device is extremely quick and handy; the other very neat and substantial. The lock to the left has both bars pivoted to a lever handle, which is pivoted to the door midway between the ends of the arms. Moving the lever handle up moves both arms out of slots above and below the doors. The fastening may be also worked from the inside by cutting a slot through the door and setting a pin in one of the arms, so that it can be moved in the slot.

The right-hand fastening is worked by raising the lower arm so that the notch incloses the middle staple at d. Then the upper arm can be pulled down. Both arms stay firm and snug whether the door is shut or open.

HOLD THE BARN DOORS SHUT

A latch that will hold double doors shut is shown in the cut. This is put on the inside of the door that is closed first. It is made of hardwood 4

OPEN

d

a

CLOSED

LATCH FOR DOUBLE DOORS

inches wide and 1 inch thick. To open the door, turn the piece, a, to the right and pull down on the crosspiece which is fastened to the door by a bolt in the middle. This will raise the latch, c, and lower the latch, d, as shown in the cut to the right.

Open your doors to a fine day, but make yourself ready for a foul one.

Prosperity is the thing in the world we ought to trust the least.

FASTENING THE STABLE DOOR

A handy stall door fastener is shown in Figure 1. It consists of a piece of oak or other hard wood

a

FIGURE I-LONG FASTENER

4 inches wide by 7% inch thick and 2 inches longer than the width of the door. It is fastened to the door by a 38inch bolt through the middle and it works like a button. Cleats, b, are sawed out and fastened to the door jamb on each side to hold the fastener in place.

Another handy fastener that can be worked from either side of the door is shown in Figure 2.

There are three upright pieces, a, two of which are on the door and one on the door jamb or casings. Another piece, b, slides through these and holds the door shut. A pin, c, goes through the bolt and through the door to open or shut it from the a opposite side. The bolt is kept shut by the spring, which can be made from a piece of hickory, or other tough hardwood, whittled down to the proper thickness. The spring feature is the chief advantage, and a

SPRING

FIGURE 2-SPRING FASTENER

very important one it is, of this excellent fastener. It is also a good point that the fastener works nicely from the opposite side of the door.

Sell cheap and you will sell as much as four others.

They must hunger in frost that will not work in heat.

'Tis easier to build two chimneys than to maintain one.

HOMEMADE DOOR LATCH

This consists of three pieces of oak or other good hardwood, as shown in the drawing. For the handle use a piece 8 x 2 x I inches. Shape a flattish knob on one end 3 inches long. Work down the rest so as to pass through a 1-inch auger hole. Shape a

CATCH

HANDLE

LATCH

DETAILS OF LATCH

piece 5 x I x 8 inches.

knob on the other end by flattening the sides. The latch is made of a The catch is 8 x 2 x 3/4

inches. Bore a 1-inch hole for the handle 3 inches

from the edge of the
door. Push the handle
through the hole and
mark on it the thick-
ness of the door; then X
bore in the handle a
38-inch hole for the
latch. Now assemble
the parts according to
the finished figure,
which shows the latch
thrown back. A little
peg may be used to
keep the latch from
falling down when the
door is open. By tak-
ing pains to shape and

LATCH IN PLACE

finish this latch nicely it will look well enough to please the artistic eye of the most fastidious.

When We Build
лде Build

IMPORTANT POINTS IN HOUSE BUILDING

HE following points in building a house are considered of the greatest importance by a well-known architect: Carefully watch that the foundation walls are substantially laid, and accurately leveled on their upper surfaces, so that the doors shall not strike the floor or carpets in opening, nor the tables, chairs, or other furniture be obliged to stand on three legs.

The framework, when raised, should be plumb, so that all on or in the building can be cut square, and applied without tedious fitting. The siding should be thoroughly seasoned in the open air before using, and carefully applied with close joints, and well nailed. The edges of all water tables, corner boards, and window frames should be painted before setting.

The shingles should be carefully laid, breaking their joints at one-third of their width and double nailed. The flooring should be dry, close laid, and nailed with two nails to each beam. The partitions should be set with studding of selected width, and their angles or corners should be anchored firmly together to prevent the walls from cracking in those parts when finished. The chimneys should be carefully constructed, all points between the brickwork should be well filled with mortar to prevent sparks from passing through to the framework.