...:=†**&#                                          #&**†=:...
....:=†**&                                          &**†=:....
.....:=†**                                          **†=:.....
......:=†*                                          *†=:......
.......:=†                                          †=:.......
........:=                     #                    =:........
.........:  .              .====.               .   :.........
.......... . *==   =*&  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)                 *†=:......
.....:=†**                                          **†=:.....
....:=†**&                                          &**†=:....
...:=†**&#                                          #&**†=:...
..:=†**&##                                          ##&**†=:..
.:=†**&###                                          ###&**†=:.