202 CHAMOIS HUNTING. 



The same feeling which guides a painter in the com- 

 position of his picture, which urges the removal of 

 uncongenial forms, which strives after unity by the 

 harmonious blending of the parts an intuitive sense 

 of the beautiful, in short, which when put in action 

 becomes Art this feeling it is, which, unconsciously 

 to himself, has guided the mountaineer in the con- 

 struction of his picturesque dwelling. 



Unpretending, simple as they are, even with all their 

 rustic adornings, they never fail to be admired by the 

 stranger. The pleasing effect they produce on every 

 beholder arises, in no small degree, from their dis- 

 playing no disparity between end and means : on the 

 contrary, a sense of perfect purpose is experienced 

 as you look at them; both the forms and the con- 

 struction seem to have sprung naturally from the ma- 

 terial employed. And they did so : their arrangement 

 was dictated by the various wants and habits of the 

 peasant, and by the climate of the country ; their con- 

 struction was in accordance with the material used, 

 and adapted to the simple tools, mechanical contri- 

 vances, and particular architectural knowledge, which 

 the self-taught peasant had at his disposal in building 

 his dwelling. Growing up in this way, taking a 

 form" according to the man's necessities, not hiding, 

 but rather displaying, the homely material which 

 nature had provided for it, -such a building could 

 not fail of being impressed with a decided character. 

 There is no endeavour to conceal the simple wood- 

 work, or to make it appear of some more valuable 



