THE BUILDINGS
1
What kinds of buildings do you pass on your way to school? Write a list
of all the kinds that you have ever seen.
Look at the pictures of buildings in this book and see if you know for
what each is used. How can you tell?
2
Of all the many kinds of buildings in town or country, the _houses_ are
the most important. It is more necessary to have good homes to live in
than to have the other buildings large or beautiful. What makes a good
residence? There must be enough room for the whole family. It needs
plenty of light, air, sunshine and water. It must have a good roof to
keep it dry in stormy weather. It should be well heated in the cold
winter. Tell of other things that are needed in our homes to keep the
family healthy and happy. How can you help to make your home pleasant?
3
Good _schools_, too, are very necessary. The school-house must be built
to keep the boys and girls comfortable and healthy while at work. Name
some of the things needed for a good school building.
[Illustration: A STREET SCENE IN NEW YORK.]
4
The libraries and museums also teach people. A _library_ is like a home
where many friendly teachers live. These friends will talk to you and
tell you many useful and wonderful things. Have you ever visited them at
the library? Have you ever taken any of them home with you? Is there a
library near our school?
The _museums_ are full of many interesting objects. You may see
beautiful pictures and statuary. Some have collections of pretty stones
and of stuffed animals. Curious clothing, jewelry, toys and musical
instruments used by people in distant lands are shown too. In a museum
in Portland you may see the dear little clothing worn by the poet
Longfellow when he was a tiny baby. Many books that Washington read are
kept in a museum near the city of Washington. Have you ever visited a
museum in a city? What did you see there?
5
No buildings anywhere are more beautiful than the _churches_. Are there
any churches in your neighborhood? Describe the church which you attend.
6
In town and country there are many ill people who cannot be cared for at
home. They go to _hospitals_ to be nursed back to health and strength.
The good doctors and nurses work day and night to cure the sick people.
How can well people help sick people? Where is the nearest hospital to
your home? What is it named?
[Illustration: INDEPENDENCE HALL.]
7
Almost every town has a _Town Hall_. Have you ever seen such a building?
What is it used for? Here the mayor has his office. Sometimes the Town
Hall or Court House has a high tower, or a fine dome, or a cupola. If
you have ever seen a Town Hall tell how it looked.
8
Think of the _stores_ that you have seen. How many kinds can you name?
What does each sell principally? Where are these things made? Have you
ever seen a large _factory_? What does it manufacture?
[Illustration: PITTSBURGH OBSERVATORY.]
It would be fine if all of the buildings in which folks work were sunny,
airy and clean. People employed in comfortable stores and factories are
happy and feel like working.
Alas! there are many miserable places where the workmen are crowded and
uncomfortable. The impure air makes them tired and ill. If you have seen
a good store or factory tell what helps to keep the workers comfortable
and healthy.
9
Old cities have in them many very old buildings that all Americans love.
The magnificent Capitol at Washington was built long ago. It is one of
the finest buildings in the world. It is built of white marble. In the
first picture in this book notice the beautiful dome and the great high
stairs. In Philadelphia is the dear old Independence Hall with the
Liberty Bell. Boston has the old Faneuil Hall. Here many great Americans
of long ago have spoken to the people. Are there any old historic
buildings in our neighborhood?
[Illustration: LONGFELLOW'S BIRTHPLACE, PORTLAND, MAINE.]
10
Suppose some friends travel on the railroad to visit us. At what
railroad station would the train arrive? Are there any other stations?
How are they built? Do you think they give a beautiful, clean, friendly
welcome to strangers? All stations should be pleasant and comfortable to
cheer the tired travelers that pass through them day and night. At
Denver, just outside of the station, there is a great arch stretching
across the street. It says, "Welcome," in bright letters at night and in
pretty letters in the day. The visitor is glad to see the friendly word
after a long trip.
[Illustration: OLD SOUTH CHURCH, BOSTON.]
11
When friends come from another town we like to show them the sights.
Plan a nice trip around the town. Write a list of places to which you
would take them. You must know where each place is. What could you tell
about each place?
12
One day we should visit some park. Is there any near our school? Are
there any interesting buildings or statuary in the park? Is there any
water near by?
When we visit our town park we should remember that it belongs to us,
for a public park belongs to all of the people. Do you not like to have
the things that belong to you as good, as useful and as beautiful as
possible? Do you want your home to look sweet and clean and comfortable,
or dirty, careless and unpleasant? Do you want your clothing to be
strong, neat and pretty, or torn and dirty? We should all take pride in
having the things we own just as good as possible. When you are in the
street, the school, any public building, or in a park, say to yourself,
"This is mine." Then look around and see whether you like the way it
looks. Think how you can help to keep it looking well or make it look
even better.
[Illustration: WINTER SCENE IN FAIRMOUNT PARK.]
How can boys and girls help keep the grass, the paths, the flower-beds,
the trees and the buildings beautiful? Where does the money come from to
pay the caretakers of the park?
Some people visit the park only in spring, summer or autumn. We all love
the park in those seasons. Many do not know how beautiful the bare trees
look in winter with their gray or brown branches. There is no more
exquisite sight in the world than to see these trees coated with
glistening ice out to the tiniest twig, or to see them ridged with
pearly white snow. It is a merry sight to see the jolly coasters and
skaters.
13
Copy the list of buildings given below and mark each kind that you have
seen. Tell where you saw it, of what it was built, or for what it was
used.
Residence School Museum
Store Church Car-barn
Bank Hospital Library
Factory Railroad station Office
Stable Government building Garage
Dairy Barn Ice House
What building is shown on the cover of this book?