Fourteen years ago The Modern Carpenters' Companion and Builders' Guide was issued, and has since met with a sale of ten thousand copies; which, considering the fact that it has been advertised but very little indeed, shows that it met a want. Some complaint has been made that the illustrations did not always come opposite the descriptions, and many have expressed a desire for a much larger number of floor plans of modern residences, accompanied by elevations or perspectives to show the general style of exterior finish; others wanted complete framing plans and specifications.

For many reasons it has been deemed best to remodel and add to this book, thus bringing it up to date, and meeting most of the above mentioned requirements, and to distinguish this revised book from the former one, it has been decided to call it Modern Carpentry and Building.

It must not be inferred that this is a thorough, complete and exhaustive work on carpentry, dealing with framing odd shaped structures, groined arches, and the like. There are a number of excellent works of that kind already in the market, although their prices are a little beyond the reach of some, and a college education in the higher mathematics seems almost a requisite in order to thoroughly master some of them.

This book is intended as an aid to the workman in the numerous instances that are daily or constantly occurring, either where some detail has slipped his mind in some of the methods of laving out work, or suggestions in doing kinds of work with which he may not have had experience, or in making up estimates, etc., etc., - a veritable handy book to be carried in his coat pocket or in his box of tools, ready for instant reference, not left at home

A Beautiful Modern Residence. (For Moor plans of similar houses, see back part of this hook.)

Some workmen seem to consider it a sign of ignorance for a man to buy a book on carpentry, and they will say with a sneer that they did not learn their trade from a book, (some of them by their work giving ample evidence that they never learned their trade at all); while doctors, lawyers and ministers, - college graduates, - who have had special training to fit them for their duties, are constantly referring to their books, the ignorant workman feels-affronted when offered a work treating on his line of business; but the intelligent, wide-awake, up-to-date workman is always on the watch for new points - short cuts in doing work, and doing it right the first time, and he had just as soon learn new points from a book (if it is written by a practical workman - one who knows what he is talking about) as to learn it through another man, - (and perhaps the other man may be a "back number" and has forgotten some of it himself).

We have thought best to scatter the views of residences throughout the book (possibly some will not like this), and while some of the floor plans in the back part of this book may not exactly match some of the elevations, they will give a verY fair idea from which such additions or alterations can be made as customers or builders may desire, - they are offered more as suggestions than as working plans, although they can be used to build from by any intelligent workman.

If it is desired to ascertain dimensions of details of finish from the photographs of residences shown in this book, a scale can be marked off easily with a pencil on a strip of paper or cardboard, using as a basis the height of a riser on outside steps, which is generally about 7 inches, or use the width of an ordinary window which usually is about 3 feet, or the width of clapboards, shingles, or bricks. A scale made from a riser or window on front, can be used for all vertical measurements and all horizontal measurements on the front, but on a side, a separate scale will be needed for horizontal measurements owing to the fore-shortening of the perspective, and for this scale use the width of a window on the side, as a basis. To the thoughtful, intelligent workman, doubtless other methods may suggest themselves.

Some of the floor plans we show are reversed, or opposite handed from some of the views shown by the photographs, but any plan can be instantly reversed by holding it before a mirror, so that it is not absolutely necessary to have them drawn both ways, in order to judge which way is most desirable for any given location.

There have also been inserted elevations, floor plans, and framing plans complete, giving exhaustive details of a modern 2-story house of approved design and construction, together with Building Specifications and Contract for erection of a moderate-priced dwelling. We believe this feature will be greatly appreciated by our readers.

We have had a great many inquiries for a French and German edition, - dealers in the West saying they could sell almost as many of those as of the English edition, - but to all such we would say that the English edition is all we shall issue, and those who come to this country to earn their living, ought to learn this country's language, and they can use this book to practise reading.

W. A. Sylvester. Boston, June, 1896.