.....,-\†*                                          *†\-,.....
....,-\†*#                                          #*†\-,....
...,-\†*##                                          ##*†\-,...
..,-\†*###                                          ###*†\-,..
.,-\†*####                                          ####*†\-,.
..,-\†*###                     #                    ###*†\-,..
...,-\†*##   .              .----.               .  ##*†\-,...
....,-\†*# . †--   -†#  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)                 ###*†\-,..
.,-\†*####                                          ####*†\-,.
..,-\†*###                                          ###*†\-,..
...,-\†*##                                          ##*†\-,...
....,-\†*#                                          #*†\-,....
.....,-\†*                                          *†\-,.....