WOODEN HOUSES.
[To THE EDITOR Or THE "SrECTAT011."] Sin,—The papers last week contained something apropos of this subject. In one issue of the Times there were three mansions reported to have been destroyed by fire with much valuable property and works of art. In the same week there were reported one of the too frequent holocausts of live-stock, innocent creatures that do the work of our fields. The fact is our houses are to a great extent laid fires, and there is no need to add to their number in any new constructions. When the editor tells us that his board houses are as fireproof as brick- built ones it brought in the element of farce, because well- burnt brick is one of the least combustible of materials. Our forefathers did the best they knew, but with our present knowledge there is no need whatever to expose man or beast to a dreadful death from fire.—I am, Sir, &o., [All the same, the steel and brick and stone buildings in America burn as readily as wooden houses. The brick house often becomes in a fire a brick oven in which the unfortunate inhabitants are baked. Houses, as a rule, get alight inside, not outside.—En. Spectator.]
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