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Page 30
CHAPTER IX.
PROFESSIONAL ETIQUETTE--BLINDS AND BESSIE.
The next demonstration from the architect was a pencil drawing of the
floor plans, submitted for inspection and criticism. Concerning these
he wrote to Jill's entire satisfaction. "From many of my clients I
should expect the first question would be, 'Will a house built in this
shape look well outside?' It is not necessary to remind you that at
this stage of the proceedings such an inquiry is wholly irrelevant. The
interior arrangements should be made without a thought of the exterior
effect, precisely as if the house were to wear the ring of Gyges and be
forever invisible to outsiders. There are several points, however, on
which I await further instructions----"
"What's the use of having an architect," Jack inquired, "if you've got
to keep instructing him all the time?"
----"provided you wish to give instructions," Jill continued reading.
"There is often a misunderstanding between architect and client, and I
wish to avoid it in the present case by saying at the outset that while
there are many things which, in my opinion, should be referred to you,
I am ready to decide them for you if you wish me to do so; but even in
such cases I prefer to set before you the arguments pro and con, after
which, if you still desire it, I shall accept the arbitration. This is
not a rule that works both ways or applies universally, for while
referring to you matters relating to use and expenditure, and at the
same time standing ready to decide them for you, I cannot promise to
accept your advice in matters of construction and design. I trust I
have not yet reached the fossiliferous state of mind that prevents my
listening with sincere respect to candid suggestions, even from those
who are not fairly competent to give advice; but on these points you
must not expect me to follow your taste and judgment in opposition to
my own, even if you do pay the bills. When your physician prescribes
arsenic and you inform him that you shall give it to your poodle and
take strychnine instead, he will doubtless infer that his services are
no longer desired; he will know that while he might be able to kill
you, he could not hope to cure you. Patients have rights that
physicians are bound to respect, but the right to commit suicide and
ruin the physician's reputation is not among them. The relations of
client and architect are similar.
"This is one of the questions which I refer to you, but will answer for
you if you send it back: How shall the eyes of the house be closed?
Shall the eyelids be outside blinds, inside folding shutters, 'Queen
Anne' rolling blinds, sliding blinds or Venetian shades? There are good
reasons for and against each kind; either, if adopted, compels some
compromise. Whichever road you take you will wish you had taken the
other.
[Illustration: THE CONTRIBUTION OF BESSIE'S FATHER.]
"For instance, in hot weather outside blinds that shield the glass
from the direct rays of the sun keep the rooms cooler than any form of
inside shutters; they allow a gradation of light and a free circulation
of air. You can even leave the window open during a summer shower
without danger of being drenched. Last but not least they are
inexpensive. The wrong side of the outside blinds appears when you wish
to make wide windows, or mullioned windows, or windows that cannot
command at each side an unobstructed wall space equal to at least half
their own width for the blinds to rest against when open. Under such
circumstances, which are by no means rare, outside blinds are
stubbornly unmanageable.
"Inside blinds that fold back and swing away from the windows must have
wide recessed jambs to hold them when they are not in use. If the
windows are broad these 'pockets' will require a thick wall and thus
increase the actual size of the house. A little space may be saved by
allowing them to stand out obliquely when open, or turn around upon the
inside face of the wall, but either mode increases the cost of
finishing the rooms. If these blinds are made of open slats, many
housekeepers despise them as being no better than small cabinets
maliciously contrived to accumulate dust; if of solid panels, they make
a room perfectly dark, or when opened ever so slightly admit unbroken
rays of sunlight. On the other hand, inside blinds are accessible; they
can be opened and closed without leaning half one's length out of the
window; they do not hide the glory of plate glass; they graciously
permit windows to stand where they please and to be as large as they
please; and they never quarrel with piazza roofs, awnings, hoods or
other outside accessories.
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