^~:.......                                          .......:~^
~:........                                          ........:~
:.........                                          .........:
..........                                          ..........
:.........                                          .........:
~:........                     #                    ........:~
^~:.......  .              .~~~~.               .   .......:~^
=^~:...... . =~~   ~=@  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)                 ..:~^=%@##
###@%=^~:.                                          .:~^=%@###
##@%=^~:..                                          ..:~^=%@##
#@%=^~:...                                          ...:~^=%@#
@%=^~:....                                          ....:~^=%@
%=^~:.....                                          .....:~^=%