarings: to hold
it
all this
very dry, this method
is
joined together by iron-work
is
At
Paris,
in
still
avoid the
to
difficult
where the houses are
use; but in the country
moisture
;
these
floorings are in danger of soon falling into
ventilate the wood, I of
This
time.
there are also
between two plane surfaces having between them
the least possible thickness.
is
;
to
repeat,
of
anatomy
wooden
shut-up
decay.
You must
for
any length
it
preserve
of
sorts
it
in
exists
floorings
all
which are constructed of these materials, only you do not see
it.
It
construction as a
the necessities of the
and
make use
a good thing, in architecture, to
is
to frankly
admit those
necessities.
means
of decoration,
There
is
be ashamed of in leaving them to be seen, and
dence of good
causing them to
To
tell
tory
one
We
above ment,'
contribute
and to
tact,
the
to
of
sense
and
is
an
evi-
display them,
in
is
taste,
the only satisfacsince
there
is
a
it.
accustomed, in France, to judge of everything,
are all,
people
to
it
nothing to
adornment of the work.
the truth, this sort of decoration
motive in "
sense,
taste,
of
of
It is
matters
of
art,
with what
is
called
'
senti-
convenient for a certain number of persons
meet, to talk about matters of art without
who
ever having held
SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS.
135
compass, a pencil, a boaster, or a brush, and the artists
a
themselves have got somewhat tired of reasoning, finding
more simple
in misleading
"Little artists,
with these amateurs, who use up pages
to agree
and
in saying nothing,
here and there the public taste
flatter
it.
the
little
by
must
rely
architects
became accustomed
and not
to
neglect all for
to
Soon these
was no longer
of a building
the
their
structure
out of
get
interests,
it
as
modest
is
often
be, in
left
skeleton
its
to
envelope.
contractors,
they can, but naturally attending is
which no
make
a
we
building,
detail can be
to
good or
for
applied
Well, with your permission
example, and we will
may
it
which
them, and
the
call
harmony with
in
and the form which
evil to this structure.
follow this
appearances,
troubled
necessities
they hid them so well, that what I will
who
all
attempt to reconcile these with the necessities
of the structure.
is
who, of
themselves,
most carefully upon reasoning in their con-
ceptions,
There
it
will not
however
found which
is
not the result, either of a necessity of the structure, or the
needs of it
is
its
finished
concealed,
we
shall
occupants.
we
It will
us no
cost
will rest quietly, as
nothing
we
more, and
shall
when
have nothing-
nothing useless, and the edifice
artificial,
have built will always permit us
to
see
its
organs,
and how these organs work." "
How
is
it,
then,"
said
do not show, as vou wish
Paul, to
"
that
so
many
architects
do here, these necessities of
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
136
but hide them, and
construction,
What "
motive have they
M. de Gandelau came "
The news is
army
"Nothing I
disasters.
architecture,
them
it
upon our most
and
we must
to
The German
prepare to
see the
But what were you saying
!
" 1
"compared with our
make Paul understand
is
the
for
interest of the art
for decorative purposes
to
"
that,
in
none of the means of structure should be hid-
M. de Gandelau,
vital sore.
take account of
make use
we must be
To
"
you put your
trust in one's self
reason, to
each thing,
finger
each
fact,
by labor
nothing to chance, to examine every-
leave
study, to
in a word, that
;
to
and trust only in ourselves."
Surely," resumed
alone,
;
of interest," said the cousin,
sincere, reason, "
moment.
in at this
Poor France
and that
den,
to explain that to you."
worse and worse," said he.
was trying
?
?
spreading everywhere
here.
enemy
of
is
do they do this
"
would take a long time
It
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; why
thing, to hide nothing
from one's
self
others, not to take
or
phrases for facts, not to consider ourselves protected by tradition or custom, It is
too
which
I
patience,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
yes, that is
And who knows
late.
foresee,
and wisdom,
to leave
reason and serious work
to
accustom himself labor
;
if,
after
the
misfortunes
our country will recover enough elasticity,
to
mental
what should have been done.
and
to
?
sentiment behind, and adhere
Try
method
whether he
;
to
teach Paul to reason,
try to
give
becomes
an
him
a love of
architect,
an
SEVERAL OBSERVATIONS. engineer, a soldier, a manufacturer, or
you let
will
37
a farmer like myself,
have rendered him the greatest
him not become
1
Above
service.
all,
a half-scholar, half-artist, or half-worker,
writing and talking about everything, and incapable of doing
anything for himself.
we
receive, the
necessary
it
tical labor.
"
is
more to
Work it
!
-weighs
attach
upon our
ourselves
to
Lamentations are of no use.
Let us go and
visit the
a
hearts, the
useful
Work
little
more
and prac-
" !
work-yard," said the cousin,
saw that Paul was pensive and his task.
The worse the news which
who
disposed to return to
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
138
CHAPTEE THE
fy~C/-->rf^
1
'
-j.
ÂŁ number came
HE
VISIT TO
XIII.
THE WORK-YARD.
was beginning
building
the plan to appear above the
and
sons
Twenty maand
carpenters,
carts
and
of bricks, sand,
full
tools,
until
it
and bands.
was ready
A
to
;
Two
lime.
Then
forge
straps,
the
over
This
effaced
from Paul's mind the sad impressions
father's
words.
to take the severe
this
work-yard.
feet,
in
vacation.
spectacle
left
his
by
work did not seem
aspect the
and harsh forms which had
what scared our scholar
cramps,
autumn sun spread a warm and
fine
Under
long saws
was lighted and repaired
veiled
light
a
a small movable forge,
slightly
tor,
and
shape,
of boys gave life to this corner of the estate.
sheltered behind a copse of trees,
stays,
take
soil.
four
stone-cutters,
cut up the trunks of trees into joists
the
to
An
Paul followed his cousin upon the
at first
attentive
building
some-
inspec-
site,
and
listened to his observations with great care. "
Here, Papa Branchu," said the cousin,
down
which must not be
laid
going to serve as a
lintel,
I
;
it
has
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
"
here
is
a stone
a flaw, and as
do not wish
it."
it
is
i
mi
SIT1
i'
THE VISIT TO THE WORK-YARD. "
1
39
Eh, Monsieur Architect, the flaw does not extend very
far."
"
Whether
derstand
this
see
there
the
a solution
is
this
frost,
on the right
piece
rest.
See
how
they are cracked
are
bits
of
the
By
action brick.
You
detach
will
;
The sound
!
that,
has
fire
you
aided
by
from
itself
will take care,
fall to
pieces,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; they
spots,
into
converted of lime
swell
before letting the
them well moistened.
contain parts of lime will
Those which
and will
not, there-
be put in the work."
fore,
But, good
sir,"
said
"
Papa Branchu,
it 's
not
my
fault
;
do not make the bricks." "
No
tive it
not
is
that shows
moisture these bits
of
bricks be used, to have
I
;
then these white
;
which the
limestone,
and burst the
"
stone
Here are bricks which you must not have used.
the
lime.
Good
and
of continuity,
un-
hardly apparent
dead
this side is
Do you
it.
this
is
with this hammer.
which the stone gives on that
that
it
crack which
little
the two sides
strike
will see to
you
Paul,
?
You
laid.
does or not, I don't wish
it
;
but
it
is
your duty
to
send those which are defec-
back to the lime-burner, and not pay him for them, for
is
purge
your business to furnish them earth
his
of bits
which contains clay Branchu,
know
I
well
wish
for
;
see
of
how
;
limestone. it
him
that will teach
Here
is
some sand
sticks to the fingers
there
is
some.
Papa
!
none but good sand, very rough
enough where
to
;
you
You have had
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
140
this taken elsewhere,
haunches of the have
it
cellar
it
only good for putting in the
is
vaults
for
which do not
is
filling;
be sure and not
For mortar, Paul, you must
used in the mortar.
have sand which of
and
very granulated and clean, the grains
and before using
stick together;
it,
several
'
buckets of water should be thrown upon the heaps. to
it,
also, that
they do not puddle the mortar on the earth,
but on a platform of it
joists.
You have done
must not be done otherwise.
your
not
is
platform
Look
large
If
you
enough,
so
very well
;
make
;
hurry, and
are in a
another.
Fay
attention also, Paul, that the stones are all put in a mortarbed." " "
it
0, be easy on that score, sir
Yes, I know,
goes
all
right
for ;
;
do not do otherwise."
I
basement construction and hard stone
but in elevations your workmen usually
place the stones on props and plaster tar,
which
this, Paul.
is
more quickly done.
them with
Pay
strict
clear
mor-
attention to
All the stones ought to be put in their places,
on thick props in the form of a wedge, leaving a vacant space of
six
or
eight
centimetres
;
the
mortar
should be
spread beneath over the whole surface to a thickness of nearly
two centimetres and the
;
then the four props must be taken away,
stone, resting
on the mortar, must be beaten down
with a heavy mass of wood until the joining timetre
thick
overflowed
all
at
all
around.
points,
and the excess
is
only a cen-
of
mortar has
THE VISIT TO THE WORK-YARD. "
Here are some meagre
layers,
Papa Branchu
141
;
they must
be re-cut." "
What
is
a meagre layer
" ?
asked Paul of his cousin, un-
der his breath. "
It is a setting layer, concave."
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
Taking his memorandaum-book the cousin continued:
"Here you
AB
tion
see that,
(Fig.
if
the layer of a stone gives the sec-
36), the middle,
1
being more hollow
C,
,
//I
'%,
w/////m///////////A. /0//////////77//////////
q
than
3
7r
zt%$.
mw/'//////////',
Fio. 36.
the borders, the stone
weight
is
lies
on the
made
should not bear upon their edges.
we "
raised
your
are getting
Since
we
constructions
up are
;
as I far,
break.
trace
in
the
if
hence,
It
is
G, and
Papa Branchu, you
with inclined planes
;
but
scaffoldings will soon be necessary.
building with scappled stone, only putting
freestone above the of the
So
;
DE
a tolerably heavy one, the ends
better that the layers should be
have
latter only
windows and
basement, at the angles and the frames doors,
you
will leave
putlog holes be-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
142
tween these scappled care
stones.
and
for trussels
Then you
putlogs.
will
only have a
For the mounting, the car-
penter will send you a gang of men, and you will use the
which
hoist
have sent you from Chateauroux, which
I shall
1 have no other use for just now." "
If
same
the
it 's
to
you, Monsieur Architect, I
should
prefer our machinery." "
What
your devil of a wheel, in which you put two
!
"
men, like squirrels sir."
"Yes, "
As you wish
hoist "
As
a
chinery,'
but I shall
;
shall try
you
;
?
which
I
dates,
Babel, raises the weights,
more
easily than
cousin
we
to
Paul,
verily believe, from
when they
do our engines
large stoDes to raise,
the
for
it."
whispered the
fact,"
send
nevertheless
;
the
"
'
his
ma-
Tower
are not too heavy,
of
much
and as we have no very
will not quarrel with
him on
this
point."
Turning to the master mason, he continued, "
It
is
Papa Branchu, that we do not make any
agreed,
rough-coatings, except for
chamfers,
and there
cut,
take
is
some very
room
;
you
will only be here
will
So
sir
much
;
it
was
the better."
my
delicate
mouldings, for
place your
stones
and there some overplus
off."
"Agreed, "
there
if
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
intention."
all
to
THE VISIT TO THE WORK-YARD. Addressing Paul, the cousin continued "
in
know nothing worse than
I
some
are laid
;
when
all
is
surface
thus taken
when off,
is
it
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;a
what
is
crust which
the yard, once for preserve,
is
all,
this
it,
;
habit
and,
is
and have thrown upon
many
of
of cutting each
stone
in
once
laid,
the
method demands more it
is
its
of
is
care
of
which
the
study of each part of the
to.
It
architect
is
I
not then possible
Each stone
raised, it
is
its
finished;
must be added that a
to
and atten-
function and a form convenient to
nothing to go back
method demands
it
stone-cutters'
Besides the advantage
Then, when a construction
place.
never re-formed when
the layers or joinings pass at random.
should thus have
formed
Happily, in
on the part of the dressers, and
make
soft stone, is
according to the definite form
no more.
have just spoken,
there
excellent
maintained
tools touch it
tion
is
called their 'quarry water.'
our provinces, the
to
on
freshly cut after leaving the quarry,
the materials have once produced it
and sculptured, most
without counting that the hard
resisting crust which, especially its
Large blocks
mounted, these formless masses
is
the dressing;
often despite
on
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
large cities of rough-coating buildings.
down
43
the custom which prevails
are cut, pared, clipped, scraped, moulded,
and
:
1
this
complete and finished
work, according as he furnishes
the orders for the various parts of the structure."
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
144
CHAPTER
XIV.
PAUL SEES THE NECESSITY OF PERFECTING HIMSELF IN THE ART OF DESIGNING.
if3?SS^NE f-.sjlf
^^z^M\
thing surprised Paul
his
cousin
wished
sketches in perspective, above
embryo
architect,
when
have
understood.
His
seemed wonderful; and our
alone, tried to
figures pertaining to his study
ment he only produced
to
all,
few pencil-strokes,
by a
expressed,
he
whatever
the facility with which
;
indicate on paper the
but to his great disappoint-
;
a confused series of lines, which he
himself could not comprehend a quarter of an hour after he
had drawn them. culations
which
Still
his master
by
would be
of great service to
sketches, of the figure of the cut stones,
without being able to obtain
"
cal-
day, after passing several hours on the ground, trying
to take account,
went
making out the
he could only succeed in making use of them.
if
One
that, in
cousin deemed of such importance, the
his
methods employed by him,
he knew
any
satisfactory results, Paul
to his cousin's room.
I find," said he,
drawing
is
"
that
what
I
not sufficient to enable
have been taught in linear
me
to represent in figures,
THE ART OF DESIGNING. upon paper, what you have explained means
of sketches
reproduce what
me
teach me, then, cousin,
;
have before
I
to
my
145
so rapidly
how what
eyes, or
to
by
clearly
I desire to
explain." "
you desirous
I like to see
But
half the task done. least
it
of learning, little cousin
only the half, and that the
is
I cannot teach
difficult half.
you in a week, nor even
in six months, the art of easily designing the objects
which you imagine in your mind
or those
you the method you
will reach,
cision.
All
to
who
few, assuredly,
is
to
do, because
our
own
;
I will
because
;
how many
yet
or
who
we
are
reflect
not
as
taught
they see in
?
Very
infancy the
All animals of a higher order
they have eyes for the
it.
people are there
see, as
most part very
like
they have even the memory of the eyes, since they
recognize the objects or beings they love, fear, or that
make
show
not to see a thing, but to observe
see,
habit of this exercise.
we
but
see,
and with much labor and time
follow,
are not blind, see
who know how
;
you
not perfection, at least clearness and pre-
if
To design
.
it is
;
their prey.
But
I
they
do not think that the animals take
note of bodies or surfaces otherwise than by a faculty of instinct,
and without the intervention of what we
Many
people like us see in the
same way;
fault, for
they are able to reason.
of
This
that.
is
call
and
it
reason. is
their
But we are not talking
the method I propose to you.
"You know what
a triangle
is,
and what a square
is;
you
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
146
have studied elementary geometry, and you seem tolerably well, as I have observed that
the plans, sections, and
after
Now, you according
tracing,
you have understood
some
take
will to
sketches having been intelli-
my any
scale
which you will see
faces of a stone
playing-cards, and
you
cut,
the aid of strips
them together This
stones.
upon each of them
model will then be familiar
little
surfaces are joined
its
in all sorts of ways,
reunion of the
a dotting, the lines of the
as
See, here
on
my
table
you know and observe,
is
is
a
ends
;
lel to
selves
you
if I
see,
show
this it
to
composed
you
you
;
models before
indicate,
my
similar
of six
of
and
the faces
base (Fig. 37).
fingers
by
that one of the faces
so
by
you do
surfaces
equal, each
body between
you
to
to
giving two equilateral triangles united at the take,
bring
wooden rhomboid, which,
equal faces, the sides of which are
I
will
and you will copy them as they
present themselves to your eyes, taking care
see.
and by
;
and what angles they
In the evening you will place these
form.
you
and some paste you
of paper
various
so as to represent this or that piece of the cut
know how
will
not
the
like,
will cut these surfaces with a pair of scissors
you
it
even the projections of bodies on a
vertical or horizontal plane,
gible to you.
know
to
its is
two
paral-
the plane of vision, the other two faces present themobliquely,
as
in
A
;
you
there are three others behind,
would they present themselves
see,
then, three faces,
which you do not if
see.
but
How
the body were transparent,
THE ART OF DESIGNING. as the dotted lines indicate
my
fingers, so that
of vision, thus
others lines
of
Now
ah, cd.
are
faces
are
faces
rhomboid between
perpendicular to the plane
B), I shall see
only two faces
the rhomboid
I present
parallel
thus (as in
vision,
in
If I turn the
two
;
be hidden from me, and two following the two
will
its
(as
two
?
147
C).
or
perpendicular
Well, I
shall
still
so to
that neither the plane of
see three faces,
but in foreshortening, distorted by the perspective, and the
other
will
three
then, in the
be indicated
evening, as
many
by the dotted little
lines.
Make,
models as you can,
re-
producing the stones you have seen in the work-yard, and
copy these
little
models in every way.
ard on the table, several together, and indicate
what
is
you have done
Throw them
copy what you see
concealed from you by dotted this
for
a week,
already become familiar to you.
many
at haz-
lines.
difficulties
After that,
we
will
;
When have
will see."
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
148
This method delighted Paul, and he at once went to work,
some of
aid of
by
make
his abstracts, to
a
little
model of
one of the stones the faces of which he had measured.
was the tained
"
summer
"
some
with
of an arch with difficulty
a very
square facing. fair
little
which he proudly placed on the family table first
copying
different
on the lower
it
ways
(Fig.
38).
surface,
He would
It
He
ob-
model
card
after dinner,
and then placing have continued
it
at
in his
Fig. 38.
up was he
task all night, so wrapt
de Gandelau admonished
Paul found
it
him
it,
retire,
had not Madame at
eleven
which he
late
next
cousin's room, told
him
of the uneasy night he
as
an excuse
"Good!"
for
his
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
so
morning, and, going into his
had passed,
tardiness.
said the cousin;
tive geometry,
full
tried in vain to bring
rose
together.
o'clock.
hard to get to sleep, and his dreams were
of complicated card models,
He
to
in
much
"you have
the better;
it
the fever of descripis
only well learned
THE ART OF DESIGNING. when one
has a passion for
when
cold
the
We
it.
An
work
at
it
together
constructions, and bad
our
suspend
snaps
weather shuts us in-doors.
will
149
architect
must learn
to
make
use of descriptive geometry, as one writes orthography, without stopping to ponder over lutely familiar to him.
too soon, and
it
is
You cannot
it
fall
into the water,
You
etry
Well,
it
is
learn one or the
it is
are
in
and perspective.
this
way
that
Only you
surface
swim
like a frog."
by what
and guide your-
you must know geom-
must give more
the practice of this essential branch of our ing to
other
a good swimmer, and
needless to tell you
movements you may keep on the self.
must be abso-
will not be needful to think of them,
should you live a century.
you
Perspective
only in early youth that these things can
be so acquired that
if
it.
art,
time to
than to learn-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
150
CHAPTEE
XV.
THE STUDY OF THE STAIRCASES.
iT
was time
to consider the details necessary to the
The cousin had
IHil execution of the staircases.
told
I
lM{ Paul to prepare
posed,
them
;
but Paul, as might he sup-
had only furnished a number of confused sketches,
as
unintelligible to others as to himself, despite the hints afford-
ed him by the master architect. "
Come," said the cousin,
"
let
us work at this together.
Papa Branchu and the carpenter ask us
first
take the great staircase, and
We
envelope.
should only be 15
of the
flooring,
in height each
c.
ground-floor.
Each
width, to give an
7 m. this
50
c.
or
9 m.
step
its
c.
;
or
cage,
of
steps
from that of
first floor
c.
30
to
c.
Thirty steps, then, give
of development.
the plan
the
therefore have
should be from 25
easy ascent.
when we made
4 m. 50
we must
;
thirty steps to reach the level of the
in
mark out
have, as the height of the ground-floor, com-
prising the thickness
the
Let
for instructions.
I
believe
I
the ground-floor.
told If
you
we
take the middle of the space reserved for the steps, on our plan,
we
find just
9
m.
Tracing the
steps,
then,
on this
li
-,10
F'ff-
39.
—OUTLINE OF THE MAIN STAIRCASE. —
P.itfc 130.
THE STUDY OF THE STAIRCASES. middle space,
A'
and giving them
line,
we may 39)
(Fig.
275 millimetres of
make
will
the
wind
steps
grooves, the partition
water- closet
ascended for
the
at
18
steps
F
the
enable us
at
this
landing-place
15
c.
in
2 m.
50
c.
under the
will light
windows by the
the
traced in elevation
From
;
This
Tor there
steps.
the
it
is
is
cut
to
off
this
is
a folly which every
servants' corridor
is
how
parts as there are
the
to proceed
:
the
then the height of the ascent
ends of
to be
steps, as
horizontally on
Projecting these divisions vertically,
The
G, the
trace the elevation, or rather vertical projec-
this staircase.
many
is
reached by the door H.
"Let us now
into as
which
ceiling,
steps of a staircase, and though
builder ought to avoid.
tion, of
have
shall
by a window E.
it
of the
level
done every day in dwelling-houses,
is
we have
A',
we
height),
the
establish
to
more ridiculous and inconvenient than
water-closet
step will
first
will Tight the staircase, and, as the elevation
follow
will
indicates,
will
We
way
make, under the step-
will
(each
sufficient.
two openings
we
which As,
water-closet
more than
nothing
A'.
D
At
last at C.
in such a
The
as to avoid sharp angles near the newel.
be at B, the
stepping
two landing-places in the angles at A,
find
we
;
151
the
steps
with
I
is
cage
is
divided
do in
/.
the elevation, and, the
cage
and
the
newel, you obtain, by the
meeting of these two projections,
the
along
tracing
newel.
of
the
steps
the
cage
and against
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
152
"Suppose that
The
be done.
to
the level of the flooring of the
second the
other
giving 0.156
;
the
plus
we have 4 m.
floor,
while to
a
the
first
ascend from one flooring
to
each step,
will
which
we it
preserve, 'on
revolution,
we
will
From
this
point
number
F
established,
As they
a newel, which
them
is
itself
stone,
a wall,
two
floors.
This
material these
steps
we
can, if
in the walls,
sonry,
it
is
and the others in
we
forming a
wish,
However,
hard
will
;
left
make
this
is
for us to procure
first
carpentry-work,
We step
covering
and, in order not to fix
them
have a projecting string-course in ma-
rack along
the walls
receive the part of their butt-ends, as I
These steps,
we
proper for the purpose.
stone
them with good oaken shelves
mark
thus obtain
content ourselves with making the
therefore
only of
fine
will
comprised between walls and
are
scarcely practicable here, because
will
for the
of freestone, of a single piece each.
any hard, compact,
we
Then, for the
shall
we must know with what
be made.
shall
X
to
the
which
d,
26, as I
We
proceed as before.
the general tracing from
the plan, step
on the end of the supplementary plan at N. elevation,
not worth
is
the
the
to
26 steps
get
leaving
make
trace the 13 other steps to
to the
to
13 steps to the point M.
gives
then at K, at
To ascend
first floor.
millimetre,
Then we
count. of
tracing
of
fraction
in.
last step is
and
the newel, to
show you
(Fig. 40).
rough underneath, will be lathed, and will
be planed only on the face, or vertical side, A.
That they
THE STUDY OF THE STAIRCASES. may
not be shaken from
fasten
their support of
them with cramps B, which
shelf forming the step,
and
153
we
masonry,
will
be masked by the
will
will enter the holes C.
Fig. 40.
"
As
for
the servants' spiral staircase,
we
will
make
it
of
hard stone, each step carrying the newel, as I show you in Fig. 41.
"Now
to
try
write
this
out
clearly,
so
that
we may
promptly give the details to the masons and the carpenter." Paid succeeded, with some bly accurate tracing according
by
his cousin
;
difficulty,
to
the
in
making a
indications
tolera-
furnished
but the latter was obliged to frequently make
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
154
corrections, for his inspector
was not
too skilful in element-
him
diffi-
lines,
took
ary descriptive geometry, and the projections gave culty
at
every step.
Paul got confused in his
Fig. 41.
one point for another, and would have more than once thrown aside his compass, square,
there to set
him on
and
ruler,
had
the right path again.
his cousin not heen
CRITICISM.
155
CHAPTER XVI CRITICISM.
T was towards Ul
I
weather had, so
end
the far,
of
project,
but
;
permitted our builders to
had already
and the house
the
make
The autumn sun favored
the most of their time. their
November
risen,
at
several
points, to the
height of the lintels of the ground-floor win-
dows.
it
Still,
required
M. de Gandelau's
all
The
prevent the works from being abandoned.
energy to little
work-
yard was gradually deserted by able workmen, called to follow the
Those who remained
flag.
wander elsewhere. horses and carts
lost
time and
There could be
came under military
little
let their
thoughts
carting, for all the
requisition.
The country
was furrowed by troops taking their way towards the
Many
hours were passed in talking, and every one anxiously
awaited news of the war. Still,
all
Loire.
It
became every day more gloomy.
Orleans had been reoccupied by the French troops, and
hope did not seem yet
while, a
new personage
friend of
Paris
lost.
arrived at
still
held out.
Mean-
M. de Gandelau's chateau
;
a
the family, whose property had been occupied and
devastated by the Germans, and
who had abandoned
it,
fearful
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
156
of still worse calamities.
He had
Western France, where he had
M. de Gandelau's.
stopped at
and
sixty, tall,
directed his steps towards
and on
relatives,
He was
his
way
man between
a
fifty
with a rather cold manner, though a perpetual
smile seemed stereotyped on his face.
He
might have been
taken for an old-fashioned diplomatist.
The new-comer had read and
much, knew a
travelled
of everything, belonged to several learned
opinion was greatly respected in his
had been a candidate enterprises, in
trial
agriculture
;
for the
own
societies,
little
and
his
He
neighborhood.
Assembly, had engaged in indus-
which he had
and the remainder of
lost large
sums, then in
his fortune being in peril of
becoming ingulfed, he contented himself with the theoretical aspect of
and wrote pamphlets on
affairs,
which he printed
Each
of his
at his
own
all sorts of subjects,
expense, and scattered broadcast.
works pretended invariably
to give a simple solu-
tion to all difficulties, whether in politics, science, industry,
commerce, or even the
seemed art of
;
him
He
had built houses, and as
it
that architects were quite unfit to practise the
construction, being expensive
he
dices,
tions
to
arts.
and imbued with preju-
had himself taken charge of the building opera-
making
his
own
suppliers, giving the plans,
directly
with
and supervising the works.
This
contracts,
treating
fancy had cost him very dear, and one fine clay his building fell
down.
Engineers not enjoying his confidence any more
than architects, he had traced out roads on his
estates,
and
CRITICISM.
had them executed according
157
His
a system of his own.
to
attempts in this direction were not more successful than his essays
at
But M. Durosay
practicable.
those persons lesson
at
is
whom
who had
roads
was
(that
For the
polite, obliging,
his
name) was one of even when the
little,
rest,
being im-
in
persisted
experience teaches
their expense.
man, excessively those
The
construction.
he was an honest
even generous
above
;
all to
the artfulness to flatter his eccentricities, and
who, by interest or conviction, regarded him as an
infallible
judge on every subject. '
any one came
If
was about
to
him
to consult
to take a train,
on any matter just as he
he would rather
than not to give his decision on
it
at length.
of everything on an a priori system,
the train 00
let
Only he judged
and heard with inattentive
ear the special reasons which might tend to modify
he
admitted
discussion
impatient with those
who
and was
not
in
the
least
did not agree with him.
He
often
freely,
repeated this aphorism: "Light bursts from contrary ideas
and never
When hours,
" ;
and the sad topics of conversation which were the day had been exhausted, and when the talk
Durosay asked
it
is."
himself,
it.
turned on Paul's house (as
I
it
he had been duly installed in the chateau for some
order of the
"
the collision of
but he always meant to furnish
to receive
But
it,
it
was called
in the family),
M.
to see the plans.
know something
of building," said he
" ;
I
know what
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
158
The cousin smiled, which the new-comer did not his
misadventures in building having
left
resent,
no bitterness in
his mind. "
this is
Ah,
very well
had been explained
" !
said
M. Durosay, when
him and he had examined them; "I
to
have seen houses in Belgium something like good ideas in
it
it
;
the plans
There are
this.
would be a very agreeable
habitation, if
Messieurs the Prussians are so good as to allow you to finish
me
Will you permit
it.
a few remarks
" ?
"
Certainly." "
I
have
n't the least idea of
persuading you to change any-
thing in these plans, which seem to
have seen and compared a great
my
first
character
impression,
me
to
be excellent
Well, to
tell
;
but I
you frankly
that this has rather the
You
of a city mansion than of a country-house.
excuse me,
will
deal.
seems to
it
me
country-house
will
you not
?
I
don't understand
should be so shut up
a portico around
it,
at
or
least
;
I
a large
why
a
should like to see
windows
veranda;
more open, the expression more perceptive of the exterior life."
"
Eh,
my
dear friend
" !
children will pass here
said
M. de Gandelau
" ;
a large part of the year
;
I
hope
we
my
are not
planning a place where they would only live two or three
months in the summer,
must have a good, reside in
all
tight,
seasons."
after getting tired of the city
;
they
well-covered house, where they can
CRITICISM. "
Yes,
you think of the is
that
certainly,
wisely considered
is
in
villas
bleak in winter and
159
Northern
Italy,
what do
but
;
where the climate
and which are not the
spring,
less
delightful with their porticos, terraces, their large open halls,
and
bay-windows looking out upon the country
their
these
have a noble aspect, elevate
?
All
one might say, and
life,
enlarge narrow ideas, which are but too prevalent in our times.
Then, don't you think that the want
on one of the fronts
glaring, at least
what, constructions successive needs
made one
and
;
is
it
do
I
daughter
;
not
like
to
will
leave
a work of art to
it
it
is
family which
little
me
grave Flemish alderman. aspect which
all."
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
my
is
my
to
well
if
not unseemly that her
and charm on the out-
not be displeased, on going to see
This seems to
that's
"
is
in
be
rather
Madame
prospect grouped
her under a portico or loggia of delicate
Come,
satisfy
For a cultivated and charm-
reflect that cultivation
Marie, to see the
"
to
?
agree, however, that
your daughter,
You would
ure.
too
not wanting in that unity which
propose
You
so.
house should
a-round
so as
after another,
both qualities can be combined.
side.
is
only a good, solid, convenient house."
"Perhaps
ing person
symmetry
This resembles, some-
?
should be found in every work of art
"But
of
the
architect-
house of some
These gables have a certain austere
"
friend, gables are not austere
;
they are gables,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
160
"
0, these gables with
look which
house "
roofs
have a severity of
is
not in harmony with the idea of a pleasure-
is
not a pleasure-house
" !
But
people
their big
it
who
are to inhabit
it
;
;
a house built for
is
it
we
not for saunterers, as
see
none here." "
Never mind which
exteriors,
should
I
;
are
have liked
slightly cold
warm up
to
of aspect,
by
these
projections,
bay-windows, and a gallery covered by a terrace overhead." "
Warm
up,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
that
's
soon said
tism under your galleries.
It
's
;
but one catches rheumawell
Mentone, but they are scarcely practicable in It is best to
country.
for
enough
Nice or
this part of the
have the sun strike the walls of our
houses, and your porticos are hot-houses for mushrooms." "
to
I see," said
your
taste,
of things.
M. Durosay,
my
material
which
is
what you
what a good chance
Yet,
"
you adhere
that
call the practical side
this
is
to
give your
those mansions which, without neglecting
daughter one of the
friend, for
after a pause,
comforts
of
life,
possess
that
perfume of
too seldom found in our country districts.
exterior elegance
is
delible impression
A
a powerful charm, which leaves
on the mind.
art
little
an in-
It is thus that the Italians
preserve the poetry of the brilliant eras of their civilization.
They know how
at
need to
sacrifice
a part of what
'comfort/ of the necessities of the material preserve
among them
life,
in
we
call
order to
these beautiful traditions of high art."
CRITICISM.
"
know what
I don't
these traditions
of
us from wind, rain, and sun
protect
Italian villas, in
Verona and Venice, always seemed
and disagreeable, with I
are the traditions of high art, nor
you that your
confess to
l6l
was never anxious
from comfortable.
anxious
to
amuse
or
my own
partakes of
made
are
am
will
;
interest
very gloomy
far
display models of
to
travellers,
;
and
am
but I
my
not
daughter
in this respect."
feelings
yet your daughter
on the borders of
tarry
neighborhood
me
to
quite willing
"
Perhaps
I
the
them, for I supposed them
to visit
architecture to travellers, I
but
colonnades and closed shutters.
their
If they
;
if
now
is
the
visiting
Bosphorus.
Italy,
Who
and
knows
whether, on returning hither, she would not be delighted to find,
as
fail to
it
souvenir of the impressions she will not
a
were,
have received
there,
arranging for her would recalled
some
you think of "I
am
and whether the surprise you are
not
be
of these impressions it,
more welcome,
the
her mind
to
Monsieur Architect
"So you would
share
my
"What do
?
?
"with delight
opinion, and would be
embellishments in which
to
art."
to give this dwelling, so well distributed
exterior
you
"
listening to you," said the cousin,
hear you talk so well about our
if
it
is,
by your
disposed
skill, a
perhaps,
few
now want-
ing?"
"I do not say given us
full
that.
liberty,
M. de Gandelau
has, as his
custom
is,
and has only furnished me with the
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
62
sum
figure of the
which he wishes
to
the
limit
to
expense.
Otherwise, the plan being accepted, he has neither imposed
upon us an excessive
my
if
with his
friend,
what
to use
adornment of a house."
as the exterior
you regard "Well,
severity, nor forbidden us
not
does
mind,
positive
appear inclined to these adornments, don't you think, as an
are
something might be added
that
artist,
perhaps a
you have
;
in
visited
and which
aspect,
you might make
aid of your talent, Italy
severe
trifle
Pompeii
less
cold
don't
;
which
to these fronts,
by
You know
?
you
surely,
in
find,
the
architecture of that country, a thousand inspiring hints, rav-
ishing examples, and
"Yes,
have visited Italy and France, and
I
you that
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;"
I
I
confess to
*
have never been attracted by their architectural
works, except in so far as they preserve the imprint of the
manners and
of
usages
Y"ou speak of Pompeii.
the remains of that
Those
quality.
What
Italian
small
who
those
has
have
especially
town
provincial
habitations
the customs of antiquity, at the
time
the
of Naples,
Bay
we
theirs
;
that
an open
'
if,
for
instance,
it
triclinium,' sheltered
is
are
in
exactly this
when they were erected.
But
to
built,
I
de-
not on the shores of
and have habits very
of the Pompeians, our dwellings
me
struck
were very convenient
and in the climate in which they were duce from this study, that as
them.
produced
different
from those
should in nothing resemble
was very agreeable
to
from the wind by a
'
sup in velum,'
CRITICISM.
we
l6':
could not arrange dining-rooms in the same
Department of the Indre sleep in a
door of portico,
that
;
if
it
left
would
this
be very
of ancient
of stifling
if
inconvenient
it
five metres, the
me
for
since
observe
to
and we
us,
the door were left
if
But
were shut.
permit
dwellings,
to
open on a court surrounded by a
should run a great risk of catching cold open, and
in the
was very pleasant
chamber with a surface of four or
which was
way
you speak
that
those
of
Pompeii, even the most elegant of them, do not display on
adornments which you seem
the outside any of the
The ancients kept the luxury they enjoyed
make a
nor did they care to not I
know
so
much
about their
have every reason
to
make
that they did not
display to villas, or
believe,
for the interior,
I
passers-by.
country-houses
from the ruins
sacrifices to
to like.
what
is
still
;
do
but
extant,
the entirely
mod-
ern vanity of showing, on the outside, forms of architecture to
make an impression on palaces which are
seem
to
much more works
I think that the country
wayfarers.
have seduced you in Northern Italy of vanity, than
the customs and habits of those
who
dwellings proper to
erected
them
;
indeed,
they have been scarcely habitable, and the state of dilapidation in
which you see them
is
by no means
for vanity's sake, for the desire of display,
as residences, as
years
doned
of the "
works due
life
of a
man
they only endured,
to vanity endure, that ;
after
Erected
recent.
is,
a
few
which they were aban-
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
64 "
You
what
name
give the
as the
I regard
love of the
"
M. Durosay,
of vanity," replied
to
the desire to show
art;
the work of art." "
We
should probably never agree upon this point.
I be-
in
being
that
lieve
art
You
and simple.
true
displeases
observe
you
form
if this
"
So a barn
my
"
Certainly in
it is
palace,
if
;
be
it
though
else,
rather,
or,
is
judgment,
work
first
has a
this
con-
" ?
for protecting its contents,
much more decorated
or
fulfilled."
of art
made
I
if it
me when
only pleases
well
is
it
eyes worth
my
it
to you, a
is,
least,
the expression of a want,
is
reason of existence, and dition, according to
at
only see a form which pleases
seek something
I
;
architecture
in
consists,
so than an uncomfortable
colonnades and pedi-
with
ments."
"You "
ought to go to America." should do wisely,
I
Perhaps
knew
I
if
that
they tried
to build there in
accordance with the tastes and needs of
the
But
inhabitants.
pretensions are
made
are eagerly copied
in to
that
;
America, as everywhere nowadays, '
style,' is,
fine
traditions are applied at random,
the origin or principle of which "
and things considered
is
not sought."
Come," said M. de Gandelau, who thought the discus-
sion
house
"
getting :
in
long,
order
daughter in her
we
are
getting
to
satisfy you,
new
residence,
far
away from
when you come
we
will
build a
to
Paul's see
my
card portico
CRITICISM.
before one of the fronts,
165
and place under
its
shadow a num-
ber of Berri peasants disguised as Venetians, mingled
some soon.
lords in scarlet robes, playing It is late,
and time
to
with
on the viol and the bas-
go to bed."
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
66
CHAPTER
XVII.
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE
IS.
4
(5^^^)HE
cousin
foresaw that Paul would revert to the
V->
discussion of the evening before
„
wended
>
t
the
and as the two
;
their way, early in the morning, to
works, Paul did
not
to
fail
feel
his
way towards
But he did not quite know what he wished cousin
did not
assist
him, but
left
him
visit
at
to
full
it.
The
ask.
leisure
to
collect his thoughts.
"
Does M. Durosay know much about architecture
"
Paul
?
finally asked.
speaks like a person
"Why, he the
is
not a stranger to
art."
"
you did not seem
Still,
"
who
And what
did he ask
Why — you more — "
to grant
what he asked."
" ?
know — he
wanted Marie's house
to
be
—
"
"More what?" "
More
What "
It
is is
—
less
a loggia a
large
severe.
He
suggested
a portico,
a loggia.
" ?
covered balcony, usually shut in on
two
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE
sides,
but opening in
floors,
upon the public road
"
Why
"
You
"
Well
"
on
front,
or
ground-floor
upper
or the country."
we not have
should
the
l6j
IS.
a loggia on Marie's house
" ?
might, one or several." " ?
Then we must put
on the ground-floor, in front of
if
it,
the drawing-room, in the middle of the fronting on the gar-
den "
;
if
on the
Would
before the large bedchamber."
first floor,
not that
make
a good effect
but the apartment
"Perhaps;
" ?
opening upon
'would be dark and gloomy, as the windows would its
fall
loggia
under
ceiling."
"
0,
that
true
we have bay-windows
but
at
the
only these are shut instead of open towards
the
yes,
's
!
end of the drawing, dining, and "
Yes
;
billiard rooms."
outside,
and these rooms have the
space.
They
'
this
are,
then,
You have
breteches.'
what
cages,
thus
the
"
sister
it
well enough
;
of
its
a
called loggia,
inconveniences." " ?
there was no need to tell him."
also suggested a portico."
For what
"I
formerly
did you not say this to M. Durosay
"He knew "He
were
advantages
without what, in our climate, would be
"Why
their additional
benefit of
" ?
don't know.
He
said
it
would look
well,
and
and her children would bo grouped under
would look
prettily from
a
distance."
thai it,
my
which
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
68
"And would distance "
" "
"
â&#x20AC;˘
your
?
0, I don't think she would care
And
whom
for
my
AVhy, for
And
are
we
?
would
rooms which
the
in
cost
!
" ?
it
This portico would be as in-
would make the rooms which
As we
colonnades dark and gloomy.
its
" it
sister."
not for loafers, eh
opened on
much about
building the house
convenient as the loggia, for
live
from a
to look picturesquely
sister like
"
would
make
dear to
rather
be
under the
usually
portico,
on
pleasant groups
it
it
for
passers-by." "
No
scent
doubt.
it
is
the
to
serve as
Besides,
a
we have
garden, before
portico,
the
a greenhouse
with a de-
billiard-room,
which
can
and will not make the room gloomy, as
of glass."
"
Assuredly." "
M. Durosay, perhaps, did not take note
"
Likely enough
;
it
is
not
'
of
monumental.'
it."
He
wanted a
real covered portico, like those of Italy." "
He. seems
"
"
Which
to
admire Italian architecture very much."
?
"
That of which he spoke."
"
But there are many
sorts of
Italian
architecture,
accord-
ing to epochs, latitudes, and the habits of the people." "
You
"
He
did not call his attention to this."
ought to
know
it."
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE "I
see
M.
you do not take
that
IS.
Durosay's
169
in
opinions
earnest."
"M.
an estimable man;
is
Durosay
and therefore
cere,
take them
I
his opinions are sin-
seriously
;
but he looks at
He
things from a point of view different from mine. of art
matters
we
like
not reason
come
of
it
;
is
world, and
the
them by
should judge
architects
does
man
a
like
faith
think that
1
Sentiment
reasoning.
we could not
therefore
;
judges
an understanding, since each of us spoke in a
to
dif-
ferent tongue."
not break upon Paul's mind.
did
Light
much
thought that architecture was learned
and orthography, and
grammar
now
that there were several languages of
knew one
He
of them, the others
understand
not
did
why
still
his
him.
to
ask
in
"There was going 'Well,
and
to
told if
;i
a
him
person
remained incomprehensible.
reasoning should
into
enter
and he did
;
sprinkled the
seem anxious
reached the work-yard.
is
cousin
not
a
know
enlighten
with his head down, beating with his cane
thistles. which
did not
one learns
as
questions on the subject which might
He walked
the yellow
then he had
and that
it,
matter entirely of form and appearance
how
Till
to break
The cous-
the silence, and thus they
was nearly deserted.
It
frost last
roadside.
night," said Papa
Branchu, "and
it
freeze."
the
masonry-work
stubble, and
we
will
must
stop.
lie
Tut
covered
with
portlasts on
rubbish
the walls.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
170
above, and slabs at intervals.
stubble
Have
portlasts cover the facing of the walls.
If
a care that the
you have
n't
stubble, put earth on the portlasts, or clods of turf. cellar vaults, spread
slopes,
and
them over with a good bed
some openings
fix
melted snow can run
by to-morrow night
be finished
may
the cold weather "
is
For the
of earth, with
in the haunches, so the rain or
Come, do
off.
enough
this
up quickly,
we
then
;
will lie
so
by
it till
gone."
All the boys are
said
off,"
Papa Branchu,
"
and there are
only a few worthless fellows at the work-yard." "
This suspension of the work," said the cousin, on return-
" ing towards the chateau, will enable us to study the details
of construction at leisure." "
Yes," said Paul
work
to
"
You have
Not
seen
it
I see that
;
is
architecture
you say what you wish, and that
knew
forget
;
of
what
I
;
I
have tried
to
well enough what I wanted to
appeared on the paper
made me
two months we have
speedily traced on paper
myself, and though I
must be a means
"
clone during the
it
?
entirely
do, nothing too,
set
"
what you wish do
know how you
but I would like to
to trace a detail."
been at work "
" ;
;
had
what in
I
drew on the paper, But there
my 'mind.
do in doing everything one wishes to
a method, a
Ah, there you are
!
— what You
you understand and wish a
shall I say
see,
thing,
little
?
—a
cousin
;
receipt
—
"
you think
without really knowing
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE always what you wish, or comprehending
IJl
a proposition clearly;
morning your thoughts have been turning about the
since
now put
question you have only just
make
to take time to
brain should tug at
it
Now, thanks
it.
my
:
me;
wanted you
I
to the effort
You
reply.
you have
recall Boileau's
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; 'What
And
These words
the trouble
is
well conceived
the words to say
may
is
it
be applied to
become accustomed
to
is
tiling
to
was necessary that your
it
precise;
made, you will the better seize verse
IS.
clearly
come
that people learn to
is
The important
the arts.
all
to
announced,
easily.'
acquire clear conceptions;
make phrases
before learn-
ing to reason, and wish to express their thoughts before they
have been elaborately wrought out in the brain.
"Then people think they supply what they think thought, by a happy combination
the
in
plete
architecture, they dwell
knowing whether
it
for the necessities or
address phrases, this
is
in
answers
incom-
words; in
attractive,
before
whal reason, a rigorous regard
needs of
;i
construction, demand.
It'
an
question, vulgar minds are easily led by brilliant
and only too
seductive
vulgar
upon what seems
of
is
late
perceive
form conceals.
minds are
in
tin'
If
how much
architecture
is
hollowness the subject,
same way seduced by picturesque
the defects aspects and attractive forms, and afterwards learn of the edifice at their
by certain
own
expense.
M.
forms which have pleased him
Durosay, impressed in
his travels, has
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
172
never thought to ask himself
if
the necessities which
be
structure
are
to
these were in
harmony with
the
needs of the
satisfied,
he has only seen the turn of the phrase, and has
;
not sought to look for a ripe idea behind fore argue thus
We
it.
might there-
days without convincing each other, he
for
sticking to the form only, or the fashion in
which the phrase
turned, but not ascertaining whether this form has a signifi-
is
cation,
All
is
and whether the phrase cousin
my
in that,
;
expresses
and, according
a
clear
to
my
thought.
our
idea,
country, so near utter ruin, will not rise again until she learns to
reflect
before
We
speaking.
and we are not
cost fabulous sums,
Or
intended to contain.
without destining
it
rather,
Durosay,
How
only. if
is
it
edifices
clear as to
we think
of
which
what they
are
making the box,
And
observe well
not appertain to
monumental
to this or that use.
that this wretched habit does structures
build great
that
Worthy
citizens
they have to build a house, think
first
M.
like
of erect-
ing a chalet, or an Italian villa, or an English cottage, with-
out scarcely knowing whether they will live comfortably in it
?
Thus you
will see Italian villas in the
and Swiss chalets and you
at Nice.
will be a
Learn to reason,
good lawyer, doctor,
complement
to
to observe
first,
If
sdldier, architect.
nature has endowed you with genius, so will be a splendid
North of France
much
the better;
your faculties
;
but
if
it
you
have not learned the habit of reasoning, genius will serve you nothing, or rather
it
will not be developed.
To learn
to reason,
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE you must work much and
by
appearances,"
however
and not
long,
IS.
1
73
be seduced
let yourself
Unhappily our system of
attractive.
education in France leads us to be content with appearances, to
rely on traditions
You
therefore, to be disputed.
where M. Durosay's literature,
must
politics,
accept, to do
not where
the it
The
arts,
army,, the
have their
not,
you every-
administration,
which you
'porticos,'
matters not what, or to enter
it
matters
you have enough energy, power
at least, unless
;
will find confronting
portico.
and
articles of faith,
regarded as
of working, independence of character, knowledge of business,
and therefore authority,
tenacity,
your portico in so far as
To return
to
means to
I find it useful to serve
proper
to
answer that
I
?
construction
method
my
purposes.'
these
to follow
As
variations.
in
all
are
practical
but as the materials and
for
architecture,
there
is
a
which present themselves, but
cases
no receipts or procedures.
;
there
day modified, the methods ought
of execution are every
follow
only accept
your question, Are there, in architecture, receipts,
methods of procedure
methods
say, 'I will
to
This method
is
none other than
the application of your reasoning power to each special case for
what
is
good in one case
is
not in another.
It is
;
then on
the observation of these circumstances, facts, habits, climate, conditions of hygiene, that your reasoning will rest before con-
ceiving the work.
And when
arranged in your brain, you
this operation is completed,
and
without hesitation put
the
may
result of this intellectual labor
on paper."
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
174 "
think
I
understand what you say
I
how
but
;
shall I
" ?
begin "
getting the habit of observing everything, and reflect-
By
all
ing upon
you
you
see, hear,
and
which you must
a ditch
side
Do you
?
not
enable
know,
whether or not you can cross decide upon one or the
self,
you
other course
to the it
is
result of these
You do
not ask your-
whether Achilles or Eoland, according
you wish
It is you,
larger intervals.
the water.
to fall into
a house to build for some one yourself at
first
you represent
that a house
is
to yourself the
Well,
whom you made
know, you say
or
receives
many
of
rooms that are ne-
You know whether he
guests,
occupy the house, whether he
in
likes
what
whether he has many servants,
one, etc.
and when you have
conditions,
you try
But
if
reflected
to put the result of
you occupy yourself
seasons
his ease
modestly, ;
to
to shelter people; then
number
and the habits of the occupant.
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
you have
if
and what relations they should have with each
cessary,
paper.
observation,
and do you not
The
?
the
to
your powers, that you consult, not those of heroes,
unless
alone,
jump
you a conviction which en-
jumped over much
poets,
to
previous
ditch,
to act without hesitation.
before jumping,
you
by
this
observations, then, establishes in
ables
you have before
do you not ask yourself,
cross,
within, whether your legs will
other
When
read.
on
or all
other, lives
he will
or
lives
is
served
very
by
these essential
your observations on
first
with placing this
PAUL ASKS WHAT ARCHITECTURE man and of the
IS.
75
1
family in a Pompeian house, or a manor-house
liis
Middle Ages, the chances are that you will erect
him an uncomfortable
make awkward
dwelling, where
dispositions in
will be forced to
you
order to
for
a construction
raise
belonging to an epoch and civilization different from those
which we
in "
a
live."
I understand that
window, a
"That
work
to
is,
how
yet one learns
;
to
make
a door,
staircase."
we
make
how, before
are told
other
us,
a door, a staircase, a flooring
men went but
;
it
is
to
not
and should not be pretended, in teaching you the methods
employed by our ancestors,
to
impose on you the task of
doing exactly as they did, since you, perhaps, possess materials
that they did not have, and
from
theirs.
the results
our
It
of
own time
done,
or
is,
ought to
experience start
;
your habits are different said to
be,
Here are
down
to
from here, do as your predecessors have
apply your reasoning faculties to making use of ac-
needs of the present.
It
is
house, a good acquired
but add to
it
when
;
you must know
;
it
is is
a
it is
it
fulfils
the
common
store-
extent and value
its
the aid of your intelligence
Well, there
in architecture
;
it
not permitted to you to ignore
what has been done before your time
of
' :
acquired from antiquity
quired knowledge, but only obeying
ward.'
you
;
;
do not go back-
but one method of not going backward to
make
the art the faithful expression
the necessities of the times as one sees
them, that the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
I7 6
edifice
may
be in truth the envelope of that which
it
con-
people
who
tains." "
Do
"
they not do this
Xot exactly
we
:
" ?
are
somewhat
like
those
have inherited rich furniture from their ancestors, very spectable and
respected,
who keep and
use
it,
re-
it
though
is
very uncomfortable, and does not correspond to the habits of the time uities,
who even
;
with
the
set
not
order
If you, then, the
some one to
guard these antiq-
to
them
let
master
be
of
the
change the material, or send some of
this
changed.
annoying than
the
useful, to
to
fulfil
to let this furniture
;
that
it
is
whom you
You
it.
permitting
these
confided to his honor not
become dilapidated
placed there to preserve
or
changed, since he
continue, for the
of peace, to use this inconvenient furniture, its
more
furniture,
and declares that the
his
prevent
correctly,
changes and suppressions
is
wish to
you have invested him, and which he
with which
proposes
air,
any way
house,
garret, the guardian
pay and lodge puts on a dignified duties
in
sake
and you retain
guardian." " I "
do not entirely understand you."
You
will,
later
you enter some beware of tent well,
on
old
;
only regard yourself as warned. hotel,
full
criticising it; if the
of
furniture
out
of
If use,
masters of the house are con-
with him, the guardian of these curiosities will do so that
you could not re-enter
there."
THEORETICAL STUDIES.
CHAPTEE
177
XVIII.
THEORETICAL STUDIES.
H HE % forced
works
It
cousin
and
in
a
made
Paul prepared
to
The
employ
en-
this
They decided that
manner.
profitable
the details necessary to the completion of the
all
should
be
but
elaborated,
by the winter season
profit
necessary to suspend the
it
promised to be a long winter.
works.
leisure
not only
cold weather
the
that
to give
should
cousin
Paul some instructions
which he needed as inspector of works. Paul grew every day more interested in this
this
Up
task.
to
time the execution had followed the study within doors,
and example and practice had clearly perceived that all his
the master of the
illustrated the theory
attention and desire to second
work did not
he was confronted by a
suffice,
difficulty.
and that
aspect.
He
set to
with a hearty ambition to learn, inasmuch as
then,
everything
at each step
The more the work ad-
vanced the more powerless he seemed to himself. work,
but he
;
around
Paul
had
assumed never
when he went home
for
a
lived
the
more gloomy and in
New
the
desolate
country in winter
Year's
festival,
the
:
few
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
178
days passed there flew by so quickly that he had no leisure
pay attention
to
the
to
family had visitors
aspect
season
that
at
of the
home; everybody was disposed
at
his
;
eldest
a
for
were deserted, or occupied
dying of hunger, going to
clad
troops,
out
enthusiasm,
Then
hamlets.
seemed
so
leaving
to cover the fields
the postman
:
the faces of the inmates.
to
chateau
still
came
did not
their
make
Sometimes
were mute
all
;
to
retire
ill-
too often with-
the
sick
the
in
wagons,
which
and deaden the
far-off
of
lines
regularly,
and papers which he brought only
ters
the neighboring
was seldom that a peasant presented himself at
It
the chateau
the
long
This
funeral trains.
many
The snow began sounds.
were
there
fight,
and
stragglers
;
was
few hours by
a
for
sister
good time.
was not the case in earlv December, 1870 villages
Besides, the
fields.
their
;
the
still
soldiers
officers
and the
let-
more saddened were lodged O
at
themselves asked
chambers, saying they were fatigued, and
appearance in the drawing-room.
M. de
Gandelau, who, despite his gout, rose very early, seemed to multiply himself
;
he appeared among
the
farmers at
the
neighboring village, hurrying the transports, organizing hospitals, collecting food,
and
getting
over
the
difficulties
im-
posed by routine. "
Make Paul
"that
is
all I
him work,
work," said he to the cousin, every evening
ask of your friendship, â&#x20AC;&#x201D; and
I pray you."
it is
;
much; make
THEORETICAL STUDIES. The
took a walk
did
not
before
lead
to
fail
then the architect and his inspect-
;
the
jects of reflect,
his
and
talk
conversation
some
to
lie
and thus Paul learned
;
interesting
repeated to him,
do a
little
and
observe it
was
The cousin often
thing.
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
"The more you know, you know
to
how much knowledge
daily perceived
necessary to gather to
;
the more
you
will
and the limit of science
conviction that vou "
which the cousin
during
nightfall,
The country, natural phenomena, were habitual sub-
topic.
little
79
passed for the most part in studying certain
clays
branches of construction or
1
know
to
is
how
recognize
acquire
the
nothing." "
Then," said Paul one day,
of
what use
is
it
learn
to
"
anything "
?
To be modest
preoccupations
of
to others without
;
to
fill
vanity
;
with something besides the
life
to
make
yourself a
after copies
had not
he
deal,
always after na-
prepared in presence of his
brought
any
useful
their gratitude."
demanding
The cousin made Paul draw a great ture, or
little
architectural
designs
scholar, for
with
him.
Paul copied out the calculations of those parts of the construction
which were already elevated.
Thus he took exact
account of the structure, of each piece of stone put into the work.
Paul began, then, to trace properly an architectural
and
his
cousin never
failed
to
answer
detail,
each question
ad-
I
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
So
Paul had soon got over
dressed to him.
you
please, self-esteem,
ing the
timidity,
and he no longer shrank from show-
of waiting
way
if
or,
he knew and multiplying his questions.
little
cousin had a
The
young inspector asked
his
till
him a
be enlightened, before giving
to
all
lesson on any partic-
ular subject; he wished that his scholar's intelligence should
be prepared by the necessity
The lessons
him.
of knowing, before
*thus treated of a great variety of subjects,
but the cousin was careful to connect them
what "
day, Paul wanted to
word meant
this
Your question
is
sure I can answer are
two meanings
think that consist
what
The idea
are
That
is
it,
word
is
in
correlation
mean
vulgarly called
is
it
little
so as to give
not what you
supports,
"Yes, that "
a large one,
of order in your
vertical
bar.
is
know what an
their appearance. "
order
"
was, and
in architecture.
to this
sometimes, the
nifies,
or
it
by pointing out
all,
made
the general principles which constantly
One
instructing
light
upon
architecture;
between the ;
I
the orders
am
'order' parts.
in
I
what
of architecture.
series of columns,
an entablature, or
horizontal
" ?
it."
of erecting vertical points of support,
and upon
sig-
But
Well, in former times architects naturally had the
to the other,
not
There
it.
you probably ask
mind implies a
carrying
not
you
and
cousin,
on their
and of placing from one
tops, traversing pieces of
this they established a roof.
idea
wood
or stone
;
This formed a shelter,
THEORETICAL STUDIES. open below,
was
— what
we
In
isolated
this
the observation
by
supports
little
of the
a
cases
the
it
were
the entablature,
built
certain
exterior
to
deli-
be given to these verti-
and that which they supported, namely,
whence laws were deduced
;
for,
The Greeks thus formed
result
of experience.
— the
Ionian, the Doric, and the Corinthian,
remark is
well,
only the
three orders,
— each
harmonious system of proportions and
its
por-
Grecian
caused relative,
effect,
the 'example always precedes the rule, and the rule
possessed
'
genius of the architects, study,
and harmonious proportions
cal points of support
space called a
free
instance, were
for
way,
Little
temples.
cate,
many
behind these vertical points of support, leaving between
them and the tico.'
as in
shut these covered spaces, walls
also necessary to
built
But
call a halL
l8l
of its
which orna-
These systems are not so absolute among the
mentation.
Greeks but that they often encroach upon one another. " to
But the Romans, who were people of it
impose
'
order,'
and pretended
everywhere and in everything, in taking these
systems from the Greeks, wished to reduce them to a nearly This simplified matters, and the
absolute
formula.
liked
shut up matters of art in an administrative
When
to
limit.
antiquity was studied in the sixteenth century, they did
worse; for they assumed to the various
members
fix forever
the relations between
of each of these orders, and to leave a
Two
others were
Tuscan
and Com-
certain degree of latitude to the architects.
added
Romans
to
the
three
first
orders,
— the
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
82
These mummified orders have been applied no matter
posite.
where or how, decorate
as
a
to a wall
hung
to
have often been more absorbed in
Architects
it.
of tapestry is
piece
placing an order on a facade, than in disposing the building
behind
elevated is
because
its
in
order has no relation with what
portico
on the
situated
any one promenading on
majestic at all hazards. these serious for
colonnade
reason
to
obscure the windows opening in see
The
conveniently.
made most contrary
Louvre
immense
it
follies,
its
length
the
this
respect,
covers,
and the
only serves to
floor
first
its
it
of
nor do you ever
;
But they must be
area.
AW- have not entirely recovered from
and you may
still
see these orders placed,
no imaginable reason, in front of buildings which could
easily dispense with this parasite decoration, intended to prove
the public that there exist orders, and
to
them "
architects to
put
in proportion according to the formula.
But you
later.
I
will
think
it
study these a bad
way
parts of to
teach
architecture art,- to
orators
who
;
and
this
is
what
is
little
throw flowing
language into the lesson, before being able to
thought clearly
a
express
the
done by authors and
take hifalutin for healthy rhetoric
;
and architects
who, before thinking of fully satisfying the demands of the construction, or of studying the needs of -their day,
selves with reproducing forms
the origins, reasons, and true
meaning of which they have not understood. let
amuse them-
us stick to our immediate subject.
For the moment,
AVe are building a
THEORETICAL STUDIES. house, not a temple or a basilica
This task "
We
is
we must study
83
all its parts.
for us.
enough
have leisure
;
1
to
study well the details of our building,
weather has forced us to shut up our work-yard.
as the cold
my
Construction,
friend,
constructor leaves nothing
and knows how
to give
and
relation to the whole,
the
is
to
of foresight.
art
The good
chance, postpones no solution,
each function
its
place, its
value in
We
opportune moment.
this at the
have drawn the plans of the different
floors,
and given the
necessary details to the construction of the lower parts of the
house
;
now we must combine
with the whole.
We
the details of the elevations
will first establish the exact profile
of
the front walls, with the height of the floorings, the levels of
the grapplings, and the shafts of the roof."
The
cousin,
who
had, as
may
be supposed, conceived,
if
not
traced, beforehand, all the parts of the construction, soon ex-
hibited this profile to Paul,
Pie once "
"
How
can
a
detail
of
I
;
indicate,
on
paper.
without hesitation, the arrange-
have thought about
it,
" ?
and have represented
making you
trace, the
If they are not on the paper, they are in
and when
intelligible to
how quickly
to this.
these parts to myself, in tracing, or
head
to see
construction
these parts of the building
all
Because
you
general outlines.
my
trace
more alluded
ments of
all
could
teacher
his
who marvelled
those
it
who
becomes necessary are
to
render them
charged with the execution, I
1
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
84
have only to
by
Look
heart.
examine
"write
all
it
down, so
to
at this profile
together
you
;
speak,
what
and these few
I
know
already
details (Fig. 42)
will soon perceive that
;
you have
already seen all that this sheet of paper contains, and that
with a
You
attention
little
you might arrange these diverse
see figured the thickness of the ground-floor wall with its
dotted axis
A
the height of the allaying
;
and
the disposition of the frame of the
window;
height and thickness of the
The
to
parts.
be fixed
;
it
flooring.
its
its
support
lintel;
string-course
B was
should have the same thickness as the flooring.
Then, reducing the front walls to 50 centimetres on the floor,
we
The height
ground has already been
of the first floor from ground
fixed.
The member D, below the
cornice, has the thickness of the second flooring; to place for the
of
the
first
place an 'offset-course' at C; the allaying like that
of the ground-floor. to
;
the
the stone coping above to receive
window
of this
ground-floor,
first
centimetres, as this wall
is
is
splaying
10 centimetres
Its lintel is the same, as well as the frames
the cloth blinds
As we have
;
gutter.
story, it is constructed
the
only
the
less
remains
it
like that
deep by
10
less in thickness.
which are
to receive
and the grapplings pass under these
gables, the cornices cannot
As
turn,
lintels.
and must stop
against a projection E, which, in rising above the roofing, enables us to place the coping F, fillet
to
which will have a projecting
cover the meeting; of the slating with this
trace then at
G
enable.
I
the angle of the building with this projection
Fig. 42.
— SECTION AND DETAILS OF FRONT WALL. — Page
184.
THEORETICAL STUDIES. E, and the dressing of which
we have
that the joists will have too
much span
the
place
/
corbels
at
As
spoken.
I perceive
at certain points,
K
the
of the
string-course
first
with the projections flanking the axis of the wall, the course
L
then at
above,
I
them, and the
receive
to
85
span of these beams.
to relieve the
"I have traced
H
beams
intermediate
1
cornice
the
story offset-
and crowning coping.
You
will observe that this coping gives an inclination towards
the
exterior,
under the gutter, so that
if
a leakage
happens
the water will run outside and will not penetrate the masonry.
This coping carries a larmier so that the rain will,
may
a,
as well as
upon, the
story will rest
for
M.
surface
I
you what the carpentry work ought
to
sketches,
"
lighting will to
and make designs from them on a
metres per metre, so that they
Meanwhile
am
I
make
spective of the bay-windows, or
"The this
is
English,
sort
dows,'
We
shall see
in
their
of projecting
Take these
be.
scale of 5 centi-
for
you a sketch
a sketch, in
this
in per-
alcoves of the billiard and
how you
them
to establish
will acquit yourself of
country-houses,
'cages.'
and often construct
attic
indicate
later
dining rooms, by aid of which you will be able these details.
the
serve for the execution.
may
going to
profiles
the execution, for the
of
The dormer-windows
string-course,
These
not drip along the walls.
besides, be traced of the size
stone-cutter.
the
call
They in
usually
employ
them 'bay-winSee,
here
window
of a
corbelling.
memorandum-book,
it.
of the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
86
1
house at Lincoln, built in the sixteenth century This projecting lodge, carried on a bracket, a
terminated by
is
which forms a balcony on the
terrace
little
Observe, in passing,
how
well planned
(Fig. 43).
first
story.
construction
this
is.
That part of England possesses stone, but this material
common
less
than
dear material for the erect in brick,
The too
rest
much
and
of the
The builder has only used
brick.
bay-window, which
for the
jambs and
of a projection to
could
lintels of the
the
scarcely
windows.
But we give
erected in brick.
is
building
lie
is
to carry
your bay-windows
them
in corbelling." "
"
What do you mean by It
is
in
construction
a
'
in corbelling projection,
"
'
?
without foundation,
The
but sustained by corbels; whence the word 'corbelling.'
weight of the masonry reposing on the lower end, the part resting on the
jecting
enables us to
corbels,
part a construction which, being less
posing on their pendant, a seesaw. of the
You must
lever, that
corbels with
the
is,
is
still
the
corbels, the
on their prothan that re-
thus maintained without fear of calculate
the length
of the
relation
of the
projection
arm
of the
weight which sustains their pendant and
The mbre
that which reposes on their head.
acts
establish
projecting the
more the weight placed on their exterior extremity
upon that which maintains the
very slight weight placed at the projecting corbel might
make
lever; so
much
so that a
extremity of a very
much
a heavy construction, put at the
Fig. 43.
—A
BAY-WINDOW.
— Page
186.
THEORETICAL STUDIES.
1
87 â&#x20AC;˘
end,
seesaw.
ings
a
over,'
that
The
that in
courses
who designed
architect
He made what
is,
au
inverted
corbelling, or, if
by means of three
pyramid,
you
will, in
projection one over
about 24
form he erected his opening, which
is
The pendant being held
construction
out in
by the weight
seesawing.
On
the
in
of the
This kind
of
the
latter,
balconies
this plat-
in thickness.
c.
the
of
wall,
openwork, with-
was much
affected
Middle Ages, since they afforded room in the upper
the
without encroaching on the public road, and because
stories
they
the win-
called a pendant, or
is
the other, so as to obtain a part of a polygon.
'supports,
gather-
the extreme
carries
have just shown you did not pay attention to
I
these combinations. bracket,
which
system of apparatus
weights on the walls.
dow
'
have often been replaced by
Corbels
gave
side
views.
If
the
rules
ways do not permit these projections forbids
their being
in
relating
our
cities,
for building them.
In our
constructions in corbelling have no object, and
public nothing-
But there
employed in country-houses.
must be a good reason
to
case, these
would
it
cost
us less to carry our bay-windows to the ground."
An
hour
resented
window tion.
of
in
later the cousin
Fig.
44,
handed
giving
the
of the billiard-room, that he
to
Paul the sketch rep-
disposition
of
might study
its
the
bay-
construc-
This task required a good deal of attention on the part
our inspector of works, and he
successful result until he
mation of his cousin.
could
not
firing
had asked much advice and
it
to
a
infor-
J
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
88
CHAPTEK XIX CONTINUATION OF THEORETICAL STUDIES.
/v-N^rf'.JIK weather became more and more unfavorable
to
i
^1^1 '»Ajr
'{
were concealed under
earth, covered
days to
passed
The constructions begun
resumption of work.
a
•
in
in
its
turn
by
a
thick
a
-
1
1
of rubbish
The
heavy mantle of snow. to
and
he given
Papa Branchu and the carpenter, when the weather should
theoretical
questions
building,
after
For Paul
this
distraction in
all
in
those
the
were
news
During the long evenings
again
discussed
of the
But
day had
been
disposed
of.
tin-
midst of the thoughts which weighed upon
means of
instruction,
melancholy times.
Paul
and
for the
had seen
family a
his
cousin
profiles, or sections
and
as
he himself had designs
had not stopped
to
question his instructor.
evening he asked how these
"You want
of
a
out, he
in the
art
was
of the size of the execution:
copy
the
concerning
draw, during the day, a certain number of
"
«
studying the details which were
permit work to be begun
to
»«
pipfiles
were drawn.
receipts for everything, Paul," replied the cousin.
But there are no receipts
for
drawing
profiles,
any more
than there are for the other parts of the construction.
The
THEORETICAL STUDIES. destination, the nature of the materials, the
them
to
the
use,
effect
To these add good
conditions.
and you will be able
draw
to
The destination
fulfil a
A
:
certain object
if
;
manner
of putting
various
obtained, all impose
and study,
sense, observation,
Let us resume,
profiles.
89
if
you
one by. one.
please, these conditions, "
be
to
1
us
profile, let
suppose,
you draw a cornice,
it
made
is
to
is
to
crown
a wall, carry a gutter, or the forward part of a roof, to divert
the
rain
from
Then you must make the
wall.
this
this
sufficiently projecting to accomplish
of 'the materials are
:
It is
these
two
friable,
different
you cannot give the same
profile
means,
primitive
to
heavy weiguts
means
for
avoid
profiles
the
which
also
we have do
not
tolerably great
latter
object,
which require
you can adopt such.
in
pieces,
large
The method
kinds of materials.
If
profile.
you possess stones which
if
stones
placing these stones should
form of the
The nature
object.
or
resisting, tenacious, furnished
which are thin and to
clear that
cornice
in
have an to
:
the
of
heights, or if
the
on the
them by simple,
raise
allow
large
The uses
influence
of
first
blocks
case,
You must
;
in
raising
of
you possess you the
must second,
necessarily take
account of the usages of the locality where you build, since these of
the
result,
most frequently, from a judicious observation
conditions
imposed by the climate, the needs, the
method of work, and even the nature
of the materials.
I
mean, by usages, not certain imported methods which are a
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
190
matter of fashion, and are not a consequence of the conditions
I
speak
by long and prudent observation.
said,
just
but those which are furnished, as
of,
be obtained: The capable architect
drawing of a
He
should
ridiculous
it
to
difficult "
absurd
is
You
to the
be
see,
art
to
make
which
own
of our
delicate
in
kind
if
a
drawing It
you
little
of
profiles
indulge
this, as first
is
"The Athenians, who
profiles,
profiles,
to
is
only
resisting,
stones
large
cut.
the receipt
to
large
stones, or those of a
of building,
were able
obtain
to
pretend
bank
low
possess ii-
to
the
and of the materials.
the scale of the construction
to
to
by the aid of the
able,
subordinate
always
have
effect
give a robust or delicate aspect
profile, to
construction.
is
The
I
built in
to
everything that relates
in
reason.
monuments
delicacy
in
white marble,
in
the
tracing
of
their
could not be applied to the gross limestones
And when
country.
the Greeks
built edifices
with stones of a porous nature, with large grains, they were careful
to
cover the
edges with
a
very
fine
which
coating,
enabled them to conceal the grossness of the material. while
they could adopt
this
method
in
a
soft
But
climate,
it
could not be done with us, where the thermometer descends,
on an average, during the two winter months, to four degrees
below
zero,
and where some days,
The coatings would have "
Our
architects
in
to be
as
now,
it
renewed every
the Middle Ages,
who
reaches
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
15°.
spring.
did
not follow
THEORETICAL STUDIES. what was
called the classical methods,
and Athens
which are now professed
who
in our School of Fine Arts, and
191
Eome
did not go to
to study the art of building as suitable to France,
sought to draw profiles in harmony with our materials and mate, as seems reasonable
first,
found and practised this
well, they
I will furnish
sort of profile drawing.
"At
;
as they did
not
make
cli-
you with a proof of
it.
rough-coatings, as I have
told you, but placed stones all cut, without having to retouch
them when once
in position,
they were obliged, necessarily, If these were
to trace each profile in the height of a course.
high,
their
might be large
profiles
;
if
their
low,
profiles
were small. "
Let
us
for
take,
instance,-
stone which indicates a flooring
intermediate rest in the
a is
A
string-course.
layer
called a string-course It is not
height of a wall.
of
an
;
without
good reason that a course which makes a projection outside is
placed at the level of a flooring:
to give
more strength
ceives the mortises '
flushed
new
'
to this
But
story.
so that (Fig.
it
45)
necessities
it
it
same
level, to regulate it for
must not
architects,
good re-
it
must be
ascending to a
and
arrest the rain-water,
penetration of moisture in
must be
is
where
secondly, because the construction
the walls
;
on
so profiled as to divert this humidity,
shall not rot the wood.
how
because
to the wall at this point,
this course
thus provoke the the contrary,
;
first,
Here, then, you see at
who thought more
A
of satisfying the
of the construction than of borrowing forms from
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
192
edifices
having no relations with the conditions imposed by oui
climate and our kind of structure,
Fig.
course.
degrees.
usually profiled
a
string-
45.
%Thev traced the line ah according to an angle of 60
From
the point
c
they carried down, on
this line ah,
THEORETICAL STUDIES. a perpendicular
Taking from
The angle a
c b.
;
was, then, a right angle.
b c
they hollowed out the moulding
on the inclined surface a
so that the rain-water, falling
not stop, followed the inclination b d, and
ground, since
cf was
the facing of the wall
protected.
in question (see B) they established a
first
b,
did
from d to the
fell
hollow.
Thus
If a cornice
were
not remount in the
could
it
93
a length more or less extended, according
b to d,
to the resistance of the stone, e
1
course
g,
intended to
then they placed, as support the projection of the coping h; a second at
If
i.
course, this this coping
they took care horizontal
coping
were
cut
to
taking care to put a hollow
h,
to receive a
an inclination from j to
layer at the right of
these
and
I,
i,
and
leaving the
the joinings, as
shown you
gutter, then,
was
any water escaped by the
if
infiltrations, finding the
reached the hollow
k,
The
in the tracing in perspective C.
on these reserves
metal or stone gutter,
fell
inclination
to the
hj,
carried
joinings,
followed
it,
ground without penetrat-
the thickness of the wall.
ing;
According as the stone used was hard or tender, the mould-
were more or
ings in
this
medium
case
that
less
the
hardness, while,
solid or soft. profile has if
might sharpen
the
then
more decided
obtain
brilliant
a
lights.
profile
But the
as
I
let
us suppose
been cut in a
stone
this
Thus,
is
in
deeper
D.
You
will
shadows, more
inclination of the sun's rays
always be considered in tracing exterior
of
very resisting, you
indicate
effect,
stone
profiles.
must
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
194
If,
for instance,
evident that, the
you trace a sun's
such as that at E,
profile
rays following the direction
your mouldings will remain in the shade and no
But
effect.
more
a
as soon
inclined
receiv equal threads of
/.'
the
all
S,
and the
light,
OP,
will
profile
n m, which
projections
descending, you
shadows and for
is
it
will give a suc-
servations,
to
when
F; the
will
meet the
be luminous, and this
direction
always have the contrasts between
will
]
lights.
you
will
will
mouldings
same direction o'p,
the
following
rays,
ain
observe
now
and
giving you
derive
have occasion
you
all
produce
cession of shades and lights conformable to the figure sun's
is
sun descends so as to follow
as the
direction
it
profit
to
views;
general
from
the
your
ob-
monumental
study
structures. It
also
is
profiles to the nature
of the materials used.
profiles
which are proper
matter
like
plaster,
So,
also,
them
in
you give
tine
profiles
accordance with the
a
stone, to
to
cements,
materials only permit a it'
subordinate
very important to
and
and to
fact
that
put in use in
wood lends
relatively thin
You
cannot give
or
drawn-out
These
coating
projecting moulding.
woodwork, you must trace
ligneous
and tenacious quality
of "wood, avoiding too large surfaces; nor of the
drawing of
cast
mortar.
little
the
itself
to
pieces,
must you
lose sight
delicate work,
and
is
requires, for
only being
conveniently worked, the use of narrow tools, such as scissors, planes,
and
jointers,
which run according
to the
grain,
and
THEORETICAL STUDIES.
195
cannot be used for surfaces, and wide extents.
produced agree
you impose a
if
for,
;
common -sense and
in accord with
is
economy
profile tracing
In
all this,
the good effect
which does not
with the material used, you provoke the employment
of unaccustomed, difficult, and
therefore
and your work appears labored and
who think they
architects
expensive methods,
far-fetched.
by thus adopting
astonish
will
There are
methods not in accordance with the materials which they put into the work
they build in bricks, strain to
if
who,
appearance of a stone structure to their building
the
give
;
who pretend with coatings
who
;
seem, in
account of these
them,
if
unhappy methods,
you wish
to be
who engage
of those
employment
of
has
choly results to which to
make
the
employment
are subjects on
is
;
its
always to avoid
as
False taste, with most often an obstacle to the for
unhappily, with us,
artists into
leads
it
to
;
so
this false path,
much
whom you
what
of the
is
Take
quality.
so,
that
it
and
melan-
acquired a passion for the
those for
and proceed according for
methods
have forced
therefore the public
so
architect.
in building,
sensible
classical studies
difficult
an
forms
short, to labor to give
each material used, not appropriate to
to
;
marble with carpentry, or carpentry
imitate
to
is
often
build listen to reason,
enjoined by a wise regard
materials.
Never mind
which an architect who respects
;
his art
there
ought
never to yield." "
It
is,
indeed,"
said
M. de Gandelau,
"
a strange mania
THE STORY OF
196
with certain people
who
ridiculous fantasies
on
build, to
their
assume
architects
impose the most
to
nor
;
does
rOrme complained
Philibert de
from to-day, as
A HOUSE.
date
this
of
as
it
far
back as his time." â&#x20AC;˘
Philibert de 1'Orme," said
who
tect
"Yes,
"
the Tuileries
built in
book
his
part, at
in
your library
said
do well
he
to
'.
his
meditate
i"
without
flippantly,
ami the
which
and you
for
it
M. de Gandelau
you."
"
son,
I
its
pages.
for
those
give
to
it
Here
is
faults result
some of these
therefrom.' library,
it'
It
shall
you
cl
the title of the
build
of learned
archi-
be
the thai
better calculated I
beginnii
profession; to
inspire
cannot speak
do not understand the art; but by reading
pages, I have at least spared myself the expen-
sive
experiment of some proprietors,
own
buildings."
'â&#x20AC;˘
you
to
wise sentiments, and respect for the calling. 1
and
which they commit, and the inconven-
could uot read a work
professionally, as
y< u.
who undertake
the advice and counsel
your architectural
oi
riot
venerable folia
a
preface: 'Singular advice
iencea
"Have you
"
Htiv,"
tects:
think, the archi-
I
the cousin,
said
Least,"
Boon returned with
will
"was,
'.
have, and will go and get
I
"
Paul, "
Philibert's sincerity
was not very
to
wish
profitable
to
to
erect
their
him," said
the cousin. "
Perhaps not
;
but he
left
a book which makes him
esti-
THEORETICAL STUDIES. mable as a man, independently of three
centuries
after
its
1
his merits as
publication
for
;
it
is
an
architect,
dated 1576.
This advantage compensates for some drawbacks during
life
;
truth, until they
not liked for speaking the
people are
for
97
are no longer here to receive the price of their sincerity from
public opinion."
then we must not be surprised that few dare to
"Hum; announce still
these
and that
truths,
living, prefer
the
since
architects,
they are
calm and well-being which complai-
sance toward their employers procure for them, though there
may
be late regrets and useless expenditures, to this posthu-
mous "
glory."
Come, come," said M. de Gandelau,
tljese architects,
know
"
you
know
that
will
you
Then your judgment a
lute one
this,
talked
of
three
centuries
are esteemed now."
little
while ago was not an abso-
surely
;
the is
a
way
of putting
manner
things
of telling
the
much
is
truth.
in
You
all
will
however, that you have lost more than one contract
from having been too sincere at the beginning "
I
?
and there
agree,
be
;
"
" ISTo,
you are not one of
and yet you have an excellent business
not whether
hence, but I
"
ISTo
doubt
;
it
is
even probable
that, if
I
" ?
had not been
served by certain favorable circumstances which put
me
in
relation with clients used to a large scale of operations, with
men
of
minds too elevated and serious
to
occupy themselves
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
198
with
the details of our
Iu general, you are structions
erected,
right,
their
profession,
they
seek
(and
influence to all
in
"Women
the
apply to
women
this
complacent
attack
us
is
household
but
and
who
mediocrities,
familiar
What
to
a
lend
themselves
shortly afterwards."
it
Madame
said
de
Gandelau.
understand architecture, nor do
good
arrangement of the
inte-
they have the direction of
very natural, as affairs,
to do.
have an unfortunate
often
unjustly/'
do not presume
which
architects
but independent in character.
they ask for anything riors;
to
their fancies, to repent of
"You
little
and most persons who have con-
hesitate
with
should have had
I
art,
more than any one from
suffer
inconvenient or had arrangements in house-.'"
"Agreed; but on the one hand the housewives ask distributions for
cated and
convenience, which
their
demand
special
are
often
arrangements; and, on
for
compli-
the
other,
the masters wish exteriors which betray such a style, or such
an aspect; so that ate these
unhappy the
it
is
difficult,
many
not impossible, to concili-
two exigencies, which are often antagonistic architect, desiring to please everybody, to
contradictory demands,
work
if
obtains nothing good;
finished, each in his turn
times I have been called
harmonize and,
throws a stone at him.
upon
to repair the
The
the
How
blunders
which were the consequences of these disagreements and unlucky complaisances of the architect!
how
sorry they were
I
have then been told
not to have engaged
me
to direct the
THEORETICAL STUDIES. work
was a
It
!
trifle
and
late,
this
1
99
example did not serve
others." " "
What
If the matter is as
seems
me
to
"
done
be
to
is
you
say,
0, that
is
in
remote
a chance too
learn
how
"
Well Well,
"
which
besides, a career
career
at
A
all.
man
" ?
it
is
necessary to
learn, to acquire
When
the rising generation.
who have
favored
works â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
without counting on such very
to get along
reason, the habit of observing
those
no
is
and unless
;
Then, the elect are but few in number."
precarious aid. "
!
Gandelau.
Paul a career which
government
depends on the government
must
offer
you
de
nothing better than a blind alley
he receives an engagement "
Madame
asked
?
by
fortune,
know
everywhere, and
a
above
all
the people of the world,
and who
erected,
buildings
knowledge and in
when
therefore,
are,
more than they do now,
little
they will perceive that everything remains to be learned in
no matter what branch of knowledge, and that the best way repair to
to
is
and
to
to a
advice
manner
the
body
way "
let
surgeon
who
is
of performing to
give
which he ought
It is not quite the
"Almost;
men
in dealing with special matters,
No
them deal with them.
interfere in
special
only,
his to
one ventures to give
tending a wounded man, as to
an operation. opinion to
Why
does
every-
an architect, on the
manage a construction
" ?
same thing."
madame,
as it
is
a matter of
life,
no one
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
200
breathes
a word
concerns expiration
the of
the
to
purse,
the
surgeon; but, as
and
work,
sometimes every
one
the
has
architecture health, his
say
only
at
the
to
the
architect."
"Well, we have wandered de Gandelau,
rising.
far
from the
profiles," said
M.
20 1
A HIATUS.
CHAPTEE XX. A HIATUS.
FEW
of days after this conversation, a large body
troops crossed that part of the country.
mans were manoeuvring on both banks
A
and menaced Tours. at
He was
M. de Gandelau's.
The
up
of the Loire, his quarters
an acquaintance of the cousin.
was becoming very impatient of the
latter
which
general came to take
inactivity to
had been reduced since the war had taken
lie
The Ger-
so serious
a turn.
He had
a long talk with the general in the evening, and the
next morning he declared to M. de Gandelau that he should leave with the troops
who were
passing to the seat of war
able officers were wanting, and that in the exigency fulfil
an
proved
officer's
liis
duty
decision;
he thought
it
his
;
retain
and
that,
might
under circumstances so grave,
duty not to hesitate to
go, since
he might
M. de Gandelau did not
try
him, being too well aware of the motives which
decided his guest.
"What
that
that his friend the general highly ap-
render some service to France. to
lie
;
shall
we do with Paul?" he
asked.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
202
"
"
Have you
"
a Latin edition of Yitruvius in your library
?
Yes."
""Well, confide
how
in a hour
to
to
it
work
from forgetting what in the studies
"An
before going, explain to Paul
1 will,
treatise: this will prevenl
at this
him
Latin he knows, and he will profit by
it
which we have begun."
excellent idea."
"You
will
hand
his
Paul
require
to
give
you, twice
a
week, the
of a chapter, with explanatory designs;
translation
keep
me;
in
and occupy
his
mind.
1
don't supjHi.se his
Perrault's; but no matter,
translation will eclipse
wholly lose
his
As soon
time.
as
I
can
this will
he will not
you
return,
will
see me."
Paul
own
was much grieved
him
inability to follow
his cousin's departure,
at
;
and
his
he would have preferred to con-
tinue his studies on the art of building by a course of military
engineering on the -round; but this would have been annoy ing to the cousin, and
Madame
de Gandelau would have died
Paul was provided with Yitruvius, and the work
of anxiety.
prescribed was explained to him.
Two
hours
after,
the
cousin,
armed with
a
small
valise,
took up his march with his friend the general, whose troops
were
proceeding
towards
were made on both It
may
assumed
a
readily
lie
Chateauroux.
Promises to write
sides.
imagined that M. de Gandelau's house
very gloomy aspect after this sudden
departure.
A HIATUS. master had, from the beginning of the war, equipped and
Its
and work-people.
sent off all the healthy servants or three old domestics,
children of most of
and several women, the husbands or
whom
were in the army, remained at the
M. and Madame de Gandelau no longer inhabited
chateau.
drawing-room, where
the
Only two
had
beds
been disposed for
the
wounded, in case any such came.
When It
yard.
cousin had gone, Paul went to visit the work-
the
was deserted;
the
the freestone, and the sparse a certain
The
carpentry.
the
stone-work,
walls raised to
by the rubbish, surmounted by
height, protected
sheet of snow, their faces
snow covered
a
browned by contrast with the white
shroud which surrounded them, some pieces of wood blackened
by moisture, gave
to the outlines of the construction the ap-
pearance of the debris of a
Though Paul, the
thoughts,
his
repress
month
him
tears.
He
imagined
The soul of
It
easily accessible to this
this
solitude,
he had suffered
;
grief, it
the
seemed
first
to
was a
it.
to sad
reflections.
unlooked-for hardship, which
him
that all was over, and that
there was no longer any hope or possible happiness for in the world.
All
a stone, and with his
between his hands, gave himself up first
not
which represented
the joy of the family, had just quitted
was the
it
in their work.
this future house,
down upon
gloomy
could
work-yard as
men engaged
with
Despite the cold, he sat face
was not
poor boy, on seeing
before, all alive
were gone. for
at his age,
fire.
him
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
204
A
his head,
was
saw
lie
Perhaps at
yourself,
they
have
(inly is
much
always time
to
a
trifle,
since our friend has
conic hack-
and
in.. re;
us
left
to
show him
that
serious
grief,
in which
that
he
will
scrupulously presence
is
we he
way,
it
for?
is
work, alone, II.
â&#x20AC;˘
will
him then
t.>
1..-
certainly
the results
touched
by your
earnestly sympathize with you; he assured
more
still
followed not
to
this
you are worthy of the affection he
would
lie
labor,
hereafter.
and esteem him more
love
has evinced for you. in giving over of
them
sacred duty.
a
fulfil
t.<
perhaps you
tears;
Return bravely
have learned
v.. u
our anxieties ami
But what
grief.
We
there
grief
saw you coming
I
despair.
least
at
an-
occasion to Bhed
and followed you, foreseeing your Nothing, or
"
reserved for us?
is
Keep your
anguish?
have too
movement
first
Think what
What
France!
in
raising
;
father's arms.
knows what begun.
hardly
moment
this
There
His
atari
boy," said M. de Gandelau.
my win.
iri.il;
troubles beside that will
made him
shoulder,
his father behind him.
times of
in
live
his
throw himself, sobbing, into his
to
"Come, calm
is
on
hand, placed
the
his
sole
touched
parting
to
see
that
instructions,
you have
and that
his
motive which impels you to love
your task." Father and son returned to the house. advice, to if
M. de Gandelau's
and the care with which he led Paul to look forward
brighter
days, had
not gayety, at least
little
by
little
calmness, and
restored
the
to
the latter,
desire to do well.
A HIATUS.
M. de Gandelau above
205
dis-
the vague and fruitless melan-
couraged, and would acquire
which youth sometimes loves
choly with
would be
feared that his son
all
nourish
to
itself,
and which enervates the best endowed minds.
He went
then to Paul's room, and taking up Yitruvius,
M. de Gandelau was
to look it over.
began
he never made a parade of which he reserved
he could read
architect
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the
ac
:
De
"'Of
"
here
generibus structure
How
locis.'
explain
earum
et
word tions
it
is
it
;
only treats
of
masonry to
properties
of
Of the
' :
Chapter
qualitatibus, inodis
title
?
"
replied Paul.
the to
A
author,
refer
in
only to
using the construc-
better translation, perhaps,
different
kinds
of
masonry, the
such structures, by reason of their uses and Well, go on and translate this eighth
circumstances.' I
;
me
of brick or stone. this
chapter.
is
but in looking over this chapter I see
seems
structura,'
would be
local
it
"
do you translate this
'
made
;
kinds of constructions and their qualities, with
the
Yes, that
that
an
which must be
a chapter
is
reference to their uses and localities,' "
gift
classical
everything as
and will teach you a great deal
interesting,
YIII.
not
if
was a
it
;
text of Yitruvius.
he to Paul,
See," said
'
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
knowledge
Familiar with the
himself.
to
authors,
"
his
well-read, though
see
masonries, the that condition.
the author describes
that
use
of
Come
the
natures
which he recommends under !
Have good
courage,
this
of or
and imagine
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
206
that
your
cousin
is
here
all
to
ready
correct
mis-
your
takes."
Paul set to work, and tried to illustrate each of the descriptions of Vitruvius
much
trouble
and the dictionary aided him hut discover
their
exact
He
absorbed him.
to
unfamiliar to him,
when he wished
Yet. little by
meaning. tried
little
recall
little,
cousin's
studied
instructions
and.
:
to
work
the
the buildings he had seen.
so that he might understand the author; he recollected
of his
him
course this gave
the words were
of
many
;
Of
by sketches.
Bomehow
or
other,
some as
he
and translated, he put very tolerably drawn sketches
on paper, though
they were
not always the true expression
of the author's description.
During the
January, he succeeded
which
of
latter part in
his father selected,
made him eager
to
know
December and the
translating a dozen of the chapters
and
in
illustrating the text
This
monuments
of the
the contemporary
author, and he examined with great interest of Piranesi, representing the antiquities of father
down to
his
possessed.
The days
to
some engravings
Home, which
M. de Gandelau had advised Paul
the questions which the
mind,
early part of
his
to write
study of Vitruvius suggested
submit to his cousin when he came back.
thus passed quickly away
;
and though sadness
and anxiety darkened the hours, M. de Gandelau em] Joyed himself ceaselessly with organizing the
defence
assuaging against
misery out of doors, and
the
invaders,
Paul worked
a hiatus bravely and saw
note-book
his
207
up,
filling
and Madame de
Gandelau organized a sewing-circle with the village women, for
came, the members of the family joy inspired by duties
A to
When
our poor soldiers deprived of everything.
few days
say,
joy,
after,
still
evening
assembled with the secret
fulfilled.
the cousin returned, and,
is
needless
Paul was wild with
was welcomed with open arms.
and they at once began
it
to talk of
resuming the works.
Marie's last letters announced that she should return towards
the end of the following winter.
These
letters, full
of anxious
thoughts, of anguish experienced far
away from France, made
no allusion
then,
to the future house.
the surprise would be complete. the rest necessary to translation,
out;
and
If,
it
could be finished,
While the cousin was taking
him, he read over and corrected Paul's
rectified his sketches.
and thus arrived the
first
The whole was copied
days of March, when
it
decided that the work-yard should be once more opened.
was
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
208
CHAPTER
THE CAEPENTBY WORK.
RESUMPTION OF BUILDING.
m
iV^y-V
weather was
-
^'A- w, "'k
r^l^jt J
-
J>
towards the middle of March:
was resumed, and
the
â&#x20AC;˘
fine
the
carpenter
\
completion of the floorings and
habit
make himself of asking
for
by
became necessary
it
details
Paul
roofs.
understood the sketches drawn be able to
XXI.
now more
his cousin,
and
He had adopted
useful.
when
explanations
at
6rst
the
for
requisite
to
readily
began the
to
excel-
sight
he
thought he could not faithfully interpret a Bummary tracing; nor was
His
tin-
cousin chary of his explanations and comments.
was
patience
plexed, and could
before setting
him
not
not
a
good
solve a difficult
right, let
"Reflect," he said; is
"Whenever Paul was per-
inexhaustible
him
"you
one, I will
question, the cousin,
try for a while to unravel
will always find
come
to
yourself must find out something.
a solution
You can
problem
yourself.
It
nary exercise, and prepares the
is
it
is
only thoroughly
experienced, after you
have turned the subject over, and made several the
if
your assistance; but you
comprehend the solution of one who
solve
;
it.
efforts
to
a very necessary prelimi-
mind
to
understand.
Make
THE CARPENTRY WORK. section
a general
of the
principal
building, on the billiard-
room and your brother-in-law's study, which
section,
and
You have
roofs.
combine
to
I
the all
it,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; that
walls,
a transversal
is,
chimneys,
floorings,
the needful elements.
take account of
not look at
will
will correct
I
nearly
all this, so as to
the building.
Then
indicate
will
209
it
you have
till
Try
the parts of
all
finished.
and the corrections will be of use
to
you."
Availing himself of the details already traced, Paul drew,
without
not
the transversal section
difficulty,
pentry work of the roofs
seemed
composition did
know how
not
billiard-room in the roofs
close
parts.
and complicated the wide
However hard he
"
;
I
and he told
am
satisfied
very glad," replied
you had not made a place,
the joining together of all
he
tried,
lie
the
could
"
a bad sign, for
it
lacks simplicity.
Have you made account
Why
that
it
Your
serious effort.
according to the profile which
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
not clearly
He was
cousin,
not satis-
so
!
are
walls are quite
not
adopted.
in
But
All that cannot re-
many
of their utility
you
would prove that
we have
the carpentry and the dormer-windows
main,
the
his cousin so, plainly.
That would
!
He
Then he had much
caused him serious trouble.
mind
him.
to
its
The dormer-windows
represent to himself the position of each. fied
car-
opening uniting
with the drawing-room.
difficulty in arranging in his
these
the-
was awkwardly designed, and
difficult
to
but
;
?
pieces of
We
wood
have walls
?
;
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
2IO
Why
us profit by them.
let
not
make use
of the wall which
separates the billiard-room from the study, to carry a part of
the carpentry work of the roof, inasmuch as
wall
this
re-
which must necessarily be carried
ceives the chimney-shafts,
You have
not thought of the chimneys
above the roof
?
was
you have them indicated on the plans of the
foolish, for
ground-floor, "
to carry
them
avoiding the difficulty
look at
The did
that
roof!
I
know
is
means
a
of
do not allow you to put a
was soon corrected
fail to
furnish
pleased Paul very pleted, with its
let
Come,
it.
it
much
us
were
to
receive.
;
his brother-
his
bedchamber
opening upon the drawing-room
charming
;
This
he thus saw the billiard-room com-
study, with its doors;
drawing
and the cousin
with the details which the rooms
was made ;
(Fig. 4G),
then, above,
and toilet-room, and the two rooms in the the
know
well enough that they
no way of solving
is
on which the section
in-law's
did not
I
all this together."
section
not
but
traced them, which
but you
;
must pass above the ;
"
up."
"Then you have not
difficulty aside
it
attic."
thought of them," rejoined Paul,
I
how
and
first story,
;
attic.
He
thought
he seemed already to be entering
the rooms, and enjoying his sister's surprise in looking about her.
He was
anxious to show these fine things to
de Gandelau at once "
;
Madame
but the cousin exhorted him to patience.
All this signifies nothing," said he,
"
it
is
only an image
;
__ *<-:r
Kg
44.
-THE BAY-WINDOW FOR THE
._
^ BILLIARD-ROOM.
- Page
.87.
Fig. 46
—SECTIONAL VIEW OF THE HOUSE. —
Page
211
THE CARPENTRY WORK. we must there
I
consider the wood-work and interior in detail, and
much
is
21
to
correct
and revise in making
this study.
Let us leave the interior for a while, and examine the carpentry work of the
roof.
Here
is
a plan of
it
(Fig.
47).
HA
B
Fio. 47.
A B are the gables which are to carry the bindings, or purlins. We have, at D, two channel walls which also form gables and receive purlins. But the spaces E C are too wide to receive purlins from E to C. Between them we The walls
reckon 6 m. 60
c.
;
but the purlins should not be more than 4
metres in extent, to avoid flexion.
mediate ribs at
windows
7".
G
II,
We
must then place
inter-
along the reveals of the middle dormer-
Thus the purlins from
A
to
G
will be only
4
metres in length, and we can relieve them by trusses on the sides
of the
extreme gables.
From
K
to
L we
shall have
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
212
branches of gutter-leads at the penetration us establish
the
ribs
G
II
floorings, of the attic story,
(Fig. 48).
must be
of-
The
3 metres.
the roofs.
height,
We
Let
between
will, then,
Fig. 4S.
place the two rafters
which
B
;
will
A
on two sleepers joined by a tie-beam
pass under the floor;
on these
rafters, a
tie-beam
then, to unite the rafters with the tie-beam, the braces C.
THE CARPENTRY WORK. At the extremity main
E
rafters
come upon
will
this tie-beam,
Under the second
purlins,
The
and will
seize
H, must be placed
The
the braces G, forming a turned-up tie-beam.
upon
D.
of this tie-beam will be the purlins
the king-post F.
will carry
213
ridge-tree
/
trusses.
These
from the other end on the gables.
Thus
king-post with
this
oblique
purlins
will
we can
place the laying on of the rafters which will receive
the
carry
scantling
"These
and
slating.
pieces (tie-beams, reverse tie-beams,
might pass across the longitudinal wall ney-shafts
;
D,
ties
it
wall,
and,
and tighten the carpentry
relieve
will suffice to place the ridge
M, united
at
which
L
with the two
relief-
extremities of a purlin N, which will
the
hold them from moving. 47),
this
For the middle of the structure, having the two walls
work.
C
will
rafters)
K, receiving the chim-
and the carpentry will prop up
reciprocally, the wall
main
"We will place the purlins a
will receive the ridges
b (Fig.
of the roofs in penetration.
These ridges will also be relieved by the
ties
The branches
B.
of the gutters S, repeated at
S',
The
everywhere well established, and
we the
raftering will thus shall only
have a
surface of the
much
be
little
will unite
wood
building, as
to
we
require
remains.
which are
a great deal
of
difficult to
wood.
The
To show you the method
0.
put to use, relatively to shall
as possible of the interior walls.
to avoid hips,
upon these ridges
avail
ourselves as
The gables enable us
establish
and cover, and
roofing of the of constructing
staircase it,
I will
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
214
give you a drawing in perspective.
This roofing
is
supported
on the walls which rise above the cornice of the structure,
but
You the
main structure
penetrates the roof of the
it
will observe, in
walls
of the
on the
place,
examining the drawing
staircase leave
hall.
an
X (Fig. 47).
at
39),
(Fig.
that
without a resting-
an<jle
"We must, therefore, carry the hip of the
For
roof on this vacant space.
we
this purpose,
will place a
dormer-truss on the two heads of the wall, which will receive the end of this rear hip V, indicated on Fig. 47.
ment may be seen on the drawing
in
perspective
which shows the square tower of the main
We
carpentry work.
B on
the walls
we
it
will
we must
which
fix
The
foot
As
for
drawn
at
G
and that
;
this dormer-truss
H
head of the king-post of the dormer-truss with
On
the angle's of the hips, at
brackets to place the ends
K
of the purlins,
will relieve the span of the rafters.
At L you ;
on the three angles
be united by the braces F.
the king-post of the roof D'.
ing
wall-plates
not be pushed out of place by this hip, the braces
will unite the
"
of the
will join the face of the king-post of the dor-
mer-truss, as I have
/,
C
its
the ends, united at the middle of the latter,
two king-posts
the rear hip G,
may
will place
49),
with
newels
two king-posts D, and the three hips E.
will raise
of the
then the ground-plates
;
On
of the newel.
we
;
(Fig.
staircase,
will raise the lop-sided
staircase to the level of the cornice
This arrange-
see the gable
which
to join the staircase roof-
is
and do not forget that you must
incrust, along the walls
Fig. 49.
-ROOF OF THE MAIN
STAIRCASE.
— Page
214.
THE CARPENTRY WORK.
215
against which the coverings in penetration are
M, which form
fillets
'
pads/ or
'
solins,'
traced, stone
above these coverings,
prevent the rain-water from passing between the slating
to
and the
These
wall.
'
'
are
pads
or mortar, on the covering itself;
most often made of plaster but the latter being subject
they are apt to become unstuck, and must be con-
to motion,
Being incrusted in the masonry above the
stantly repaired.
inclination of the covering,
they shelter the junction of the
slating or tiling with the walls
are not subject to be
;
and being independent, they
damaged by the motion
of the carpen-
try work.
"Please trace this carpentry work on a scale of two centimetres the
metre
them
will give
I
;
We
the wood-work
will indicate the sizes of the
Thus, the main rafters should be 20
pieces.
c.
X
the
same,
The
purlins
or
your drawings, and we
correct
the carpenter to establish
to
as soon as possible.
braces 8
will
18 c, the king-poles 18
shanks
the
20
c
X
c
20c X 20c,
X
c.
X
wood-
18c, the
18 c, the tie-beams
the
rafters
8c X 10c
20 c at the most, and without sap-wood
flaws." " "
"
What
are
They
are depressions, lack of material
the edges
'
flaws
'
?
when crooked wood
is
cut,
which appears on
and which thus leaves
the sap-wood visible, and even a concavity, on these edges, as I
show
you
in
A
allow flaws in the roofs
and
joists.
(Fig.
50).
wood which
You the
will
take
care
carpenter uses
not to for
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
2l6
"
In studying our
billiard-room,
two beams
the joists,
by reason
floorings.
You the
in
and
dining-room,
well to put
that
floorings, I see that, in the cases of the
drawing-room,
drawing
we
that
and partitions above these
reserved this question, and
42) and the
(Fig.
section (Fig. 40)
we
The
in
took the position of these beams for granted. these to
three
the
rooms, in
other,
of going from
place
'
'
will
do
shall
each of these rooms to receive
in
of the extent
recollect
we
one lateral wall on
wall-gables
carry
joists
beams.
these
A Fig. 50.
But
these
which
beams were at
is
least
each
therefore,
of
described
already
the
of
best to
unpleasant
the
you,
shall
Thus
a
bolt
beams
have
This will enable us to
like 'summers,'
faces, instead of
placing
51),
having two pieces
sheet-iron
the
strip
B
and
to
unite the
them above
A
of 15
c.
of 0.003 m. in
whole together at
and we will put the ends of the
Some
I
and so
;
not have a too great projection under the ceilings.
(Fig.
terpose will
these
on their
joists
we
of
pieces, as
and we will interpolate between
the two pieces a strip of sheet-iron.
make use
by bending,
AVe will make,
eye.
them with two sawed to
and
oak,'
intervals, joists
E
X
we
30 c,
We
thickness. as
shown
in
the
iron plat bands shall be nailed to unite these
in-
at
D,
holes
C.
ends to
THE CARPENTRY WORK.
2\y
each other, and we shall thus obtain perfectly rigid floorings. Corbels will relieve the span enter
walls
to
a
distance
a detail to prepare
still
to
the
it
shall
the
that
be
laid
ends on
of the beams,
for
of
the
of
the
which
You must
carpenter.
the
in
fixed
red-lead, and that
with
There
15 centimetres.
beams
will only
they
is
see
masonry shall
be
shut in a box of zinc, No. 14, to prevent the moisture of the walls from
penetrating the fibre
your task marked
when
I
out
put
;
in
it
There
of the wood.
and
shape,
have looked over your drawings, we
is
to-morrow,
will
send for
Jean Godard, and choose the wood in the reserve cut by father."
your
Pro.
51.
The next day Paul produced
many
corrections,
him on
his
but
the
improvement.
hard to understand
tried
;
They needed
his drawings.
cousin
was
able
to
compliment
Paul took a good deal of trouble,
and
most simple and natural
if
he did not always discover least
he showed
that he stopped to think before putting anything
down upon
the
paper.
solutions, at
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
2l8
Jean Godard was summoned and the drawings shown
him
some explanations were made
:
asked him
cousin
Godard scratched "
be
"
you
No, Monsieur Architect
difficult
?
asked the cousin.
but, if
;
it 's
the same to you,
all
are not according to ordinary usage
these floorings
Jean
something you don't quite understand, or
that appears defective to "
make.
to
and said nothing.
his ear,
not
there
Is
him, after which the
to
he had any remarks
if
to
— we
are not
accustomed
— and
you
this will
;
see
—
this is
not ordinary carpentry work." "
That
after "
"
?
— you
Examine
it
there
see
— must
wood here
this
all
!
is
be sawed
The
Jean.
well,
taken
are
in
all
workmanship
two sides only, those which are joists
than floorings made
"
your method
Dame
be more expensive
will
it
is,
If
sawings.
— perhaps
joists
visible
If
it
faces,
faces If
will
is
(Fig.
timber, 52)
;
whereas,
we asked you
only have
that
;
it
take the it
will
ordinary
to furnish
not find joists
wood we have on hand.
be
sufficient
not matter
will
planed too."
if
to
saw two
you leave the
roughly squared, and only purged of the sap-wood.
you take your
to take
as
we must
unhewn
thus
A
but
;
—
must be sawed on
the wood, you might pretend that you would so disposed
the same,
to
unhewn does,
joists
from large timbers
saw them
as I trace
timber, because
necessarily,
it
which
at B.
(Fig.
53),
But
I prefer
does not 'draw at the is
sawed
in
four
you
;
core,'
and
I
THE CARPENTRY WORK. think to
we
have enough of the
shall
We
means.
this
employ
which you ordinarily
As
use.
only be sawed on two faces piece,
we
and the
shall
only
the sawing of two faces,
then, for
as
so
as
not
of
we do
for
the joists
the beams, they also will
for
for if
we
take them in a single (Fig.
sheet-iron being interposed at D, below,
will
add the moulded plank
the
flaws, if
there are
C As
any.
s_
at
E,
Fig.
they are
less
difficult
in
the joists, being placed
the
along
joists
what say you
"
lish
Dame
It
!
What
"
walls,
breadth,
,zJ j^
54.
than mortises, and
have no tenons.
It
is
the
Think
replace
the
cornices.
Well,
?
none the more the customary flooring
's
will
it
gives
you no more trouble
keep account of the time you
wood it
and
*
of that, if
We
?
furnish ing.
fashion
)
same with the summers which receive the ends of the
the
"
Fig.
53.
to
we
the triangular notches
for
tx
52.
54),
mark the junction and
to
=
Fig.
have
to
have to pay you,
put the two sawed faces outside
shall
strip
;
first
219
;
you are therefore
over, and, if
you
will,
sure
to estab-
use,
and we
of losing
we can make
" !
noth-
a bargain.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
220
We
or
ings,
we
else
will
as for ordinary floor-
time
of the
keep account
will
workmanship, and
the
in
pay you by the cubic metre,
will
you
pay
employed to
according
it.
"
Choose
!
Jean Godard
a
for
sheets
over, looked at the
time turned his cap over and
long
of paper
right ear, then
violently his
spread about, scratched
his left,
and
after a
half-
good
hour declared that he would be paid for these floorings as for ordinary ones, "
And you
by the cubic metre worked.
are right," said the cousin
" ;
for if
you manage
your work well, and make no mistakes, you will gain more this bargain
by
there
that
is
flooring, of
than
less
equal
habit of putting
if
we paid you by time
down
;
those which
than above
for the reason
in establishing
workmanship cube,
;
this
kind of
you are
the
in
in this part of the country."
all,
Jean Godard asked that extra pay should be given him
summers intended
for the
to replace the
rough fastenings in
the walls. "
Agreed," cornices,
your It
and
said it
wood ity.
cousin.
right that
"
We
economize
we should
in
plaster
take account of
it
in
favor."
was then decided that the summers should be paid
separately, that
On
is
the
the in
is,
their notches
and chamfers.
morrow four saws were reserve.
for
in
motion cutting up the
The work-yard had resumed
all its
activ-
There remained, for the masonry, a detail of dormer-
THE CARPENTRY WORK. windows
221
which was soon done, and then the pas-
to finish,
sage of the chimney-shafts.
The
cousin,
in
windows, section
giving
A
Paul
and exterior
the
details
face
B
of
(Fig.
the
dormer-
55), called his
Fig. 55.
attention in
to their
thickness, they
each.
The
first
construction.
Mounted on
would compose two
piers
a coping
50
c.
of three courses
two courses would preserve a
fillet
C, in-
tended to cover over the slating of the covering, and to form
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
222
"
solins."
The
lintel
and two stones making corbels would
come on these two jambs. receive the of the
Two
little lateral gables,
of termination.
The
on
this lintel,
would
and would compose the jambs
upper opening, intended
The crowning would be made
pieces,
admit
to
in
two
section indicated
air
to
the
attics.
courses, with flowers
how
the glacis of the
coping would form solins on the small roofs of the dormer-
windows
in the rear,
and "snuffers"
in
front, to
rain-water from running along the lacings.
prevent the
THE CHIMNEYS.
CHAPTER
22$
XXII.
THE CHIMNEYS.
HY," asked Paul smoke "
Hit,
neys
smoke
?
cousin,
do chimneys
" ?
You
mean," replied he, causes
Many
smoke, whilst there do not smoke.
"
the
of
We
is
"
why to
contribute
do some chim-
make
chimneys
only one condition under which they
must
This
try to fulfil this condition.
is
smoke-shaft in proportion to the fireplace, and the feeding
it:
of the
latter
bustion.
by a quantity of
If the shaft
is
air
proportioned to the com-
too narrow for the quantity of
produced by the combustion, the smoke does not enough,
its
upward course
is
made slow by
rise easily
the friction, and
the delivery being insufficient for the production, the overflows outside the chimney.
The
followed
elevation
bustion
is
current
of exterior air
fire,
by the which
"
of
being well lighted, heats the column
and the more
is,
So
it
is
it
that, in
tends to
smoke
acceleration of the com-
strikes the
the chimney, and the more this
smoke
the
wood
smoke by a or coal.
of air
which
air is heated, the
The fills
lighter
it
rise.
many badly
built chimneys, a certain time
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
224
smoke
the
necessary for
is
take
to
course
its
that
;
necessary for the column of air to become heated
waiting for shaft,
it
become
to
the latter lights up,
air,
and the smoke takes
The
and
air
cold,
to lighten "
is
a tolerably primitive
which the exterior
piece of lighted
is
window
is,
comes
why
masonry, are
heavy
;
time
increases, the
rapidly
fire
in
itself,
ventilator
and
is
damp needed
is
is
supplied
(which
established to
it,
by
strikes the fuel as soon
like that, for instance, of a
The
are to a forge.
by bringing
more rapid
the air comes
coal burns.
ventilator
is
The more the
the current of air;
is
the
in,
in oxygen.
the more
more vigorously the wood to a
smoke-flue
is
But the ventilator must be none the
too narrow, there
overflows.
equally, for then
If
it
the
exercise a pressure,
at
is
is
its
less in
If the
an obstruction of the smoke,
too wide,
currents
or
chimney what the bellows
connection with the fireplace, as well as the' smoke-flue.
it
new
This exterior air at once presses in
paper.
and accelerates the
and
shaft,
all
to accelerate the fire
channel
a
the
caloric.
method), a
that air
with
of
warms
feed
to
opened
also
is
up the
the void which the beginning of combustion produces,
fill
fire
it
heat develops
as the least
u>
they contain
Instead of opening a
;
made
shafts,
and penetrate
for each fireplace
This
course.
its
chimneys smoke. and the
is
is
and while
passes, not
Then a window
but into the room.
the fireplace with
smoke
the
so,
;
it
is,
it
does not become heated
of exterior air
exterior
orifice,
and the wind
which neutralizes
THE CHIMNEYS. the action of draught tilator is
too narrow
the
;
smoke
225
kept down.
is
If the ven-
the extent of the fireplace,
for
does
it
not bring in the quantity of air necessary for the combustion the
fire
languishes,
If
a big, it either brings in too large
which
of
not
is
the ventilator
volume of
completely used, in which
;
smoke
heats incompletely, and the tepid
ascend quickly enough.
not
does
it
too
is
the oxygen
air,
case a part
of
the cold air passes into the smoke-flue and does not accelerate the draught
or else,
;
if
there are changes of temperature, the
ventilator draws off the air of the chimney, instead of bringing
from without.
in air
There
is
a reversing, and the chimney
smokes horribly."
The cousin explained
this theory in the evening,
when
the
family were gathered around the hearth. "
seems very simple," said
It
why, then, does the chimney in though
I
have often had
old
building.
The
smoke-flue
chimney would not have
is
is
situated in the
could
new wing
not be raised
of the
high
resisted the squalls of wind.
wind comes from your it
by the higher
side,
structure,
an eddy, and, in whirling round
your
days,
pass above the ridges of the old building, for this
enough
opposed to
but
?
which are lower than those
isolated
the
" ;
room smoke some
my
repaired
to
When
de Gandelau
"
it
"Because your room, Madame, of the house, the roofs of
Madame
it
finds
an obstacle
and rebounds
itself,
it
is
;
there
ingulfed
in
chimney, or at least forms an obstacle, at times, to
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
226
In this case the shafts should be
the passage of the smoke. bifurcated
the two
the pressure of the wind not being ever equal on
;
the smoke
air,
being ingulfed in one, would
make
know
of no
pass violently out
method
other
the
orifices,
I
;
of the
other.
have already proposed
it
have found, not without reason, that these
to
you
shafts,
but you
;
which seem
two desperate arms toward the sky, would be very
to raise
you have resigned yourself
be smoked out,
ugly,
and
when
a sharp squall blows from the west."
"
I
The chimney-man
with a turning hat, '
chimney-top
to
has, however, placed a sheet-iron shaft,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; what
he
calls,
I believe, a
'
revolving
he said that this would do nicely, but
;
it
is
only worse than before." "
No
doubt
when
;
there
winds, in consequence this
of
revolving chimney-top
that,
and in
mouth,
its
an eddy of wind, and whirl-
is
an obstacle, as
agitated, turns
is
the case here, this
way and
sudden movements sometimes presents
but for a moment, to the squall.
if
is
and the
plunging into the
the
shaft,
sends back the smoke in puffs to the middle
of
a
This mouth then
fulfils
office
funnel,
air,
its
of the
room." "
That
is
so
horrid shafts
;
you think, then, that
I miist accept the
two
" ?
"
Assuredly.
There are
towns in mountain
districts
all
the houses of which, of no matter what height, are subjected to
these
conditions.
Geneva,
for
instance,
built
between
THE CHIMNEYS. Saleve and
the
distance,
the
dominated, though at a great
is
Jura,
The
mountains.
by those
227
violent
which
winds
sometimes blow over the lake are ingulfed between the two leap up,
ranges,
and cause squalls everywhere; and so the
Genevans are forced which from
shafts,
crown
to
their
present the
afar
chimneys with double aspect of a
of
forest
old-fashioned telegraph-poles."
"I hope you will not smoke.
annoyed "
if
chimneys into the new house which
will put
You know
that Marie would be very
they did."
"We shall do so
are not subject to,
:
the local conditions are good
first,
and have not
to fear, eddies of
breezes are regular along the plateau on which
we have only
then
pass
ney-shafts
above the ridges.
them materially
"Then we
will
We
is
that
winter,
lighted
;
is
the
"A
a
the
;
are building
instance, are
warmer than
establish
these
Nothing obliges us
attention to this, that
opened at midday,
that of the
fire
to
so.
room where a
then the ventilator draws the smoke, which
The
;
the chim-
they receive from without, even
air
we
;
system of ventilators in the
we must pay
for
back into the room.
wood
will
wind
they rise vertically, or nearly
the ventilators, for
happens the
;
establish
subsoil for cool air;
when
we
simple, high coverings, and all
shafts with brick, witli good sections.
deviate
much
it
in lire
falls
can scarcely be lighted; the
blackens, and does not burn. simile
smoke-flue
is
used a great deal
now
at
Paris
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
228
for several fireplaces, placed lel-wise, a
as
as
many
five
for thus the
This
placed one
are
above
another,
The
avoided.
is
fireplaces
draw
system withdraws the smoke from the
this
These chimneys must have a section proportioned to
rooms.
the fireplaces
;
that
they must have, for
is,
successive fireplaces, a section
and a
houses where
especially good in
fireplaces
juxtaposition
and
reciprocally,
is
branch to each
carries a
weakening of the walls by reason of too many
in
chimneys
all
which
ventilation-shaft,
of these fireplaces.
one above the other, and, paral-
40
scpuare of
have three fireplace
;
each
c.
centimetres,
have special chimneys
all
have
for
a single chimney fires,
In default of
the case in a large town.
ordinary
where we only
here,
in the case of
should
necessary that they
superficial
But
side.
stories, I prefer to
inasmuch as
of 16
five
which
is
each it
is
always
this, the smoke, in a
sudden change of temperature, would pass into an upper or lower fireplace, instead This
of
which
inconvenience,
the
following
an
is
vertical
accidental
one
column. only,
is
remedied by well-set traps." "
But," said Paul,
cool the "
rooms
The cold
room.
"
will not the eold air of the ventilators
" ?
air
comes into the
It is clear that
provides cold
room
;
that
to
it
can
make
air,
if
a
fire
which tends
fireplace, is
not.
fire,
to
made, this ventilator
to lower the temperature of a
be shut out by a trap. a
but not into the
burn wood,
But remember
this,
what
you
coal, or
not,
THE CHIMNEYS. must have oxygen
;
you have learned
chemistry and physics
no
air,
the
rooms,
The chimneys
of our
Nowadays we
what.
rooms, well shut
but
the
off
with
in
it,
vent
more
are
trouble
to
the air penetrated
to
windows, aud also
fire
me
long time.
smoked some-
add,
delicate;
a
for
we want
It
call in
is
smaller
that
clear
its
fuel
air;
would
column
this
of
accelerate combustion, carries
to
the
in
without which
air,
heated air from
this
possible,
smoke-flue, not a
little
or
at
least
passing off too rapidly.
shafts,
and forced
to leave
a
part
to
of the
has
heat which
it
through which
it
These corridors in their turn heat a cavity, a cham-
ber which air, it
It
remain as long as
of the
absorbed in the numerous corridors
passes.
for
the
ancestors, let
you.
rising
been turned in the
This
without
Several systems have, therefore, been invented to pre-
heat.
has
;
and we shrink from the currents of
warm
which you
air,
the
take
ill-closed
feed
to
chimney requires
not burn, and cold
in,
as
air
being very large, contained a cube of
considerable enough
air
not
fireplaces,
under the doors, by
the rooms
because
for
ventilators
your study of
this in
you must have
then,
Formerly people did
fire.
establish
;
229
opens on them, and which
expanded by the
are
is
fed with
also
heat, tends to waste itself.
opened, which are the mouths
of heat.
air.
Issues
This
is
the principle of hot-air stoves." "
"
Apropos
of
hot-air
stoves,"
said
do you propose to put one in the
Madame
new house
de Gandelau, " ?
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
230 "
Certainly
location
its
;
under the hall; and
cellars
main
of the
angle
designated in the plan of the
is
when
whole winter. It
riorations.
heat
It is
the
the means
interior,
and
so
is
indispensable
numerous dete-
and wet season,
cold it
keep
interior
not occupied the
is
of avoiding
during the
suffices,
it
the
in
passes
Such a stove
staircase.
a country-house, especially
in
flue
its
once
dry,
or
twice
to
a
week." " "
The hot
emitted
air
because in
by the
being heated as
loses a part
it
necessary to
as
life
A
of the accidents caused, in the
the
deprived of oxygen,
water
;
the
of
the
of
exit
receiver
but this means heat
is
is
thus
is
the
to
?
is
its
unhealthy,
oxygen, and
make
fuel
burn.
animal economy, by
by making
avoided, of
of
is
it
is
part
stoves
hot-air
oxygen
air
"
Don't you think hot-air stove-heat unhealthy
heat, over
it
basins
pass,
at
full
of
only a palliative one, and a part I
lost.
only regard hot-air stoves as
good for heating places which are not constantly used, such as halls, staircases, galleries
the
in
drawing-rooms,
should not be
;
away
and the
;
registers shut
How
"
By means
registers are
and
established
bedrooms,
they
opened when those apartments are occupied.
and the windows
"
if
dining-rooms,
They must only be opened are
but
to
dry the
should
when you shut
interiors
afterward
when you be
opened,
the windows.''
would you heat the bath-rooms
" ?
of a boiler placed near the hot-air stove,
with
THE CHIMNEYS. columns of ascent
to the
bath-room on the
23
first
floor,
I
which
are nearly over the fireplace."
"You have "
also
planned bath-rooms for the domestics."
Yes, underneath
the
bake-house and wash-house, under
ground." "
conversation to take "
you have foreseen everything.
I perceive that
This
is
a
about chimneys, Paul, which you will do well
good note
of."
I shall certainly
do
so,
mother."
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
232
CHAPTEE
XXIII.
THE CANTEEN.
WE^Bsffi ESPITE recent ing as
misfortunes which
France was
of
redoubled vain
to
during the
seemed
still
February and
person
has
waste
their
the
so
a patriotic
much
resumed,
being
to
of the
memory
the resources
all
instinct
inspired
ruin, without giving up
who
March,
1870,
passed
France
through
might
have
compared
one of those ant-hills which some awkward'
overturned
with
his
feet.
The
ants
do
not
time in imploring Providence; they set forth-
with to work, and of
and coun-
have drained
Those
complaints.
country to
to
preserved,
to repair
efforts
to the cities
If the uneffaceable
time.
lost
for
be return-
was
work
Everywhere
try.
make up
by enchantment
if
seemed
to
disasters, life
if
you go by the next day,
which
catastrophe
seemed
to
have
all
traces
destroyed
the
Âť
colony has disappeared.
But
late in
March the papers brought news
disasters to Paris.
son back
to
M. de Gandelau had thought
the lyceum.
wasting his time,
it
of the fresh of sending his
Although Taul was by no means
seemed a pity
to
interrupt
any longer
THE CANTEEN. his
permit M.
The
studies.
classical
Gandelau
tie
233
news
latest
did
however,
not,
Paul continued
to hesitate.
to
work
with his cousin, who, for his part, decided to remain at the chateau awaiting events.
M. de Gandelau, loved and respected by had no
on
anxieties
fellows had
made
own
his
all
the vicinity,
Some
account.
ill-looking
their appearance in the neighboring villages,
but they found nothing to occupy them, and soon
disap-
Papa Branchu and Jean Godard had come
to the
peared.
chateau to
M. de Gandelau that the workmen begged
tell
of
him not
if
money were wanting,
their pay.
suspend the works, and that they were ready,
to
await more prosperous
to
for the
They only asked,
M. de Gandelau, having made not
could
;
and
avail himself
was decided
it
time being, soup and bread.
great sacrifices during the war,
sums
of
demanded by the
wages
regular
works
now
sufficient
to establish a
meat twice a week, vegetables, and
for sustenance.
the
rest
was
to
many
"
canteen
"
Gandelau's
near the
flour,
wood,
and each workman
Each portion was valued
at a fixed price,
and
be paid in money later on, according to the
Half a dozen workmen, strangers
the district, did not accept this arrangement, and
the work-yard.
pay the
portions as himself and family needed
definitely established rolls. to
lard,
to
employed on the
activity
work-yard, where M. de Gandelau should furnish
should receive as
days for
The
loyalty,
others,
having
subscribed
to
full
the
quitted
confidence in M. de bargain,
the
more
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
234
readily as
they foresaw the results of a forced economy in
a saving.
Paul was intrusted with
his functions
inspector were
as
His cousin showed him how interests
all
Proud of
He
rose
at
this
new
and
detail,
to
added those of a purveyor.
to
keep the accounts, so that
should be protected. this
new
five
in
trust,
the
he acquitted himself of
morning, mounted
it
well.
pony, and
his
hastened from the chateau to the mill, from the mill to the village,
and from the village
ing he rendered the
of
to
his
to the
father
work-yard
;
every even-
an account of the
day, and to his cousin the calculations
deliveries
made on
the
ground.
was
with which he the end of
May
the
to do in August,
charged
young
matured his
collegian,
"
You
Towards
who had had nothing
to
Chateauroux, as
here able to execute our works.
in the
had become.
the cousin said to him,
must go
mind.
would hardly have been recognized
robust, serious, attentive youth he
One morning
body; the responsibility
strengthened his
This existence
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; we have no
joiners
I will give you a note to
a good master-joiner living there, and you will come to
understanding with him. ready."
But
first
we must
an
get our details
JOINERY.
235
CHAPTER XXIV. JOINERY.
VERY "
should be given of a house
tion
ery work
is
to
choose
which are thoroughly
We
have been short
attend
to
nately I stock, I
of
will
this
know
the
before
which he
is
condition of join-
first
woods, and to
important part of our a joiner
only use those
But
if it is
at
Chateauroux, who has w ood in r
avaricious,
and only uses sparingly
in
;
and
I
Your
;
father
presume he will make no
have some of the dry and good woods for special occasions.
indispensable, in joinery work, to use only dry
woods, without defects,
work
years.
Fortu-
construction.
persuade him to furnish us with some.
which he has reserved
cousin,
beginning the construc-
the
for
the
time, and have not been able to
for
difficulty in letting us
of
;
said
joinery,"
and have been cut several
dry,
has done him some favors
"
the
of
detail
it
is
equally so to combine this sort
accordance with the
nature of
and not neglect the conditions they impose.
the
materials,
"Wood
cut
is
according to certain customary dimensions, and to the size of the tree.
Thus, fur instance, a plank
is
only from
20
c.
to
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
236
25
c.
in width, because
more diameter than panels
are
made,
it
trees proper for joinery
deducting the sap-wood
this,
be taken in a plank.
may
and
will separate after getting dry,
them
;
single
while in giving plank,
each
to
If
will leave cracks
between
the width only
panel
two
a panel, they
and there
of a
no separa-
will be
These tongues, however, must be large enough
to bear
You
without passing beyond the rebate.
a shrinkage
if
the latter makes a shrinkage, this shrinkage
if
will be produced in the tongue, tion.
make
are brought together to
or three planks
then,
;
prudent to give them only a width
is
20 to 25c, that they
of
have scarcely
will
understand this better presently. "
In the
last
frames, that
time
that
large
with the panels, framed by mouldings, hav-
is,
ing a width
made with
doors were
many
century
40
of
50
to
very dry
only
c.
;
But
that was the fashion.
woods, cut for
many
at
were
years,
used; and the panels, made of two planks brought together, or
simply joined, did not suffer
doors so
made
in
father's
your
not one on which the panel not be had for
open.
we must,
;
they must cause
this
fibre.
especially
be
taken in
wood But in
dries
the
Now, such wood
therefore,
Or,
â&#x20AC;˘
quickly, and
country.
is
can-
do the best we
they must be had,
if
white-wood, a sort
this is a tender
see
drawing-room, and there
and give up large panels.
can,
the
money
is
You can
shrinkage.
does
of poplar,
not
bend
be-
across
wood, easily eaten by worms,
Let
us,, then,
stick
to
oak,
JOINERY.
237
and so combine our doors that the panels shall only have a width
about 20
of
The
doors of two leaves.
80
c.
2 m. 20
c.
former, to
to ;
m.
1 is
it
There are doors of one leaf and
c.
latter are 1
Their
useless
m. 20 varies
height
in
c.
the
;
from 2 m.
them more,
to give
width
10
c.
we do
for
not walk into rooms with crosses and
banners, and
man form
Too high doors have
seldom exceeds
inconveniences.
1
m. 80 are
c.
liable
to
the hu-
warp,
they
are
time
they
are
opened they admit a large cube of moist and freezing
air,
many
to
difficult
and,
shut,
They if
is
it
cold,
every
which cools the occupied rooms. "
We
Let us begin by tracing a door with two leaves.
make
wood 4
c.
and cross-pieces of
frames
the
thick.
'Stocks' are the fram-
will
A
E
i
ing-pieces; rabbets or leaves, the pieces
A
(Fig.
50); the cross-pieces, the hori-
zontal intermediate
pieces
;
each post
will be lie. wide, the small interme-
diate posts, 5
c.
Each folding
leaf,
de/!
ducting
15 m.
for
the
middle rebate,
will therefore be 0.505 m., as the door will
have a width of
ducting 0.11
20
1 in.
+ 0.05 + 0.005 m.
c.
;
de-
1
>
for the Fio. 50.
three posts (total 0.255), there remains for
the
two panels 34
cross-piece
c,
and
must be placed
so
j
for
each of them 17
that
its
axis
shall
c.
be
The 1
m.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
238
above the
and
floor;
the lock
for
placed on this
is
necessary to give the cross-piece 15
it is
c.
cross-piece,
in width, so
deduction being made of the mouldings, there
that,
mains 10
c.
for the lock, the
This sort of doors
in width.
made
the parts being
box of which is
called
'
re-
still
usually 8 to 10
is
with glass panels
in square, without joints,
c.
'
all
;
and the panels
being narrow, the doors do not get loose, and maintain themselves perfectly. "
Let us consider the door in
its details
be the jamb, in masonry, of the opening
ened to
this
plate C, on folds
F
;
On
jamb.
intermediate
The
tongues.
stock.
The mouldings
folds,
a
post
D
i"
is
G
;
H
door-cases
spliced
fast-
the 'stock';
the
panels
E E the
with their
form rebate around the
are carried along the rebate of the
rounding which will not grate on the hands or fray the
At K, you
see the high cross-piece, with
entering a mortise at
M, which
is
ing
tenon
entering a mortise at R.
which the panel tongues
T
reinforced at a certain distance
observe
tenon L,
On
the
N, the mould-
cut square to permit the head of this post to pass,
P
V,
its
will cross the fold.
right of the junction of the intermediate post
at
A
intended to give this rebate more resistance, and present
clothing.
in
B is
a sleeper
;
Let
this is fixed, with screws, the hinge-
which the leaves turn; the
(Fig. 57).
so
that their
that
the
At
S,
see the rebates
are spliced, the panels being
by these tongues
thickness shall be
chamfers
you
its
of the
posts
0.022 m.
X
stop
as
you see
You
will
below the
JOINERY.
junctions
to
leave
of the junctions.
the
wood
For doors of
hinge-plates to each
A
to
all
239
its
this size,
leaf.
c
2^-5 V
fir
i H
2T
13 .0.11
j
K-^^-H
force
on the right
we must have
three
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
240
will
follow
the
same
and making them
all in
defective joinings,
avoiding
principle,
Here
square.
one of these case-
is
ments
(Fig.
sleeper
A
of a
composed
58),
in the rebate of
fixed
masonry B, and of a frame with two
The thickness
leaves.
of the
wood and
of this frame shall be .04 c,
the posts of the
united
leaves
round
with
shall
and
rebate
To avoid putting
groove.
be
in glass
of too large a size, or the necessity of putting in glass,
The
piece
A
C.
casement-
must be explained
are represented
"At
these
of
details
frames
will divide
by a small
leaves
the
we
they
;
Fig. 59.
by
have marked the rebate
I
*Ji
window
of the plane of the Fig. 53.
the sleejDer
which enters the sleeper by a tongue, the air
;
at
is
placed on the
to arrest the passage of
on the
strengthening-piece F.
cross-piece of the sleeper is cross-piece of the
E
shown
at B,
at C, one of the posts,
;
D, the post of the rabbet ledge, with
bate and groove, and the rabbet
;
at G,
casement-frames, with
round
The
profile
of the
at If, of the its
re-
The fastening
'left.
and
its
lower
weather-rail
prevent the rain or snow from penetrating the
interior.
to
JOINERY. "
But
when the
as it
violently dashed
interior,
the
that
happens
a
rain
that, despite these precautions, the rain,
by the wind, reaches the rebate and
canal a must be fixed in the rebate, so
little
may
241
not spread over the internal side of the
pi
Fig. 59.
wall
I.
wood
In
order to
mask the junction
cross-piece with the stone support,
K.
At L you
the
post,
and
we
of the
supporting
will put the
cyma
see the combination of the lower cross-piece with" at
M that
of the small wood-piece with
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
242
same
You
post.
the
receiving
remark the external rebates
will
and the chamfers P, with
glass,
at
0,
for
on the
rests
interior to leave the combinations with all their force.
Besides
the three hinge-plates necessary to each leaf, you must count
squares notched above and below, to prevent the frames from tiring out the combinations,
casement
the
of
;
the
for
door- panels, which stiffen the glass, by "
Now,
correct
its
Paul,
you
will
your tracings
plain
who
glass
cannot
fulfil
will give
put down these
then,
;
and
you
will
you an introduction
hesitation
;
de
contrary,
of
will
to
and
I
will
to the master-
You
his prices for them.
mind
all
I
will ex-
have told
I will, besides, give
an engineer at Chateauroux, a friend
receive
you
like
an old
complete the information of which you are
Madame
the
details,
submit them
you, and you will bring back his terms.
who
office
armed with these drawings, you
the drawings to him, keeping in
of mine,
On
the framework.
the
weight, tends to deform the frames.
will go to Chateauroux, joiner,
and from weighing on the middle
Gandelau consented
still
Paul's
to
friend,
and can
in need."
journey with
but being assured that the cousin's friend should
be apprised of
it,
and would meet Paul
at the station,
he would sojourn with a family happy
to
and that
welcome him, she
gave her consent.
Paul would only remain three or four days at Chateauroux,
which was but twenty-four kilometres away.
WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX
243
CHAPTER XXV. WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX. jยงif
pi
S^f-S| '
a
>*A*:
AUL
knew enough
already
at being intrusted
important,
the master-joiner to
have some timidity
to
with a task which he saw to be
would have been easy
It
come
to the chateau,
to
write to
but the cousin had
asked M. de Gandelau to send Paul to him, in order to put his inspector to the proof,
him
The cousin gave
affair.
peated them several times
He was
portant
points.
number
of openings, the
and see how he would manage the
;
ample
instructions,
and
re-
and Paul took notes of the imsupplied
with
plans
giving
the
handles of the doors, the surfaces
of the floors, the panellings, the cymas,
and
so on.
reached Chateauroux about ten in the morning, and
He
found M. Victorien, the engineer, who was his cousin's friend, awaiting him at the station.
M. Victorien was hair
was
grizzled.
still
A
a
young man, though
his closely cut
swarthy complexion, clear eye, and
aquiline nose gave a certain military air to his countenance,
which letter
at once attracted
our embryo architect.
The
cousin's
had apprised him of the circumstances of the house-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
244
and of Paul's
building,
He knew M.
visit.
and professed a high esteem
slightly,
de
Gandelau
He
for his character.
therefore received the youthful traveller as a younger brother.
Madame seemed could
to
not do too
felt
round and brown woman, who
little
be her husband's antithesis, he being
much
had
breakfast, Paul
had
a
Victorien,
to
her guest.
for
and
dry,
"When they were
answer many questions
during the late events, what the
tall
;
how
new house
at
his family
was,
how
it
was going forward, how many workmen were employed, how the works were managed.
Paul answered as best he could,
and even ventured to make some sketches, in order to his
hosts the situation of the
stage of "
its
Why,"
explain
the present
progress.
M. Victorien,
said
your cousin's lessons atory sketches
This
new house and
to
I
;
he
is
"
I see that
you have
profited
by
the most skilful designer in explan-
know."
compliment
encouraged Paul,
who
related
how
his
education as an architect had proceeded.
""We have
you
am
will,
you
all
to-morrow in which to go to the joiner;
shall go with
me
to the sluice-works in
engaged, about two leagues from here.
which
if
I
That will perhaps
interest you."
Paul eagerly accepted this invitation, though torien protested that her
and that he ought "
to
Madame
youthful guest might be
have time
Vic-
fatigued,
for rest.
Come, come," said M. Victorien,
"
tired
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; at
his age, with
WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX. his
wagon
and you will see
Did he not
!
for
two hours seated in a
Get us a good dinner against our return
?
o'clock, it
and having rested
bearing,
245
at seven
our friend does not do justice to
if
he was on his
say, too, that
every morning, and was running about
all
day
hours
feet five
Come,
?
let
's
be off!"
A
small wagon soon carried the two companions far from
the town. " "
M.
So," said
when they reached
Victorien,
the
first
hill,
your cousin has not been wearied by his short campaign
I
saw him but a moment when he passed through here with
What an
his troops.
thing
does he not
;
He was
engineer. "
What
neer "
me
We
?
some time whether
for
is
How
he
is
clearly
But he does not
!
he explains every-
have been chums, and he hesitated
become an architect
to
or
a
civil
capable of being either."
the difference between an architect and an engi-
" ?
The deuce give
of little
features,
!
You
ask
me
you an apologue. twins,
could not
tell
them
Let
was a
pair
so
much
a time there alike
that
their
mother
They had not only the same
apart.
height, walk, but for
a question difficult to answer.
Once upon
who were
was necessary
poor.
man
energetic
always take care of himself.
It
?
also
them
Both became masons.
to
the
same
and
tastes
habits.
work, for their parents were
They grew
they did was done equally well by both.
skilful,
The
and what
father,
who
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
246
was narrow-minded, thought that these four labored at the same work with equal
and better
He
'
and
;
would produce more
skill,
the work were divided into two pairs of hands.
then, to one of
said,
ground
if
which
hands,
them,
to the other,
The brothers thought
'
You
'
work under-
will only
work above ground.'
will only
was
there
You
sense in this, as they
little
helped each other in the one case as well as in the other; but, being submissive sons, they obeyed.
these
workmen,
who, up to this time, had agreed, and made mutual
efforts in
Still,
perfecting their work, did not cease from cpuarrelling from that
He who worked
time.
foundations were
above the cellars complained that the properly cemented, and he
not
lished the foundations said that account
conditions of their structure.
They
who
estab-
was not taken of the
finally separated,
and each,
having become accustomed to the specialty which had been
imposed upon him, remained unfit for anything
"I think "
But
it
I
understand your npologue; not
does
made between an can
engineer gineers this
the
architect
be
a
o;ood
bridges,
to
you
why
and an engineer. architect,
canals,
port
and
works,
a
"
distinction
In vice
fact,
is
a good
En-
versa.
and so on
;
but
does not prevent their building lighthouses, shops, fac-
tories,
to
make
explain
else."
but â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
do
and other constructions. all
twin
these
things
brothers
;
Architects should
they formerly did
so,
know how
because
then
were not separated, or rather they were
one and the same person.
But since
this single individual-
WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX. been divided, the two halves go each his way.
ity has
the
build
engineers
very
247
a
the
bridge,
say that
architects
and they are not always wrong.
ugly,
If the
tects raise a palace, the engineers exclaim, not
that the
If it
is
archi-
without reason,
have been unskilfully employed, without
materials
economy, or an exact knowledge of their durable and
resist-
ing properties." "
But why do engineers build bridges which the
think ugly "
architects
" ?
Because the question of art has been separated from that
who
of science and calculation by this narrow-minded father,
thought
The
could
both
that
architects
have
be
not
'
been
told,
held
You
in
shall
the
same
be
artists
nothing but form, and busy yourselves only with '
engineers have been
with
science
;
told,
you have
the artists
capable
of reasoning.'
architecture tion
that
;
is
is,
It
as
notoriously
all
of
The
see
The
occupy yourselves
eyes,
strange, I
leave
:
and are not see, to
your
simply absurd, because the art of
materials
employing
derived
rest of the
their
to
according
and because the forms of architecture from will
poor country, hampered as !
seems
that.'
do with form
their
:
only the consequence of the art of construc-
you grow older you
Coco
to
nothing
This
is
qualities or properties,
are
will only
who dream with
that to
youthful mind.
You
brain.
it
way
this.
see is is
But,
many
by
my
other things
routine.
level."
young
Psst
!
friend,
in
our
Get up,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
248
They soon reached
Two
the sluice-works.
coffer-dams, one
downwards and the other upwards, barred the watercourse a
workmen
water-spout carried the current over the
large
in
employed
;
founding the walls, making a sluice-chamber.
Paul was informed of the function of the water-spout, which he soon understood, since he had made them with tubes of
and wax, and had thus emptied
feathers
He had could
never supposed that this
have so important a
which was run under the made.
A
moved
an
iron
tree,
which,
provided
with
horse was
little
lateral walls of
pulling
A
sluice
below
in
pivoting
a vertical
paddle-boards,
form, where
by means
of rakes.
mixed cement of
workmen
mixed
to a hopper,
and pounded
it
carried
to
up
were to
rest,
which conducted
still
other
down by
lined
current, were
vising
his
also
clay cyl-
a plank plat-
by the
it
aid of
to the
bottom
wooden rams.
sluice, that
orders,
it
in
The
on which the is,
to resist
explained to Paul.
works and giving his
of pebbles,
workmen spread
an obtuse angle towards the upper part of the
the
carried the well-
disposition of the doors, the arch, the threshold
leaves
and
cylinder,
at the top of the
Then other workmen
the excavation, where
layers,
chamber, was
was mixed with a double quantity
it
cement,
out the mortar, well puddled, into
let
wheelbarrows, which the
the
the
on a large wooden lever which
slaked with sand that Mas introduced inder.
hydraulic apparatus
He saw how
use.
water.
of
glasses
presenting the action
While super-
M. Victorien ex-
WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX.
249
Paul the function of each portion of the work,
plained
to
and the
latter
made
took notes and
memo-
his
sketches in
randum-book, so as to remember what he saw and heard.
on Paul's part seemed
This attention ries very
much
;
He
tions.
M. Victo-
please
and when they got into the wagon to return
town, the engineer did not
to
to
the
described
fail to
sluice-gates
complete his explanaof seaports,
how they
were made thirty metres and more in the openings, partly
wood and
of
ised to
and prom-
entirely of iron,
partly of iron, or
show him, when they reached the house, sketches
some
of these
how
their piers
sluices.
Then they talked about
bridges,
of
and
were founded in the midst of a current.
M. Victorien explained how, by means furnished by modern
rivers,
where
cable
how
;
that
so
by the
this
tubes
their
out
;
wide, deep,
of double sheet-iron were
extremity touched
hollow columns
how they then
cylinders, so
that
sunk
the
vertically,
bottom
masonry,
and that
;
in time, the
;
how,
the air
filling
perfectly solid, stable piers, able
would be destroyed intact,
rapid
so as to drive the water
established
heavy weights, were obtained
remain
in
of powerful machinery, they compressed
aid
and
established
operation had not formerly seemed practi-
lower
these enormous
in
were
piers
industry,
as
the
to
these resist
sheet-iron
columns of masonry would
having had time to assume a perfect consist-
ency.
These explanations opened
to
Paul a new horizon of study,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
250
and he asked himself these
all
things
M. Victorien kept repeating
for
;
him
to
an architect ought not to be ignorant of these means
that
of construction, because
perceived
it,
might happen that he would have
it
M. Victorien
Paul became absorbed in thought.
to use them.
"
he should ever find time to learn
if
and
—
said,
Let us talk of something else
you seem
;
to
be a
little
tired." "
Not
the
in
told
when the
me,
ami
I
which he explained that
had
I
things learn
try to
I
in
by
all
little
your mind.
open them belongs.
;
should have a
this
see
I
that
which
will
contains
proper use.
it
there
it
is
are
all
many
necessary to
easy
is
Take time.
;
disentangle
young
brains of the
Don't
— that
and
this
found
or
are full of
young
is
to
which
trouble of opening
that thing, stored
intact,
'a
classify
classifies itself in that to
Later on, you have only the
;
of
summary
listen attentively,
;
we should ask
each knowledge
almost unconsciously
;
"
Piest
All that
the drawer which
its
—
has
cousin
I
Now
declare
my
understood the various things
constructions
to
have found
I
I
learn everything at once
empty drawers.
it
me,
that
that disturbs and frightens you.
Little
itself
to
learn.
relating
"And
all.
to
— and —
when
all
But
was the building of a house
subject
that
thought
"
Paul.
my mind
in
retain
to
difficult
it
returned
least,"
away
ready to be put to
Only you must always keep
all
the drawers
WHAT PAUL LEARNED AT CHATEAUROUX.
251
open during the gathering of the crop, the time of which -
brief.
If
them
leave
you
twelve to twenty -five,
it
shut
is
them, for the locks are rusted
during
;
youth, from
early
hard task to
a
afterwards
or they are filled,
not how, with trash for which there
is
no
is
fill
you know
use."
The companions had now reached home, where Madame Victorien had prepared a good supper, cheered by the
ence of two
pres-
who were soon on
boys just from school,
the
best possible terms with Paul. to the master-joiner, to
whom
were explained the details brought by Paul, and with
whom
The next day was devoted
the bargain was
fulfilled
which Paul was
assisted
by
Paul had been well trained by his cousin,
M. Victorien. and
discussed, in
his
flattered
when,
began to
call
mission with great success; and was the
after
him
"
conference
over,
M. Victorien
Monsieur the inspector," and gave him
all sorts of technical explanations,
prehend, reserving
was
much
it
to
which Paul
his cousin to give
failed to
him
com-
the needed
enlightenment.
Some
curious
buildings
in
the
environs were visited the
next morning, and at nine in the evening Paul returned to the chateau, his valise full of notes of told
him about
what M. Victorien had
bridges, sluices, the materials of the country,
and the way in which they were used.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
252
CHAPTER XXVI THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING.
MlftfrLTHOUGH V a
II
-
_
a
Paid might have returned to school at O
â&#x20AC;˘
Paris in June,
Madame
de Gandelau, being fearful
of typhus fever, insisted that her son should remain
The
at
home.
A
teacher in the neighborhood, a
tranquillity of the capital
man
of
was not yet assured.
more learning than
public-school teachers usually are, came every day to instruct
Paul for an hour or two, that he might not forget his Latin
and the
rest of the time
now
works, which were
raised, the floorings set,
being erected
was devoted
to the supervision of the
visibly progressing.
The walls were
and the carpentry of the roofing was
and though there were no more
;
;
details to
be
supplied to the workmen, the supervision had to be the more
minute, as the cousin permitted nothing to be lost sight
of,
and required that an account of everything should be submitted
him.
to
Sometimes, when
work-yard, the cousin asked part "
me
;
and
Well,
if
my
Paul hesitated, friend,
an account of
him
if
said,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
Paul returned from the he had seen this or that
you must go back and it
;
see
not to-morrow, but at
thereupon mounted his pony and returned.
it,
and give
once."
Paul
THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING. He
thus acquired the habit, in
order to
notonous goings and coinings, to return
253
avoid these mo-
only after he had
examined every point which could provoke a question from
The
cousin, in detail.
He
tion to the grapplings.
cramps were placed factory, it
he had
and
;
had
latter
called Paul's special atten-
how
asked him several times
the
the explanations were not satis-
if
to return to the work-yard,
and could not leave
had
until they were placed in presence of the inspector, as
been enjoined upon him.
his
The
visits
with Paul to the work-
yard occurred three times a week, and instructions were given before him, on the spot, to the contractors.
The cousin was
always careful to make Paul repeat these instructions,
to
be
sure that they were understood.
was time
It
rain-water,
"The
to consider
and the
the gutters, the draining
roofings.
roofings," said the
cousin, "are generally
for
to
a
attired.
ill
done
plumbing work, and we
country-houses, especially the
have
the
of
in
.shall
be very careful in this important part of our building
house badly roofed
is
a
Both acquire incurable
man
;
incompletely or badly
diseases.
Here we have no
good plumbers, and some must be got from Paris, which will cost dear;
avoid
but in the end this
incessant
repairs
Usually slating
spruce, or white-wood
;
we
We
shall
will
slating.
fastened
is
economical, since
and irreparable bad work.
adopt a covering of clasped "
is
with nails on a scantling of
but in order to fasten the nails in the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
254
scantling the slating is
held by two
nails.
must be pierced by two
The
slating shakes
holes, since each
by the blowing
of the
wind, the holes become enlarged, and finally escape from the nail-heads
and then the
;
in
slates
several
slating
order to
With
repairs can be
clasps,
and
is
being held on
slating,
them more than
without breaking them. its
must
and the
avoided,
copper, which enables you to open and shut
times
last
These clasps are made of red
made by anybody.
five-and-twenty
the
take up
on the visible part of the
inconvenience
this
You must
one,
replace
necessarily be pierced with nails slate.
falls.
the
Besides,
lower part, does not shake by the
action of the wind, and no effort can disturb
In the ordi-
it.
nary system of slate covering there are three thicknesses of
The uncovered part being
these plates, one upon the other.
11 c, the slates are 33
c.
long.
To place clasped
slating, laths
are nailed on the rafters in the place of scantling, spaced one
from another lie from axis
to axis
the position of the laths and of each
You
(Fig. 60). slate.
The
see at
A
clasps pass in
the interval left between the slates, and seize the extremities of each.
show you
I
a section, at B, half of the execution,
in
the laths
C
which
fastened in the lath, with
is
nailed to the rafters, and the clasp, the point of
uncovered part of the
are arris
or zinc
arris,
and gutter-leads, the
must be used; the
return
E
holding the
This will do for the breadth,
slating.
but not for the returns,
its
and gutter-leads.
When
there
slatings not being flexible, lead
first
of these metals
is
much
the
THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING.
^55
As
best on wood, as being less subject to break or change. for the arris,
they are fastened by plates of lead folded on the
wood, replacing the slating and overlappings by the lath as
for
the
entering
gutter-leads,
angle, on which,
brought.
But you
quires minute
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
care
water.
plate of lead
on the two
will study the
when the workmen
enemy,
a
many
;
you have
Water
to
sides,
the
seeks ;
all
slating
is
details of the roofing
work
re-
contend against a subtle issues,
profits
by every
and when urged by the wind,
acquires a force and an activity which
J
extended in the
are at the task, for this sort of
negligence to invade a house
it falls
is
;
it
does not have
when
vertically.
A
llllliil
Jim
Fig. 60.
"
So in climates where the showers are gentle, and only
in calm times, the roofings are simple,
numerous precautions which
fall
and do not require the
are necessary here
;
and that
is
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
256
I adopt the
why
system of clasped
and northwest winds are
violent,
an angle of 30 degrees.
and bend the rain and snow
Slating which
top yawns, and rises up at the bottom; get
This
in.
60 degrees
;
is
why we have
underneath the
The
have a
this
to
only held at the
is
and the rain and snow
given our roofings an angle of
for the rain, violently pushed, usually
pendicularly upon
"
Here, the north
slatings.
comes per-
and does not penetrate
inclination,
slating.
gutters also require great care. sufficient inclination, say of 3
Their bottom must per metre, to allow of
c.
the running off of the water; but there must be a projection,
a small step of 4 to 5 c, at each plate of metal, whether lead or zinc, trate
which forms the
canal, so that the water shall not pene-
beneath the joinings.
cient
These necessities demand a
suffi-
depth for the gutters, so that these inclinations of the
culminating points shall be at the
and that these shafts
falls or shafts
shall not be too distant
that the water should not have to travel
of descent,
from each other, so
far.
Moreover, issues
or small gargoyles should be arranged on the external facing of the gutters, so that if the of the
shafts, the
snow
or ice blocks
up the
water shall find a place to run down.
prudent, besides, to give to the internal reverse
orifices
It is
of the gutter
a greater height than the outer border, so that the water shall in no profile
case penetrate to the interior.
which we
will
having a height of 40
give c.,
to
Here
our gutters.
(Fig.
61)
is
The coping
the plank forming the outer
the
A
border
Fig. 61.
-PLUMBING OF THE ROOF. - Page
256
THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING. of the gutter will be 33
the
cornice
we have
You remember
c.
257
that on the shelf of
a slope, making a void between
and
junction, to ventilate the under side of the gutter,
facilitate
the running off of the water, should there be a leakage. gutter, then, will be
bottom
Our
composed of an oaken plank B, forming a
of a border C, forming the face
;
each
opening of the border.
This
'
and of a bead on the '
;
plank will be slightly inclined,
so that the lead of the gutter shall tend the less to settle.
"The fixed,
canal,
of the roof being at D, our lead-plates shall be
fall
by aid of and
nails,
at E,
shall follow
the section of the
turn at G, forming a hook.
shall
We
on the face another lead-plate, which will form
hook
H, then
at
at 7, with zinc
hooks nailed
to
will place
the
same
the plank.
These plates shall be maintained on the face by screws, the heads of which will be masked by the soldered protuberances
a
then a bead, K, will be placed between the two hooks
;
G
and H. "
Previously the bottoms and external borders of the gutters
will be united
by notched iron squares, L, which
shall be fixed
at the base of the coping.
These shall be placed outside
and not within, the
We
the
little
gargoyles
gutters.
M, from
of,
will pierce the holes to receive
distance to distance
on the face
of the gutter. "
The
shafts or funnels of descent placed in the re-entering
angles of the building will join their upper orifice in a space
made
in
the cornice,
as
is
shown
at
N.
A
leaden 'muff'
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
258
will unite the
bottom of the gutter with
this orifice,
and
will
only be soldered to the bottom of the gutter, remaining free
To obtain the necessary
in the part penetrating the funnel.
bottom of the gutter,
inclinations in the plaster,
'
dubbings out
'
of
with supports for the projections, shall be established
on the right of each
plate, as
see at
you
These plates
0.
should not exceed a length of three metres each.
"The
ridges of the roofing
be in the same
Two
at P.
and the dormer-windows
established in lead, and hooked as
way
leaden strips
leaves i
plate
which covers the
The
ridge.
lath
at
It
with the
besides, held
is,
by screws the heads of which are masked by a piece of lead thus "
am
only indicating to you the principal points in plumb-
ing work,
You
which
very delicate
is
will study this minutely
when we
shall
the
baths,
of advice.
so on.
requires
the work
of water in
But
let
me
is
great
being
employed on
are remarkably skilful.
distribution
and
when
and
have good workmen
Parisian plumbers lish
;
cannot be stirred by the wind.
it
I
;
with leaden
rolled
are
which themselves become hooked
g,
shown
covering the slating d
b are nailed,
then the free parts of these strips
shall
They
it.
care. clone,
The
also estab-
houses, the water-closets,
give you* this important piece
Plumbing put upon unfloated oak becomes oxidized
very rapidly.
The
the lead placed on especially if the
acetic acid contained in this it
to a state of
wood
is
wood changes
white lead in a few months,
not ventilated on the opposite side.
THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING. woods which must alone be used
I will point out the
We
and other lead work.
gutters
the ruins of the old mill, which
proper condition, since "
Your
duties
its
when metals
work, in carefully weighing the in
stored
clippings
your presence.
workmanship, work rather
skilful in their
lead and tin
sap.
consist,
all,
and readily neglect material interests
tistically,
they
:
too arlet
the
You
about everywhere in the work-yard.
lie
we must
see that
cut up will he in the
has long since shed
it
brought, and having the
These men,
when
for the
wood from
will take old
inspector will, above
as
set to
the plumbers
259
not expose our country lads to temptations.
must, then, weigh the metals on their arrival, and then
You
the clippings. up.
The
they
arrive,
used, and
The
between the weight of the metals when
difference
and that of the
what
clippings,
due, as the
is
and securely shut
latter should be stored
The agreement with the
plumbing
joiner
cates that the floors, doors,
shows what has been is
paid for by weight.
which you have brought
indi-
and windows should be sent before
the end of August, I think." "
Yes
begun "
;
and the contractor said that the
to be set
It is too
contractor ber,
is
by the
soon
;
pretty active
;
building dry a
let the
if
and by the
finished.
This
little.
he begins on the 1st of Septem-
he will have finished by the 1st of October
be regarded as
should be
1st of August."
we must
set the painters to work,
may
floors
We
1st of
must
;
then
we
will
December our house also
think
of
the
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
260
marble-cutter, and order the is
by no means too
"
Did you give the
soon.
sions of the fireplaces
mantels for the fireplaces.
It
joiner the dimen-
" ?
Yes, they are marked on the plans."
"Well, make duplicates of the plans, and we will send
them
Paris house; choice.
it
we have
struction.
must
awkward
to
do now,
for a
to
deal, for this,
and we
will be cheaper,
Is is very
day, as
We
the marble-cutter.
to
shall
with a
have a wider
have to run to Paris every
hundred
con-
of a
details
such centres as Lyons, Tours,
But, excepting in
Bordeaux, Bouen, Nantes, and Marseilles, where well-supplied houses are to be found, there
was
not- so
formerly
it is
;
is
nothing in the provinces.
one of the
It
our system of
fruits of
extreme centralization. "
one
do
I is
all I
in a
can to resist this unhappy tendency
huny, he must necessarily
We
of the building industry.
and pay higher
prices, to
teauroux or even
at
As
marquee
who
is
at
the
for
get
our
The
Tours.
the
but when
resort to the great centres
should have to wait six months
applied would resort to Paris, and ourselves.
;
chimney-mantels contractor
we might
to
at
Cha-
whom we
as well do that
greenhouse on the garden, and the
entrance,
we may
an intelligent workman.
rely
upon our locksmith,
The' country carpenters and
locksmiths are usually good."
"Why
is
that?"
"Because the
carpenters
have
preserved
their
corporate
THE ROOFING AND PLUMBING. or
organizations,
and
least
at
something
tests are required before
26 1
to
equivalent
them,
The
they can enter them.
smiths in the country have kept up the use of the forge the forge
;
and
In the large towns, on
the whole of iron-work.
is
lock-
the other hand, they have been taken with a rage for casting
and founding, and workmen on buildings have become unaccustomed
the
to
minute work of the
longer anything but adjusters.
during the past few years of
Exposition But;
architects
1867, also
and you might have
;
finely
little
the hammer, and
how
are
no
there has been a reaction
executed
pieces
seen, at the
of
have become unaccustomed
of work, and have
tractors
Still,
They
forge.
knowledge of how iron
forge-work. to this
sort
worked with
is
;
they give their con-
details impossible to execute, or
which impose many
difficulties
upon them.
soldering
is
done
Architects ought to
know
the methods
of fabrication in each industry they employ, but they are not
taught these things at the School of Fine Arts. better to
show them that matter
of the artist tion
;
to
obey
all
the fancies
and makes instruc-
The tax-payer and the
proprietor
a construction built pay dearly for this fine doctrine,
and the building are
made
this gets rid of explanations,
a more easy matter.
who have
is
It is thought
industries, deprived
of scientific
direction,
misled in trying to realize the fancies of these gentle-
men."
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
262
CHATTEE XXVII APPROACHING COMPLETION.
^y^^-^^HE' _s=*
nearer the works
approached completion, the
W\ vTW!|
more complicated became the
'^Ai
Paul
';
had
seen
that
all
nearly
the
place
each
of
but the
him
for
to
part,
the
supervise
according to
work, which had
office
hours a day, became
still
it
only
making and putting his
at
had
details
been given to the contractors, he had thought that remained
"When
office labors.
instructions
cousin's
first
in
taken two or three
more onerous.
The
calculations
were to be put in order so as to make up the accounts it
was necessary,
orders
the
the
to
opportune
in order not to lose
workmen,
the
all
the
had
joiner
floorings.
It
was then time
locksmith for squares, hinges, and cramps
iron-ware from pins, hinges,
of
The
and might
needed,
sent, at
end of August, a part of the doors and casements and
nearly the
on hand at
so that they should be
work, in certain cases, in concert.
;
to give the
any time,
moment when they were
;
these
Tours; hinge-plates,
and so on
pieces,
;
and
according to
to
the
to
;
call
to
upon
get
the
bolts, locks, sliding-bolts,
send the measures of each
wood and the nature
of
APPROACHING COMPLETION. The cousin went
the
objects.
the
iron-ware.
the
same time
The
Tours to get samples of
to
and locksmith were at work
joiner
and
;
263
often, not
being used to hurry,
at
was
it
necessary to regulate the work of each, that no time might be
The
lost.
the
had
slaters
mason
the
of
assistance
and continually required
arrived,
time was paid for dearly,
the
or
As
carpenter.
their
was important to give them no
it
pretext for indolence.
The cousin had taught Paul how evening, of the
how
day, and
the
a
This
difficult
mind had become calculating
work
to distribute
work-yard.
seemed
different
trained
each
account,
upon the next
each his part before quitting
to
of
Paul
to
work with
the
be entered
to
necessity
task
take
to
to
;
it,
foreseeing
but
little
everything
by
and he became
his
little
skilful
in
ease.
The cousin warned him that he must not count on the aid of the self
workmen
observed
when
the
that
in this methodical system
most of them
time came, because
who should have prepared summoned.
Thus time
the
;
and he him-
were not ready
this
way
passed in
or
that
work
to
body of men,
them, had not been
for
one
running
after
the
other. "
The workman,"
dent, as
are
who have no
all
said
the
who have been used
responsibility.
a piece of work
cousin,
is
to
"
is
to
He knows
naturally
improvi-
being ordered, and that such and such
be done, and yet he leaves
it
up
to
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
264
moment
the
of its
without ascertaining whether
execution,
he will have the materials appropriate to his task.
Thus,
when
several
same
time
in
a
bodies
of
the
yard,
laborers
workmen annoy
the
does
in this
likely,
way,
much time
instead of helping each other
have
to
to
the
is
lost;
and each
;
You
opportuneness.
to begin
and
order
establish
Otherwise,
work without regard
his
the
at
working
must
architect
method, and have foresight.
are
are
work over two
or
three times."
The chimney-men came provided
the
in
for,
and though everything had been
;
smoke-shafts, the ventilation, and the
workmen were
these
stove,
The
the mason.
here
and there
gard
to
the
the
them the
contract
and
construction
and
it
holes
mason
;
to
establish
the
find
their
reach
shafts,
to
the
as
they scarcely
passages,
up
order in all
the
framework.
this,
and went from one task
joiners
floorings.
to indicate
for
was
Papa Branchu
to another
and
this,
water-pipes,
them, and
next It
re-
of
to pierce the walls for
The
holes
without
open the mouths, enlarge
the fastenings. seal
of
pierce
Then the plumbers placed the
was necessary for
to
and Papa Branchu was obliged
tubes, to
that.
recourse
having
chimney-men
passage
But the workmen did not
to
the
of
heating-funnels of the
continually
permit the
for
looked for them
passage
cousin, having arranged everything, told his
not to
inspector
the
for
construction,
make
demanded the necessary lost
his
to
head,
without completing any.
APPROACHING COMPLETION. This part of his work
which
of
building
he
26$
made Paul
familiar with
had
thought
little
details of
months
few
a
before.
the
By
end of September the joinery was
the slating quite completed, and there would
advanced,
soon
be noth-
The
be done but the painting.
to
ing remaining
far
tions were in such
calcula-
order as to enable a ready adjustment of
accounts. of sending his
Meanwhile M. de Gandelau had thoughts back
son
to
school
necessary that he
at
end of the vacation
the
studies
should complete his
year had not been lost for Paul, he was
upon the study of
enter to
pursue
that
architecture,
The
profession.
still
;
it
;
and
too
if
was this
young
to
even should he desire
subject
was discussed by
the family in the evenings toward the last days of Septem-
The
ber.
learned
cousin
was possible
that
all
remarked, with
that
reason,
in this
little
work-yard
should he remain longer in the country, he painters put of
any special use
let
ting
the
would
;
had that
see the
on their coatings, and that that would not be to
him
and
;
that,
besides,
Marie would not come home until spring, to
Paul
it
as
Madame
would be wise
house dry before decorating the interior and put-
up the hangings.
The idea of going hack active
life,
to
almost always in
Paul overmuch
;
but he
felt
school, after a
the that
open it
air,
year spent in did
not please
would not be sensible
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
266
M. and Madame de Gandelau had some
do otherwise.
to
matters
business
of
at
and were
Paris,
to
pass
a
part
of
the winter there. It
was decided, then, that the cousin should remain
work was completed,
the
so that
ardy during the had season
nothing might he in jeop-
and that
;
with his parents early in October. be commenced
till
this
works
he
himself
Paul
should
whilst
important business would
and
operation,
stayed
to
The cousin go over
the
Chateauroux, whither
at
him towards the end
call
leave
The painting would not
the coldest weather was past.
undertook to supervise
until
of
the
winter.
Everything being thus
to
the
self,
house
dear
his
left
on
Most
lyceum.
settled, Paul,
the of
2d of
his
with swelling heart,
and
October,
schoolfellows
had,
him-
but very few of them had profitably em-
;
When
ployed their time.
Paul narrated what he had been
doing during these twelve months, some of them him, some refused to
nickname
He had to
like
passed the year away from Paris, and their studies had
been suspended
of
returned
reflect
of
"
Monsieur the
learned, to
before
He
some
;
all
gave him the
architect."
extent, during the year, to reason,
and he thought
said this one
vanity mingled
him, and
speaking, and to listen to those
more than himself flippant.
believe
made fun
day
with sorrow.
his
old
to his father,
who knew
mates rather
with a tone of
M. de Gandelau understood
APPROACHING COMPLETION. him, and did not
267
the occasion of correcting the bad side
let
of his thought escape. "
It
"
possible," said he,
is
make them work and
to take the pains to
would be an unpardonable
but
it
ful
to
know
less
fault,
ripen their minds
and above
all
;
harm-
appear to disdain those who, on a single
yourself, to
subject,
your mates have not been
you have done, some one willing
in finding, as
so fortunate
that
Who
than yourself.
knows whether they
have not acquired a superiority in other things, which you have failed to perceive the
much
world
not, in this
world (and
like the great one), shut
lyceum
is
a
up
in
your own knowledge, and derive vanity from
yourself it,
but try and
of
it.
envy of
but to
sense,
discover that
of
and
others,
you know something, and thus only
the
self
little
fools,
make
you derive a double
become
avail
yourself
not the true object to shine because you
It is
or think
to
You must
?
the
and the smiles
instructed.
attract to your-
of
knowledge of others
benefit, It is
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
to
make
not at
know
the people shine.
of
Thus
yourself beloved, and
all
surprising that your
mates do not know as much as you do about the building of
a
house
trifling,
ideas
;
but
you must admit that
this
knowledge
and perhaps they have more correct and advanced
on
other
subjects
than
you
ridiculous to conceal from your mates
yourself.
It
it
?
If
would be
what your occupations
have been during your stay in the country, but
upon
is
one of them, more anxious to be
why
insist
instructed,
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
268
asks you questions,
what you
in
There
is
who
to
talk,
to satisfy a proper
chance to make fun of them. true at the
lyceum
you will be laughed
though vulgar saying, that people who
a true
not
'
to
Remember
as elsewhere.
pose,' that
curiosity, but
to
for
this,
are
is,
get a
it
is
as
your mind has devel-
If
oped more than those of your comrades, it
real interest
but be always re-
;
are indifferent, or
what they know are made
are vain of
led
you see that he takes a
him, satisfy his wish
tell
served with those at.
if
it
is
make
easy to
apparent to every one, by acquiring more rapidly than they
the lessons you
your classes
all
all
;
Obtain the
study together.
first
place in
then nobody will laugh at you, and every
one will recognize that
this
year,
which has been a useless
one to many of the others, has been
fruitful for you."
Paul understood, and on returning to school laid aside for the while
his architectural
memories.
mind had developed, and
his
at
the
He
soon showed that
beginning of the
year he brought his father excellent reports
of his
new
scholar-
ship.
His mates, however, continued
to
give
him
the nickname
of "the architect." "
will
Well," said he
to himself,
when they
prove to them that they are not mistaken
become an
architect."
him
called ;
for
" so,
I
I
will
THE HOUSE-WARMING.
269
CHAPTER XXVIII. THE HOUSE-WAEMING.
VEEYTHING JJ.
the
as
had had the
of
the
early
as
had been agreed upon
to the little
was
February,
it
for his
nant with her
since self
taken ject;
j
good
completed
in
M. de Gandelau,
park laid out around the house, and for occupation, leav-
daughter herself to choose the articles
conso-
taste.
Madame Marie had in April, and
the
country towards the end of Janu-
had ordered the furniture most requisite ing
in
begun
house,
the accessory jobs.
all
who had returned ary,
of
painting
weather April, as well
went on
first
announced that she should return
then in May.
the war, about
the
and her mother. in earnest
There had been nothing
house in the
between her-
letters
Madame Marie had
what had been written
said,
not,
to her
on
probably, this sub-
and the disastrous events of 1870 and 1871 seemed
have entirely excluded the project from the minds of
Paul was anxious to give his
sister
and had begged Madame de Gandelau the house to Marie
;
to
which
his
to
all.
a complete surprise, to say
nothing about
mother readily consented.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
2/0
Madame Marie was
written
would not
that the family
to
assemble at the chateau until the festival of Pentecost, and that,
her father having several journeys reach
not hurry to
France before
that
Gandelau received, on the 8th of May,
Madame Marie and
saying that
the chateau on
the
evening
she need
take,
Madame
time.
de
from Vienna,
a letter
her husband the
of
to
would
reach
day of Pen-
19th, the
tecost.
He
Great was Paul's joy when he received this news.
would then be for
at
home, and enjoy his
sister's
astonishment;
he had feared that she might arrive while he was This would
school.
worked during Pentecost
the
He
!
of
time
wished
his class, so that
The day
have been dreadful.
which
to return
still
How
M. de Gandelau, on account
ardently he
remained
impatiently looked the
of
home on Saturday morning.
took
been
time
breakfast "
;
to
before
home with a high
the
place in
distance,
months
invited
to
of
the
and the good
him
Paul reached the
festival.
embrace his parents and
he burned
to
come
chateau at
little
of
Paul scarcely sister,
and
to
go and see the house.
Pest easy," said his mother,
During breakfast
to
The cousin had
absence.
family
arrived.
for,
reports of his son, had obtained permission for
course
at
everybody might be happy.
departure, so
noon, after seven
still
"
it
his father asked
will wait for you."
him about
his studies
;
but Paul, in his turn, overwhelmed his cousin with questions.
THE HOUSE-WARMING. "
the
Is
color
is
done
well
joinery
the drawing-room
And
?
And
?
You
there
will see
all presently,
A
little
patience
An
!
?
What put
" ?
and between now and night
plenty of time for you to
is
detail,
it
painting
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; has he plumber,
the
the crest he promised on the roof "
the
2JI
examine everything
architect should, above
all,
ill
be
patient."
The aspect
The approaches,
Paul's departure. fully sanded.
house had changed a great deal since
of the
The lawns were growing green
having been preserved in the vicinity,
trees
the house were already inhabited.
leaping for joy to see ing was. it
rid of rubbish,
nearer,
On
how
it
and some old seemed as
Paul could not refrain from
pretty and picturesque the build-
reaching the valley he took to running to see
Paul had seen neither the entrance marquee
nor the greenhouse at the
had
not
been
side
of the billiard-room.
wholly completed when
away, for the spires and crests were not done.
windows were not crowned by
frame last
last jobs are like the
which
envelops
accessory finishes
a off
their flower-work.
satisfied
he went
The
case-
inserted.
border around a drawing, or the
picture.
To
untrained
each part, adorns
eyes,
this
the whole, and
gives unity which before seemed wanting.
Paul was quite
The
The dormer-
ments were scarcely adjusted, nor was the glazing These
if
and the cousin only reached the steps some min-
utes after him.
plumbing
;
were care-
with the exterior aspect.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
272
The
with the express
M. de Gandelau, had a pleasant appearance;
of
injunctions
in accordance
though simple,
interior,
were no signs of stucco ornaments or gilding.
there
oaken panelling extended around the
The wood
frames.
served
of the panelling
hall,
and encaustic.
flaxseed-oil
painted stone-color raised
Above
the
strips of
by
joining the
low
door-
and door-frames had pre-
natural color, and had been
its
A
simply washed with panelling
the
walls,
gave a neat and
red,
The
cheerful aspect to the hall, which invited one farther on.
drawing-room was surrounded by a panelling painted white, 1
m. 50
in height
c.
cient to
warm
on
raised
its
view
of
ceiling,
raised
the fireplace, wide and high, was
numerous
a
Its
party.
frame was of wood
with
beams and
its
white
with
it
a
and
joists
black
strips,
warm, habitable
made
aspect,
ceiling
painted cloth.
and
;
the
clear
The tints
room look
and displayed the its
openings.
Be-
and the white panelling was a hanging of
The chimney-piece appeared
these foundations.
painted.
with
covered
and shadows of an amber color under
tween the
suffi-
mantel, in an oaken frame, a pretty bird's-eye
M. de Gandelau's domain had been
higher, gave lights
;
The entrance
to the
in bold relief on
drawing-room would
have been somewhat gloomy, had not the large opening into the billiard-room been lighted by a spacious aperture screened
by the plants with which the
But
what
made
the
little
greenhouse was furnished.
drawing-room especially attractive
Paul was the bay-window,
all glittering
with
light,
to
and around
THE HOUSE-WARMING. which was placed a divan of also
surrounded by an
A curtain
painted cloth.
one to
The billiard-room
chintz.
oaken
panelling
and
house caused a
hangings
of
whence the view
The plants
was charming.
in the green-
soft quiet light to penetrate the billiard-room in
The dining-room had been decorated much
the middle.
\ras
shutting off the bay-window enabled
retire into it as into a small boudoir,
in three directions
273
like
the billiard -room, and two large oaken sideboards were placed
between the panelling, in the two alcoves built Paul hurried up
to his sister's
chamber,
to receive them.
all
in chintz,
hung
with a simple brown stylobate, and presenting great simplicity.
The
ceiling,
decorated as were
below
those
gave
stairs,
it,
however, an original and gay appearance.
Paul was anxious
him
wander
to
at
to see everything,
and
his cousin allowed
house for an hour, as he
will over the
himself was in conference with some
workmen about
various
The sun was low in the heavens when they returned
details.
to the chateau. "
little
Well,
cousin,
are
satisfied
you
have things been done, in your absence,
"I wish very much that "
and
end tli at
"
;
I
am
for
it
was
my
with
your
seems
to
;
"
to please
you
?
work," replied Paul,
sorry not to have been able to follow
it
work
it
to
the
me, in seeing the completed house,
almost everything was done while I was gone." It is
with buildings as with
the saying,
'
Finis coronat opus.'
all
human
The
works.
finishing
is
You know the whole.
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
274
does not require
It
demands the most
most labor and knowledge, but
the
persistence, method,
already told you.
You have been
the
that
construction
;
I
and
care, as
really useful to
can say without
during
because
flattery,
you have exerted yourself to understand and execute structions with zeal
and
all
the work, as
little
it
here, while,
appears,
;
you would have
you have used
lost
finished.
your time
good purpose at
to
it
have
at the last
been made in the shops and have been sent ready to regret
in-
during the completion of
most of the things adjusted
You have nothing
my
But you could
your intelligence.
have occupied yourself but
have
I
me
it
the lyceum." "
I
have never seen any of these painted hangings
have a "
Yes
fine effect I
;
don't
;
know why
these kinds of hangings,
were formerly much used, have been abandoned
;
everybody could not have Flemish or Gobelin
Cordova
leather.
This kind of hangings
while the painted hangings do not cost
and cost
less
would not do chintz
;
it
bedchamber.
is
than furniture to
And
they
stuffs,
is
for,
of course,
tapestries,
or
very expensive,
much more than
chintz
which
excepted.
paper,
But
it
hang a drawing-room or dining-room with
not substantial to the eye
it
;
is
proper for a
In large rooms you must have hangings which
have a velvety, warm, "
;
one would suppose them to be tapestry."
solid aspect,"
are these painted hangings solid
" ?
"Yes, both in appearance and in reality;
this is
proved by
THE HOUSE -WA1UJIXG.
fifteenth century, "
How
"
Of canvas
or
made
" ?
with coarse
cloth,
glazed
like the cloth
;
which date from the
liheims,
and are perfectly preserved."
are these hangings
the purpose cloths
seen at
be
hangings to
the
dressed, that
is,
fibres,
made
tacks
a layer of paste, with a
When
;
little
Spanish white,
the 'distempering'
spread over them.
is
theatre. proceeded with, as in the decoration of a
thing can be thus
even
faces.
The
When
anywhere
at little cost '
tapestry-frames.'
"
I
and moisture
is
up and put away The same
spring.
thought,
is
tapestry,
worsted. scarcely
trifling,
and what-
upon the
artist's
is
when
;
The hangings
are
thus
necessary in the country, where so, if
feared, the
the rooms are not
warmed
hangings are unstretched,
in a dry place, to be replaced in the
done with tapestry." I
opened the drawing-room door, that
you had had tapestry hung
"The
landscapes,
then they are again stretched on very
;
wall-paper always gets spoiled
rolled
Any-
they are dry, the cloths are rolled up and sent
from the wall, which
in winter,
is
hangings have depends
thin frames, called isolated
flowers, ornaments,
price of the material
ever value these skill.
painted,
â&#x20AC;&#x201D;
dry
then
they are
is
this is
for
These
with which sacks are made.
stretched on a board with
are
275
there."
coarseness of the fibre reproduces
the
semblance of
and the distempering assumes the dull tone of the
Taken
as a whole, the hangings of our house cost
more than the high-priced paper which
is
manu-
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
276
nowadays, and they
facturecl
much
last
longer
;
without count-
ing that you are sure of not seeing this kind of hangings in
every other house." "
That
I have often, in going into a drawing-room,
true.
's
recognized a paper which I have seen elsewhere.
you have
I perceive that "
Certainly
two put up,
that
;
is
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; one
also
But, cousin,
had lightning-rods put up."
the prudent thing to do.
on the staircase
roof,
I
have had
and the other in the
middle of the main ridge." "
"
One only would think not
I
not have been enough
only protect the points
for lightning-rods
;
" ?
included in a cone of which they are the summit; at that
is
what
is
said.
For, between ourselves,
men
least,
of science
are not agreed on the effects of the electric fluid, the efficacy of lightning-rods,
I adhere to
put up. to
me
struck
and the precautions
my own
it
has
many
are sufficient, are put in
when earth. if
their
lower ends
You know
when they
how much
lightning-rods,
exposed,
when
into
that water
is
is
never
the conductors
communication with each sink
are
experience, which has proved
that a building, no matter
when
to take
other,
and
the water or very moist a conductor of electricity;
the end of the lightning-rod sinks into dry earth, the elec-
tricity
return.
accumulates and
The same
produces very dangerous sparks in
effect is
produced
ruptions in the conducting wire
duces the
effect
of a
Leyden
;
jar,
if
there are
any
inter-
the lightning-rod then pro-
becomes charged, and thus
THE HOUSE-WARMING. more dangerous than
mended
;
2jy
Glass isolators have been recom-
useful.
but I have never seen that lightning-rods, otherwise
well put up, cause accidents for want of isolators. this
direct this
is
the fluid
a superfluous precaution, as path.
The and
path;
selects
I
think
the
most
under good conditions,
wire,
established
it
necessary to avoid making sudden,
is
angular turnings, and, as far as possible, to carry the wire by the shortest way, and that which
the moist
house and
Madame
discussion
as
at
to
make
of exercises
had given thought
dinner-table
the
to
who had worked upon
the
it.
The
the
house were invited, and a dinner
contractors and shop-masters
of the village,
money; there was
to
forgotten,
Paul's tutor, the
some neighbors and
friends,
reappeared in the vicinity,
to lend their presence to
The workmen were not of
M. de Gandelau
was arranged.
among them M. Durosay, who had were requested
new
surprise a complete one.
be provided for them in the garden.
mayor and curate
but the
There was much
Marie's speedy arrival.
how
to
Then the order
to
vertical, to
soil."
Nothing was talked of
was
most nearly
is
and
the house-warming.
received a present
all
be a ball in the evening, in the new
park, for the country people, with
ample refreshments
;
and
the poor of the parish were to receive a distribution of food
and clothing throughout the day. Paul was much afraid that his surprise
which was being prepared
sister
for
might suspect the
her
;
that, if
nothing
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
2j3
was said of the house which had been referred
to
in the
her before the war, this silence would seem
letters to
sus-
picious to her. "
He
is
become
asks us what has
which she the
sent,
past year,
Madame
said
right,"
we
have to add
shall
no,"
be sure "
Lucie,
You
leave
will
has built a
it
lies
for
shall
two
betray us."
will
not say a word, you
for
me
little
my
you,
alone
a
of pleasantry.
and
made.
I will
child.
little
or
may
manage
while with
house, with his cousin's advice. it
is
We
Marie.
busy himself during his vaca-
little
can then speak at
Then, after breakfast,
we
I will
She will
but a school-boy fancy.
only a pastime, and will imagine a
building well
to ÂŁ0
we
will
her that Faul, to
her suppose that
think
I
lies;
!
will speak
tion,
to
lies
"
will tell
let
"
Your eyes
that. I
said
and the programme
cannot be telling
besides, Lucie
three hours;
Marie
If
a little distasteful not to speak
it is
We
out sincerely to her.
"
asks about our occupations during
get into difficulties, and
"
of this project,
she
if
de Gandelau.
model of a
ease, in a
tone
will propose to her
see Paul's house."
This was the plan agreed upon.
Paul slept Paris
little
that night, though
very early, and had
he had set out from
made good use
of his
legs
all
day.
On
the 19th of May, 1872, at 9.40
a.
m.,
M. and Madame
THE HOUSE-WARMING.
X
descended at the
was
Gandelau
at
X
with
a
station
them
awaiting
279
where M. de
,
handsome
carriage.
Twenty minutes afterwards they entered the court-yard the
chateau.
It
useless
is
to
of
the embracings, the
describe
joy mingled with tears, lavished during the
moments
first
of this return.
de Gandelau had had the rooms of the couple
Madame
arranged with
if they were possible care, as
all
make
to
a
long stay at the chateau.
The mother did not
fail
to find
Madame Marie found Paul grown
her daughter improved
;
almost to manhood, and
Mademoiselle Lucie almost a young lady.
Thanks talked
of,
Madame
to at
breakfast,
travels of Marie,
as
an
unimportant incident.
and the war, were the subjects
There was plenty to speak
sation.
But Paul was
twenty-two months. his sister noticed
"Paul
X
de Gandelau, Paul's house was only
seems
Paul blushed
it.
be
to
thinking
of,
The
of conver-
an absence of
after
agitated and absent,
and
to his eyes.
of
said
something,"
M.
.
M. and Madame de Gandelau glanced
at
each other and
smiled. "
What
" is
"Perhaps,"
it
all
replied
pleasure of bringing "
Go on
heart."
asked Marie.
?
it
conspiring,
"
A
"but
her
mother,
to a
good end."
mamma
;
"
conspiracy
I will assist
let
you
us
?
have
witli all
the
my
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
28o
would not do
It
the
for
speak of taking the excursion then,
to
would
secret
be
Madame
betrayed.
de Gandelau
'
proposed that her daughter should take some rest after her
N
M.
journey.
permission
and the chateau became
letters,
urgent
asked
to
send
some
off
silent again.
The day was warm, and nothing was heard but the buzzof the
ing
keep "
insects
on the lawn.
not
Paul, however, could
still.
You
"
are no diplomat yet," said his cousin.
keep quiet, will
You
the house.
you
You
?
are
The deuce
the only person
will betray yourself if
your room, take a dull book, and you will go to
in
astir
Go
on.
you keep
sleep,
!
to
and
so pass the time away." "
But the invited people are
"
yes, that
establishment,
sister till
true
!
is
a
little
this afternoon.
and
tired,
waiting below, yonder."
Well, mount your horse, ride to the
and ask the guests
house,
new
's
all
to
to
gaze at
have
the
patience.
marvels of the
Say that your
and will not make her appearance
Then come
back."
Paul did not wait to have this repeated, for impossible to years
of his
him
to
keep
life
if
his
quiet. sister
He would would
only
it
seemed
have given ten get
into
the
carriage.
It
is
brought
hard to say what
him out
when he reached
this
hot
the day.
the house, and
pony thought when
He foamed many
at
of the
the
Paul
mouth
guests
hur-
THE HOUSE-WARMING. ried
know
to
up
with the most frightened
Madame Marie would they
herself,
resting
"If that
is
the world, told
in
air
Paul,
them
that
not appear for some hours, as she was
all said,
there
all,
When
was any bad news.
there
if
2S1
â&#x20AC;&#x201D; no
is
very natural
it's
hurry;
after so long a journey."
and her husband; and
of Marie
Then each asked news Paul was asked to look at
this
and
Paul was boiling
that.
over.
"You
said the
state,"
pony
is
mount your horse
are not going to
mayor; "you are
white with
a
rest
foam;
all
in your present
perspiration,
and your
and drink a glass
little,
of wine."
He had hamper
to surrender, for
Saumur
of
They drank
wine.
newly arrived couple, and Paul
so
an hour
lost
On
the chateau. carriage
turned
them "
the
in
aside
so
just as the
the mayor had
brought a small
the
to
health of the
to the prosperity of the house,
At
there.
last
he returned towards
reaching the crest of the
hill
towards
the
distance,
as
coming cross
to
to
new house came
See," said his sister,
"
Where has he come from
here ?
is
Is it
and
the
party,
he
saw the
house.
and
He
reached
into view.
a cavalier quite out of breath.
he who has the lead of the
"
conspiracy "
?
Certainly," said her mother.
They could now
"
Look
" !
see the outline of Paul's house, its slated
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
282
There was a
roof glittering beneath the sun's rays.
silence,
and some emotion. "
had a suspicion," said Marie, embracing her mother and
I
"
father.
So you were thinking enough of
us,
amid the anguish which
of the past year, to realize this project of a house,
thought to be only a castle in the "
his
good part in the success of the
becomes a famous cause
of
And
you,
"
you
architect,
my
who
tell
to
you how well
me, and I
"
and has
If
he ever
to
know
not disturb our plans for the future. the contrary,
riage
that
it
w as
"you say nothing!" I
if
" !
was in the
secret.
" it
!
cried his mother.
a residence here would
I replied to
him
that,
on
would further them, and that the only reason
I did not undertake
we
first
de Gandelau to her
have kept
dear Paul
my
M. de Gandelau wished
r
" !
have been the
will
tenderly kissed her hand,
So we were betrayed,
why
project.
Madame
said
friend,"
M. de Gandelau wrote
Marie will "
Paul
it."
son-in-law, "
And
?
Paul has been at work," said M. de Gandelau,
had
"
air
I
to build a house here after our
mar-
wounding you, and making you imagine
the fear of
did not attach to your maternal hospitality the value
you know how
to
give
large part of the year
;
where she was born. her than to follow
it.
she
is
Marie wishes to reside here a
known and
loved in this vicinity,
Nothing could be more pleasant
your example, near you,
almost
to
under
your eyes, without causing you the embarrassment of a perma-
Fig. 62.
— THE
HOUSE-OPENING.
— Page
282.
THE HOUSE-WARMING. own
nent sojourn in your
knew
her, for I
that
house.
you would
without having the hope of "
All
is
its
had no need of consulting
I
realize the
;
dream she
caressed,
near realization."
Madame
then for the best," resumed
glancing at her husband
283
for she recalled
de Gandelau,
what he had
said to
her one evening, two years before.
The family were welcomed
at the steps of the
Before going
by the merry-makers.
in,
they walked around
and finding themselves before a group
was owing
settled
two
down
here, that the building
Paul's well-turned
years.
bearing,
graceful
sister,
and the desire
their zeal
to
contractors
of
master artisans, Paul presented them to his it
who asked
new house it
;
and
saying that
see her soon
to
had been completed within
compliment and
after the families
his
sister's
of each,
and
expressed a wish to employ them often, gained the hearts of these honest people, most of
whom
had known her from child-
hood up. Marie wished of joy at each his
by
cousin,
to step,
who,
it
and Paul was many times embarrassed
M.
"client." is
There were explosions
see everything.
N
had possessed himself of the
needless
to
say,
was warmly congratu-
lated.
M. Durosay was constantly expressing "
repeating, "
It is
a charming seignorial
But," said Marie, at
call this a
manor and
his
admiration, and
manor
" !
" last,
turning suddenly,
seignorial
?
I
have no
why do you
vassals, nor
do
THE STORY OF A HOUSE.
284
I
wish
for any.
Say, then, that this
by those who love me, which friends,
and always accessible
shall to
is
a house built for uie
always be open to
those
who have need
my of
us."
They say
that Paul
is
more than ever determined
brace an architect's career.
THE END.
Cambridge
:
and Company. Elentrotyped and Printed by Welch, Bigelow,
to
em-
ARCHITECTURE. +
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DISCOURSES ON
FROM THE FRENCH OP
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HOMES, AND By
HOW E.
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—
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when be
much everybody
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charming volume, with its BUggBStive illustrations and thoroughly sound and artistic views, has a practical timely value for multitudes of We wish it might be read by every one of those multitudes." Buffalo readers. will build one, so that this
—
Couritr.
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