Rural Homes. 179 



We cannot admit that we like all the plans he has given, 

 though they are nearly all copies of such as have been erected 

 under his care. A few are excellent, particularly the suburb- 

 an villa, page 107, while one or two are but little to our 

 taste. 



It is the general character of the work, and its common- 

 sense, practical character which pleases us most. The views 

 of Mr. Wheeler, in regard to the choice of a site for houses, 

 general arrangements, the suitableness of materials to partic- 

 ular styles, and his concluding observations on architecture, 

 as a fine art, its influence on the mind, heart, «fcc., each 

 treated upon in separate chapters, are highly valuable ; and 

 though not particularly new, are discussed in a familiar and 

 pleasing manner, which cannot fail to interest every individual 

 about to build. 



We select a few specimens of Mr. Wheeler's style. The 

 first is on the essential characters of the Gothic style. 



Another style, for which wood is a suitable material, is that called 

 " Gothic." 



Unfortunately, tliis beautiful and eminently rural style has been vulgar- 

 ized and greatly abused ; and I know that many persons of pure taste are 

 hence frightened when the idea of " Gothic" is presented to them as the 

 style suggested for their home. 



Excuse me now, if I speak a little scientifically. Gothic is an architec- 

 tural classification of principles of erection now determined simply to mean 

 pointed, in contradistinction to those principles which recognized rectangu- 

 lar lines as their fundamental basis ; thus classic architecture, as it is called, 

 with its upright columns and pilasters, and its entablature and cornice rest- 

 ing' on them at right angles, or springing from them in semicircular curves 

 is very easily distinguished from that style which has its lines all tending 

 upwards to a point, and of which its cui-ves, in every instance, meet in a 

 point. The different periods at which certain styles of pointed architecture 

 prevailed, give the name to its various classes now in use. Rural Gothic 

 is wrouglit out from these different styles, and though the peculiarities of 

 each period of pointed architecture are very marked, they have become 

 universally so blended in modern domestic architecture, a description of the 

 points of difference in each period is scarcely needed. 



But the great principle upon which all were based, and in which all 

 agreed, was reality : every form of even the simplest moulding ; every line 

 and portion of the building was contrived exactly to answer the purpose for 

 which it was intended ; and in this we wUl gladly follow the mighty artist- 

 minds of old, while we scorn the petty trickery of servilely copying a bit 



