Architecture in the United States. 125 



countries, a gallery would be an evil; it adds nothing to tlic grandeur 

 of an edifice, and in them it would not be needed. But tlie case is 

 different with us. The form of our churches, as I liave said, must 

 be simple, a quality entirely at variance with this style, and without 

 something to conceal and draw attention from this plainness, their in- 

 terior will appear meagre and bare. Galleries assist in doing this, 

 but tlie edifice should be accommodated to them, and they to it, more 

 than is now usually done. The windows should be so constructed, 

 that we may feel that the gallery is not concealing their beauty from 

 our view: and on the other hand, the gallery should not be carried in a 

 straight horizontal line from pillar to pillar, in the manner of a Gre- 

 cian entablature, but should be supported by low arches of the third 

 order, and should be made to preserve the Gothic character through- 

 out- The great variety of arches and of ornaments admitted by the 

 style, will easily allow the architect to do this. 



Stained glass may be considered as belonging to the Gothic style, 

 and should by all means be employed when this is possible. The 

 secret of staining glass Is said to be known once more; at all events, 

 glass of tlie most brilliant colors can now be obtained in Boston and 

 will probably soon be manufactured elsewhere : it is now^ expensive, but . 

 we may expect it to follow the course of other things and to become 

 more reasonable, if the demand for it should increase- As to the 

 employment of it. Our means will very seldom allow the formation 

 of liistorical figures, and I will not stop to discuss the advisableness 

 of them, taken in connexion with modern taste in painting; but de- 

 vices and objects of this kind we may readily have. In forming 

 these latter, we must never lose sight of die design of this style. 

 There must not be disorder, but the mind must still be baffled in 

 the attempts which it will invariably make to systematize. While 

 we avoid confusion then, we must avoid system. The same de- 

 vice, for instance, to each window, would be felt at once by a good 

 judge, to be out of character with the style. How far this want 

 of regularity may be carried it is perhaps diflicult to determine; at 

 all events, no rule can be given for it, any more than for the other 

 parts; in which, as has been already remarked, lies the chief diffi- 

 culty of the style. 



A word or two on spires and I dismiss tliis fascinating subject. 

 The spire had its origin witli the Gothic style and may be considered 

 as belonging to it, though with us it is applied to all species of 

 churches- Among the Italians it is unknown, the tower alone being 



Vol, XVIIL_No. 2. 29 



