KURAL ARCHITECTURE. 353 



ticularly on the banks of the Hudson and Connecticut 

 Rivers, as well as in the suburbs of our largest cities. 

 Here and there, beautiful villas and cottages in the Italian 

 or old English styles, are being erected by proprietors who 

 feel the pre-eminent beauty of these modes for domestic 

 architecture. And from the rapidity with which improve 

 ments having just claims for public favor advance in our 

 community, we have every reason to hope that our Rural 

 Architecture will soon exhibit itself in a more attractive 

 and agreeable form than it has hitherto generally assumed. 

 We take pleasure in referring to a few of these buildings 

 more in detail. 



The cottage of Thomas W. Ludlow, Esq., near Yonkers, 

 on the Hudson (Fig. 54), is one of the most complete 

 examples on this river. The interior is very carefully 

 and harmoniously finished, the apartments are agreeably 

 arranged, and the general effect of the exterior is varied 

 and pleasing. 



There is scarcely a building or place more replete with 

 interest in America, than the cottage of Washington 

 Irving, near Tarrytown (Fig. 55). The "Legend of 

 Sleepy Hollow," so delightfully told in the Sketch-Book, 

 has made every one acquainted with this neighborhood, 

 and especially with the site of the present building, there 

 celebrated as the " Van Tassel House," one of the most 

 secluded and delightful nooks on the banks of the Hudson. 

 With characteristic taste, Mr. Irving has chosen this spot, 

 the haunt of his early days, since rendered classic ground 

 by his elegant pen, and made it his permanent residence. 

 The house of " Baltus Van Tassel" has been altered and 

 rebuilt in a quaint style, partaking somewhat of the 

 English cottage mode, but retaining strongly marked 



symptoms of its Dutch origin The quaint old weather- 



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