In a labour-saving house all rooms should be under rather than over furnished, and free of heavy, stuffy draperies. There should be a gas ring or electric heater in each room or on each floor, so that in the case of illness food can be prepared. Hot water there will always be, day and night. What are the domestic tasks which women most dislike? Getting coals out of the coal cellar. Cleaning grates and flues. Carrying heavy trays, cans, and coal-boxes up and down stairs. Cleaning doorsteps. Doing washstand work. Then why continue to perform them? [Illustration: _PLATE XII_ A THREE-LIGHT GAS FITTING, WITH INVERTED BURNERS AND SHADES SUCH AS ENSURE A PLEASING LIGHT The switch systems, now readily adaptable to gas lighting, enable the burners to be lighted and extinguished by the mere pressing of a button. (Evered)] IV Of polished metal there should be a minimum, and glass rather than silver should be chosen for table use. Stainless steel knives take the place of those which need cleaning. The meals should be simplified as much as possible. Earthenware casseroles in which the food is cooked and served save washing up. Rotary brushes by which boot and other cleaning may be carried out are worked by electricity. Linoleum with rubber treads is substituted for stair carpets whenever possible, in order to save carpet beating and the cost of stair-rods. The use of a suction cleaner, Bissel carpet sweeper, long-handled scrubbing brushes and mops, telephone bells, an electric "not at home" indicator on the front door, a polished dining-table, glass tops to sideboard, side, and dressing-tables will all reduce the labour bill. It is also important that each person in the house should refrain from making unnecessary work for the others, for to tidy up after an untidy person absorbs far more time than is often realised. But, alas! such a home as I have described is not within the reach of many people. Like the Kipps, we are looking for Dreamland or 1975, and it has not come. Still, there are people who build houses and there are more people who rebuild houses, and large numbers who do up houses, and if one cannot do all one would like, it is generally possible to achieve some of one's ambitions. It is not the work but the spirit in which it is done that degrades. [Illustration: _PLATE XIII_ COMPOSITE GAS COOKER (3 INDEPENDENT OVENS AND HOT PLATE). SUITABLE FOR A LARGE HOUSEHOLD WHERE THE AMOUNT OF COOKING VARIES VERY MUCH] CHAPTER IV WHAT THIS CHAPTER IS ABOUT _The Basement House--Good Neighbourhoods and Dying Neighbourhoods--A Typical Labour-Making House--A Labour-Making House Converted--Another Suggestion for a Labour-Saving House--Fitting and Furnishing._ CHAPTER IV THE LABOUR-SAVING HOUSE AS IT CAN BE I It was an Irishman who advised, "If ye can't be aisy, be as aisy as ye can," and his advice was good.