RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 3S3 



the purposes of domestic life, makes a sad blow at both 

 these established rules. As a public building, the Greek 

 temple form is perfect, both as to fitness (having one or 

 more large rooms) and expression of purpose ; — showing 

 a high, broad portico for masses of people, with an ample 

 0])ening for egress and ingress. Domestic life, on the 

 contrary, requires apartments of various dimensions, 

 some large and others smaller, which, to be conveniently, 

 must often be irregularly placed, with perhaps openings or 

 windows of different sizes or dimensions. The comforts 

 of a country residence are so various, that verandas, 

 porches, wings of different sizes, and many other little 

 accommodations expressive of purpose, become necessary, 

 and, therefore, when properly arranged, add to the beauty 

 of Rural Architecture. But the admirer of the true 

 Greek models is obliged to forego the majority of these ; 

 and to come within the presci'ibed form of the rectangular 

 parallelogram, his apartments must be of a given size and 

 a limited number, while many things, both exterior and 

 interior, which convenience might otherwise prompt, have 

 to bow to the despotic sway of the pure Greek model.* 

 In a dwelling of moderate dimensions how great a sacrifice 

 of room is made to enable the architect to display the 

 portico alone! We speak now chiefly of houses of Ihi 

 ordinary size, for if one chooses to build a palace, it is 

 evident that ample accommodations may be obtained in 

 any style. 



* We are well aware that such is the rage for this style among us just now, 

 and so completely have our builders the idea of its unrivalled supremacy in 

 their heads, that many submit to the most meagre conveniences, under the 

 name of closets, libraries, etc., in our country houses, without a murmur 

 Qelieving that thoy arc i- ilizing the perfection of domestic comfort. 



