THE FARMER'S HOME. 9 



once knew a small farm, thus bruslied up at a cost of less than 

 fifty dollars, to sell for many hundreds more than its estimated 

 value ; and the neighbors, rather than do likewise, made them- 

 selves merry at the whitewashing, as they termed it, of the 

 retired tradesman, the purchaser. 



There is much latitude for the display of taste in the selec- 

 tion of colors and their adaptation to surrounding objects and 

 scenery. The change from the general use of white, particu- 

 larly in the suburbs of some cities, so severely criticised by 

 Dickens when in this country, to separate and mixed colors, is 

 generally an improvement to the landscape, if not in all 

 instances. Any color however, even sombre red, would be pre- 

 ferable on farm houses to no color at all, which we once saw 

 recommended, for if such advice was followed we should expect 

 to see all painted black. This would indeed be appropriate on 

 the tops of chimneys, where the remaining part and the house 

 itself are white ; the contrast and finish then being perfect, so 

 far as paint is concerned. 



We will take occasion to say, in this connection, that no 

 small matter, in the construction of a house, adds more to its 

 embellishment than an ornamental chimney. Why should such 

 elaborate finish and enormous expense be lavished on the spire 

 of a cliurch, whose apparent use is only to support a vane, 

 while the spire of a dwelling-house, wiiich serves many impor- 

 tant purposes, is simply a pile of bricks. As soon should one 

 think of walking the streets without a hat, as to build a house 

 with a plain chimney ; the economy would then be consistent, 

 though not in accordance with the present custom. 



The architecture of dwelling-houses will be left to the means 

 and disposition of the proprietor. The money expended on 

 these will seldom be realized again l)y sale. But it would be 

 cheaper to build a well-proportioned house according to ap- 

 proved and established styles, than the plain, awkward things 

 so common ; and it is certainly more appropriate and agreeable, 

 to see a beautiful and tasteful house in the country, surrounded 

 as it is, or ought to be, with much that is pleasing and orna- 

 mental in nature, than amid the streets and wharves of a city, 

 where each one builds higher and more elaborate, from feeUngs 

 of rivalry according to his rapidly accumulated wealth, and for 

 present gratification, with fitful fashion. But not so with him 



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