........~=                                          =~........
.........~                                          ~.........
..........                                          ..........
.........~                                          ~.........
........~=                                          =~........
.......~==                     #                    ==~.......
......~==^  .              .====.               .   ^==~......
.....~==^%  . ^==   =^&  THE BASEMENT  &^=   ==^^ . %^==~.....
....~==^%&  .   =#=     .==========.     =#=    .   &%^==~....
...~==^%&@                     #                    @&%^==~...
..~==^%&@#                                          #@&%^==~..
.~==^%&@##  THE BASEMENT IS A MAN-MADE SUBTERRANEAN ##@&%^==~.
..~==^%&@#  ENVIRONMENT WHERE YOU COULD FIND SUCH   #@&%^==~..
...~==^%&@  THINGS AS THE FURNACE, THE LABYRINTH,   @&%^==~...
....~==^%&           REPTILES OR GRAVES.            &%^==~....
.....~==^%                                          %^==~.....
......~==^  A SMALL OR RURAL BASEMENT IS A CELLAR.  ^==~......
.......~==                                          ==~.......
........~=             =#=    .    =#=              =~........
.........~                                          ~.........
..........  OFTEN CREATED IN GOOD FAITH, A BASEMENT ..........
.........~   IS NEVERTHELESS A WAY TO BRING A CAVE  ~.........
........~=    INTO YOUR BUILDING, AND CAVE THINGS   =~........
.......~== WITH IT. I'VE FOUND THAT IT'S EASIER TO  ==~.......
......~==^   THINK OF ALL CAVES AS THE SAME LARGE   ^==~......
.....~==^%    STRUCTURE, IT'S JUST THAT ALL PARTS   %^==~.....
....~==^%&    MIGHT NOT BE PHYSICALLY CONNECTED.    &%^==~....
...~==^%&@     THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE INVITING IN.      @&%^==~...
..~==^%&@#                                          #@&%^==~..
.~==^%&@##                 .      .                 ##@&%^==~.
..~==^%&@#            =#= . USAGES . =#=            #@&%^==~..
...~==^%&@                 .      .                 @&%^==~...
....~==^%&                                          &%^==~....
.....~==^%  THE PURPOSE OF A BASEMENT IS OFTEN TO   %^==~.....
......~==^    HIDE UNSIGHTLY APPLIANCES, ENGINES,   ^==~......
.......~==  INFRASTRUCTURE (PIPES AND WELLS)... OR  ==~.......
........~=  TO HIDE THE TRUE WEIGHT (PURPOSE?) OF A =~........
.........~                BUILDING.                 ~.........
..........                                          ..........
.........~  TO DRAW FROM THE EARTH AROUND IT, PUSH  ~.........
........~=         ABOVE GROUND, LAUNDERED.         =~........
.......~==                                          ==~.......
......~==^   A CELLAR IS A MORE SENSEFUL AFFAIR,    ^==~......
.....~==^%   LESS INTENSE... MADE TO STORE THINGS   %^==~.....
....~==^%&    (FOOD OR BREWS, TOOLS) IN A COLDER    &%^==~....
...~==^%&@  ENVIRONMENT. PERHAPS TO GROW MUSHROOMS. @&%^==~...
..~==^%&@#  PERHAPS TO BURY CORRUPT CREATURES (NOT  #@&%^==~..
.~==^%&@##                 ADVISED)                 ##@&%^==~.
..~==^%&@#                                          #@&%^==~..
...~==^%&@                                          @&%^==~...
....~==^%&                                          &%^==~....
.....~==^%                                          %^==~.....
......~==^                                          ^==~......