Buildings and Yards. 



457 



of ornament. The spindle-legged porch usually goes with a light-con- 

 struction and weak-looking house. 



The reaction of the town on the country in the matter of architecture 

 is stronger than most of us are aware. One rarely sees a new farm 

 house adopting the old farm house models. Part of the reaction expresses 

 itself in the desire of every person to have a house unlike every other 

 person's. This is really commendable, only that this individuality should 



Fig. 276. — A Nnv York farm house. 



be got by a difierent fun;!amcntal plan rather than by the introducing of 

 mere oddities or accessories. We now are likely to feel that our build- 

 ings must have what we call '' style," and this results in a showy building 

 with much effort expended on incidental parts, — scroll work, crests on 

 the ridge, turrets, dormers, fantastic windows, spindle work, and the like. 



If any house should look to be strong and substantial, it should be 

 the farm house. The farm house stands by itself. It is not built to sell, 

 nor to serve a single generation. Land is substantial: the buildings go 

 with the land. 



I must not be understood as saying that the country is worse than 

 the city in respect of its buildings. In fact, I think that the country is 



