The first line that a woman's imagination draws at the dawn of her first awakening is for that house which no one shares with her save the one she chooses as partner of her life and father of her children. This imagined picture may differ in young heads according to environment and education. That is something we shall not go into, since it lies outside the scope of our study; but the utmost of what we desire for our young men and young women is to direct their inclinations — while they are still in the season of youth — toward drawing the plans of this longed-for house in a manner that accords with hygienic rules and health requirements. And no wonder: the choice of the house's natural site is of the greatest importance in preserving their health and the health of their families, and a powerful factor in keeping the freshness and gladness of youth — those two things for whose loss family happiness is so often lost.

I hope it will not be understood, from our offering advice on this matter, that happiness cannot be complete for a married couple unless they possess money enough to build such a house or to rent one resembling it. For among the old houses, some of which we have inherited from our fathers, there are those worthy of our pride and of being preserved, to remain the dear and precious heritage of ourselves and our children, speaking to us and to them with the memory of fathers and grandfathers. If circumstances compel us to go on living in them, or to rent houses of their kind, we must not let ourselves suppose that this is what troubles the serenity of our married life. The wise and sensible wife can repair the house and remodel it from within in various ways that make it suit her taste and secure her comfort. We shall come later to mention some of these repairs, which are indispensable in our present age. But what I see of the general awakening along this path, and the desire of the sons of the present generation for family independence and for moving after marriage into a house of their own, is what has prompted me to speak of it before we surrender to this building current without any deliberation or thought.