THE ARCHITECTURE OF TOWN-HOUSES. 383 



it not for the generally disagreeable views that are obtainable from 

 the backs of town-houses, I should be often inclined to advise that all 

 the best rooms in such a case should be placed at the back, with pro- 

 jecting bays, and so to obtain, as far as is practicable, some glimpse and 

 use of the sun during all hours of the day. 



Why, too, can not the backs of our houses be made more decent, if 

 only by means of glazed bricks varied occasionally with bands of color ? 

 When we see the backs of some of the grand, stucco-covered palaces 

 of our western suburbs, we are apt to think of the old rhyme which, 

 written on some piece of modern church or chapel architecture, says 



that — 



" They built the front, upon my word, 

 As fine as any abbey ; 

 And, tbinking tbey might cbeat the Lord, 

 They made the back part shabby." 



Of course, I know glazed bricks are more expensive than the common 

 stocks, but the extra expense would be amply repaid by the extra 

 light and better air, for the glaze naturally makes the brick not 

 absorbent, and every shower of rain would wash the walls, so faced, 

 clean. 



Why should we not have every new house in such places as Berke- 

 ley or Grosvenor Squares built with projecting oriels and bays, and 

 high-pitched gables ? The gables would add materially to the light and 

 comfort — not to say anything of the artistic character — of the rooms, 

 while the latter would surely be preferable to the generally miserable 

 so-called dormers, which are, as a rule, set back behind the balconies 

 or parapets, in the attics of most town-houses ; these, I am told often, 

 are quite good enough for servants, a selfish, cruel, if not a suicidal 

 opinion ; for, if we are to have servants in health, and fitted to carry 

 out their daily occupations, with comfort to themselves and justice to 

 their employers, their rooms should be just as light, airy, and cheerful 

 as any others in the house. Let the sun call them in the morning if 

 you can, and give a greeting in a light, cheery manner to the com- 

 mencement of their daily labor. In addition to the manifest improve- 

 ment to the elevation and rooms of the house, all these irregularities 

 tend to promote movement in the air, to give light and shade, and 

 thus to help toward health in the building, and pleasure in our walks 

 abroad. 



In speaking upon the next part of my subject, that of design, I 

 desire to recognize and appreciate, in the largest possible sense, the 

 varieties of taste which must necessarily prevail in an age where, as a 

 rule, precedent and fashion are all-predominant ; but I do insist that 

 the external design, properly considered, that is, the general elevation 

 of the street front, should and must be subservient to the internal re- 

 quirements ; and that the light, air, ventilation, and common-sense 

 requirements of the house must in no way be sacrificed to the external 



