^^BJJ: 



PRIVATE ARCniTKCTURE. 



African nif\rij;old. Tafjcfee patuln, and Siniflotrer, IfeliaiifJnit annnvs ; Init Mr. Trimmer, 

 in im .article in tho 2d vol. of " Pivxton's Ma<;azine of Botany," p. 103, observes tlint he 

 had observed it in many other flowers. 



The cause is supposed to bo electrical, as the flashes are more brilliant, when the atmos- 

 phere is the most highly charged with electricity. " In walking in my garden," says Mr. 

 Trimmer, " in which was a considerable quantity of Nasturtium in bloom, not at a'l 

 thinking of the flashing of plants, I was struck with the very vivid flashes that proceeded 

 from them ; the scintillations were the most brilliant that I had ever observed, at the 

 same time the sky was overcast with a thunder-cloud ;" and he further remarks, that ho 

 always found them most brilliant under such circumstances. The lower orders of plants, 

 as the fungi, have long been noticed as giving light under particular circumstances. 

 Some in New Holland, species of Agaric, are said to produce light enough to read 

 by. In the mines of Germany certain fungi have been long celebrated for the light they 

 emit. 



PRIVATE ARCHITECTURE. 



The institutions of a nation may be inferred from its buildings much more certainly 

 than a man's character from the bumps on his cranium. Castles on hill-tops, huts in the 

 open fields, a few grand churches and walled towns, imply a society composed of lords, 

 vassals, an influential priesthood, and insecure artisans and traders. Provincial towns of 

 mean buildings, in a country whose capital is beautified with monuments, palaces and 

 public gardens, indicate a centralized despotism. The solitary temple, the clumps of 

 small dwellings, opening into a common garden, represent fairly the theocratical govern- 

 ment and polygamy of the Saints of Utah; while State capitals, county buildings, separate 

 dwellings and numerous small churches, are the natural products of our States-Rights 

 Federation, local legislation, family institution, division into sects and religious tolera- 

 tion. Political philosophers have reconstructed the government and social condition of 

 Ilerculaneum from its houses and furniture, as well as Cuvier did the mastodon from a 

 single bone. 



Architecture marches abreast with education, science, arts, wealth, taste and political 

 freedom. If one advances, all advance. AVc excel the last generation in public schools, 

 learned bodies, painting, sculpture and music; we are richer, demand a higher standard 

 of comfort, and do not whip Quakers, drown witches, or disfranchise Catholics. Owing 

 to the same general causes, we build better houses. Compare those of modern erection 

 in our city with those pulled down to make way for them. Our hotels are more spac- 

 ious, churches more imposing, stores more elegant, and dwellings more convenient. In 

 these last, the superiority is particularly striking. Chemical science has sent to the buyer 

 of findings and old iron the grease-dropping, expensive and dangerous lamp, and given 

 us the neat, cheap and safe gas-burner. Physiological science has settled the point, that 

 cleanliness is the best preservative of health, and good dwellings are provided with bath 

 houses. The invention of improved furnaces is gradually doing away with fire-places, 

 grates, stoves, and their suite of coal-scuttles, pokers and "helps." Dumb-waiters, 

 speaking-tubes and bells contribute their share to the increasing convenience of domestic 

 life. Ventilation is better provided for ; a child may lower or throw up a sash. The 

 ceilings, too, are higher, the stair flights are not so steep, and there is a decided effort 

 a better style of exterior ornamentation. 



