.....~-†=$                                          $=†-~.....
......~-†=                                          =†-~......
.......~-†                                          †-~.......
........~-                                          -~........
.........~                                          ~.........
..........                    #                     ..........
.........~  .              .----.               .   ~.........
........~-  . =--   -=§  THE BASEMENT  §=-   --== . -~........
.......~-†   .   -#-     .----------.     -#-    .  †-~.......
......~-†=                     #                    =†-~......
.....~-†=$                                          $=†-~.....
....~-†=$@ 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)                 @$=†-~....
...~-†=$@#                                          #@$=†-~...
..~-†=$@##                                          ##@$=†-~..
.~-†=$@###                                          ###@$=†-~.
..~-†=$@##                                          ##@$=†-~..
...~-†=$@#                                          #@$=†-~...