MRS. WREN―ARCHITECT

Radio Record, Volume I, Issue 27, 20 January 1928, Page 15

MRS. WREN―ARCHITECT

Such a fuss about houses!" exclaimed Jenny Wren. "Tf everybody did what I do the housing shortage would end itself. Mv husband and 1 generally start building in-the spring; it is so pleasant to work in the sunshine, with a snatch of food now and then. The house is usually ready at the end of a fortnight. It is no mean, putup thing, but large and comfortable enough to rear a good sized family in "T’ve built many houses in my time; I often had to do most of the building myself. My husband, as you know, is a professional singer, and I cannot always rely on his help. Of. course, he tries to keep the building season free, but if we’re hard-up he has to earn something to keep us going. Ile’s such a dear. "As I mentioned before, we build in. the fine spring weather. I’ve found. from long experience that one good model house that has proved itself reliable is the hest to stick to, and so I don’t go trying lots of new ways. There isn’t time. I find for my purpose that a cosy, one-roomed cottage is the most conyenient, "Yor the site I like a little private _place where we can get an ,equal amount of sunshine and shade. We do not usually have any bother with that, as there are so many pleasant places. When we’ve got our build. . ing materials we lav the foundation. stone (stick, my husband ealls it), and then build up the walls, putting on the sweetest little roof you can imagine, We have just one entrance, and we do not make it too large, so that no cold draughts can come in. It is so cosy and warm inside. "Having done mv bnildine, T bring up mv hahies. Mv hushand says I have neyer had an ugly baby in mv life, and that’s a good deal for a man_ to say, isn’t it? They really are darlings. When T come back from mv shopping T find them all at the door, every mouth oven! It is all T can do to get enough food for them The onlv serious trouble I have is about steps. Mv hushand prefers an elevated position, so that I am hound to have a flimht of stens, and the children often fall down them when thev are young. Now I must be getting hack to them, Good-bve! Come to see me at the Privet, Lawnside."