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The House that Jill Built - after Jack's had proved a failure by E. C. (Eugene Clarence) Gardner
page 83 of 193 (43%)
pleases; but I think we have a right to insist that they shall add to
our comfort. They must be large enough to be used, they must be put
where we can use them conveniently, and they must not interfere with
the interior arrangements; beyond that we shall accept what the
architect sets before us."

"'Asking no questions for conscience sake.' How about the roof--is that
also a matter of evolution?"

"No; because the inside of the roof is of but little consequence. It
must keep out the rain and wind, snow and ice; it must be strong and
economically built and have a reasonable amount of light. The rest we
shall leave to the architect. As Uncle Harry observes, 'the material
part of the house rests upon the foundation stones; its spiritual
character is displayed chiefly in the roof, which may change to an
unlimited extent the expression of the building it covers.'"

[Illustration: JACK'S ARCHITECTURAL PHRENOLOGY.]

"That's so. Let me make the roofs for a people and I care not who
builds the houses. The roof on the house is like the hat on the man, as
I can show you," said Jack, taking a piece of charcoal from the stove
and drawing on the back of the fireboard some astonishing illustrations
of his theory.

"Here is the president of a big corporation who must be dignified
whether he has a soul or not. He represents the 'renaissance.' No
nonsense about him, no sentiment, no sympathy, no anything but--himself
and his own magnificence."

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