Repeated requests from the patrons and agents of the first edition of this book for a treatise on architecture accompanied with designs, to more fully complete the subject of agriculture and the hints “on a convenient home,” as given on page 368, led the author to request Mr. J. B. Legg¹, architect, St. Louis, Mo., to furnish descriptions and designs for “A Home for Everybody,” from the picturesque villa to the small cottage.

The rapid progress in the convenience and embellishment of domestic architecture throughout the country is evidence of the growing demand for architectural designs of various grades, and this spirit of improvement fostered in the building arts is becoming more manifest every year.

It matters not what the locality and surroundings of a building, or style of architecture, its true beauty and graceful appearance are ever the result of harmonious proportions and symmetrical design, and not the addition of gables, towers, balconies and ornate decoration which so many ignorantly believe to be the aim and highest attainment of architecture. To design and plan a house economical in construction, convenient in arrangement, domesticated in its departments and symmetrical in appearance is a work of art like a poem or a picture, and can only be obtained by the parties for whom it is to be worked up in plan and elevation by a skillful architect.

Architecture is an art, not only to beautify and harmonize the exterior treatment and proportion of a building and to ornament and adorn its interior finish, but it is one of the useful arts that may be employed in conveniently arranging and economically constructing buildings of every description, from the smallest and most unpretentious cottage, barn, business house or chapel, up to the most elegant, imposing or ornate dwelling, public building, commercial structure or ecclesiastical edifice.

The conveniences in the arrangement of a building, adapting it to the purposes for which it is to be used, and the arrangement of its departments, regarding their position to each other, with the required size of the several divisions, and the necessary communications with all departments, is an important study with the architect, and yields greatest value to his client.

In planning a building with its departments in arrangement, size and convenience, it is an important study of the architect to properly light, ventilate and heat its several

divisions, and to arrange the same in a manner that the building may be economically constructed. Not only is it the province of an architect to conveniently plan, economically arrange, properly light and ventilate, and artistically proportion, harmonize and decorate a building, but it is an important study of his to select the material, direct the workmanship and supervise the construction, so as to get the best and most pleasing architectural effect and the most satisfactory arrangement for the least amount of money, and see that the work is speedily, substantially and durably executed, and see that his client is protected from exorbitant bills of extras, liens, damage suits, and litigation of many kinds that may result in building or contracting without proper material, plans and specifications, and contracting without the aid of an architect to guard the many interests of the owner.

HINTS ON ORDERING PLANS.

Give a full description of the lot or grounds on which a building is to be placed, its points of compass, and amprovements and buildings surrounding the site, the location of streets and alleys, and the grade and height of lot compared with the same, and the direction from which the building will be most frequently approached and generally seen; give the locality and depth of sewers, or the direction and description of drainage facilities.

Give the material to be used in foundations, wall, chimneys, floors, roofing, framing, timbers, etc., and the local market value of same, and the facilities for obtaining sand and water.

Give the amount of cellar room required, the number and size of rooms on each floor, the purposes for which they are to be used, the closet, bath and water-closet accommodatsons required, and if to be supplied with water from wells, cistern or water-works.

State if the building is to be heated with fire places, stoves or furnace, and if wood or coal is to be used; also whether building is to be lighted with gas.

Give an idea of the porches, verandas, bay windows, towers, etc., that are desirable, and some idea of the inside finish.

Give the amount of money you wish to spend on the building.

Architects will submit pencil sketches, free of charge, to parties ordering plans,—to be examined, the necessary changes suggested, and then returned for the plans to be worked up in full.

The charges for plans, specifications, details complete, with all necessary information and assistance during the construction of building, are generally two and one-half per cent on the estimated cost of the building. Special and cheaper rates for small and inexpensive buildings.

Drawings, as instruments of service, are the property of the architect.

• DESIGN 43, PLATE 60. A neat little one-story five-room Gothic cottage.
• DESIGN 5, PLATE 8. A modest little suburban six-room village or country home in the Italian style.
• DESIGN 61, PLATE 4. An eight room frame dwelling in the Italian style.
• DESIGN 50, PLATE 68. A little six-room frame cottage.
• DESIGN 10, PLATE 9. An eight-room suburban dwelling in the Italian style of architecture.
• DESIGN 60, PLATE 78. Atwelve-room double frame building...of a plain Italian style.
• DESIGN 15, PLATE 20. A neat little six room dwelling in the Eastlake style.
• DESIGN 2, PLATE 10. An ornamental and artistic little eight room dwelling, in the modern American or Swiss style.
• DESIGN 46, PLATE 69. A ten-room, three-story, stone-front dwelling.
• DESIGN 39, PLATE 63. An eight room city residence