BENEFIT STREET, PROVIDENCE.
the kitchen, the odors of the culinary operations, and the plumbing is a splendid economic scheme. I should think that the system of plumbing of the old houses would need to be renewed by this time, which I have no doubt is being attended to, as I believe, according to the latest social canons, one may not better establish himself in Philadelphia than by reclaiming one of these ancient domiciles in what has, perhaps, become a somewhat problematical neighborhood.
Certainly, it must be lots of fun to rehabilitate the paneled shutters, to tie them with ribbons run through the rings, to restore the marble steps to immaculate whiteness once more, to make the smiling fan-top doors smart again with new paint, to brighten the windows with curtains that may be often re-laundered, and lastly, to go to Wanamaker’s for a new busybody.[4]
Then comes the happy day when we may set up our household gods in a way infinitely to our liking, and reëstablish in business that ever willing, all ’round faithful servant—the back-building, which Philadelphians assure us has cured the case of many a malade imaginaire, with almost human instinct, by unexpectedly taking fire. (See [Plate XLII].)
MODERN CHIMNEY-PIECE.
Joy Wheeler Dow, Architect.