416 Reviews. — Cottage Residences; or a 



every man looks forward to that period when he shall possess 

 a house; and when that time arrives, in the haste which is 

 characteristic of our people, and without scarcely any previ- 

 ous thought or study, the house is to be at once erected. A 

 common carpenter is consulted; the prevalent style of build- 

 ing in the immediate neighborhood, whatever that style may be, 

 is decided upon; and, in a short time, the whole is completed 

 and ready for occupation. The owner is satisfied with it, for 

 the simple reason, that he has never seen examples which 

 please him better; or, if he may have seen a few, he has not 

 courage to depart from the usual style, for fear of the ridicule 

 and sneers of his neighbors and friends, and the risk of being 

 denominated odd. If he who intends to build has no know- 

 ledge of architecture, and does not feel competent to super- 

 intend the erection of his building, persuade him to apply to a 

 professional architect — describe to the architect the conven- 

 iences and comforts which are required; and, after giving him 

 some idea of what is wanted, leave to his good taste and judg- 

 ment the style and the details of the building — directing him 

 to superintend, and see that the work is properly executed. 

 Such a house will not only be a source of domestic comfort, 

 but a source from whence vi'ill spring a more just appreciation 

 of the Beautiful, and a higher and more comprehensive idea 

 of that harmony which is the fundamental principle of all ma- 

 terial forms. 



The leading chapter, headed "Architectural Suggestions," 

 contains some excellent remarks on the color of buildings; 

 and our author quotes the following, from Sir Uvedale Price, 

 in his Essays on the Picturesque, which we copy, with the 

 hope the good advice may be borne in mind by all who intend 

 to build. 



One of the most charming effects of sunshine, is its giving to ob- 

 jects not merely light, but that mellow golden hue so beautiful in it- 

 self, and which, when diffused as in a fine evening, over the whole 

 landscape, creates that rich union and harmony so enchanting in na- 

 ture and Claude. In any scene, whether real or painted, when such 

 harmony prevails, the least discordancy in color would disturb the 

 eye; but if we suppose a single object of a glaring white to be intro- 

 duced, the whole attention, in spite of all our efforts to the contrary, 

 will be drawn to that one point; if many such objects be scattered 

 about, the eye will be distributed among them. Again, (to consider 

 it in another view,) when the sun breaks out in gleams, there is some- 

 thing that delights and surprises, in seeing an object, before only vis- 

 ible, lighted up in splendor, and then gradually sinking into shade: 



