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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 —

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,

— 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

?

— 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,

— 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

— 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, — 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

—

his

's

his

You

spite.

has a

I

day

out,

Monsieur

see,

must pay the

plas-

and so with

;

— 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

—

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,

;

:

—

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

— 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

— 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

— 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

—

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

—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

— 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

—

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

—

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

—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 •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

— 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

— 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,

—

— 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

•

"

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

— an d

"

— 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,

— 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,

— the

will the

kilogram being a

is

a tube.

closer

trunk

the length or the thickness.

that, in order to

A

— 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

:

—

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,

—

calculations,

— 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,

— 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

— 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

—

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

— which — 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

— 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,

•[

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

— 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,

—

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

—

"

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,

— 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."

—

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

—

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

—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

—

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

—

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."

—

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,

—

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

—"

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 "

" "

"

•

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

— '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.

—

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, — 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.

—

"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 •

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

—

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." •

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."

'•

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 —

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.

•

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

— 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

'

—

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

•

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,

— 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

—

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,

— 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

— 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,

•

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

— 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 —

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

•

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,

—

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

—

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

—

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

— 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,

—

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

— 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

— 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. +

^•^

ARCHITECTURE.

DISCOURSES ON

FROM THE FRENCH OP

VIOLLET-LE-DUC. TRANSLATED BY HENRY VAN BRUNT. FULLY ILLUSTRATED. [In I'ress.]

HOMES, AND By

HOW E.

G GARDNER.

ILLUSTRATED One Volume. Square

TO MAKE THEM.

liY

THE AUTHOR.

l'.Imo

2.00.

" It is a treatise on house-building. So much good sense and good taste on this allimportant subject are not often, to our thinking, embraced within an equal compass. Whether the reader is going to build or not, he will enjoy it vastly and if he is ho The Congregationalist (Boston). should give it his most diligent attention." ;

"Pretty

when be

much everybody

is

either building a house or looking forward to the tim--

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.

For sale by Booksellers.

Sent, post-paid, on receipt of price by the Publishers,

JAMES

R.

OSGOOD &

CO., Boston.



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University of California

SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1388 Return this material to the library from which it was borrowed.

QLOCT06

1997


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