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Who
has not felt discouraged when standing at the foot of a long,
straight flight of steps, looking up at that top which must be
reached, however tedious and difficult the way may appear?
Put in a landing
half or two-thirds up, and a turn in some other direction, and
all is changed. The distant goal is hid, as in the journey of
life, not seeing very far ahead, we start with confidence, rest
a moment perhaps, or change the motion at the turn and reach the
top as it were by two efforts, neither of which has been
fatiguing. I speak with the more confidence of this matter, as
the house we have occupied for years has such a landing, and the
ease with which we reach the rooms above is still cause of
congratulation, especially after a recent experience in climbing
a straight flight. Probably as good proportion as any for steps
is 7 1/2 inch riser and 10 inch step. Make the top of second
floor exactly 10 feet above the upper side of lower floor, and
fifteen of these steps or sixteen risers will land you all
right. It is important to make this close calculation before
laying the joists, as a single step differing from the rest in
height, if only by the fraction of an inch, is exceedingly
annoying, and many a serious bruise has been brought about in
this way, with perhaps not a suspicion of the cause.
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