330 ON TASTE IN ORNAMENTAL DESIGN. Past II. 



of proportion in themselves ; others are of so extravagant a 

 height as to overwhelm, and spoil, the building they belong 

 to ; especially when that building is itself deficient in eleva- 

 tion ; and we often hear people eulogise the height, or the 

 number of steps in a tower or a church-steeple, without any 

 consideration of its proportion to the size of the building ; as 

 if excellence was only to be measured by feet. 



It is not only necessary that the architect should possess 

 all the qualifications enumerated by Vitruvius; he should 

 also be able to adopt, and adapt, hints from the style of 

 other times and countries; but this must be done with 

 judgment ; so that when beautiful features are added to a 

 building they may not interfere with the requirements of those 

 who are to inhabit it, or other necessary conditions. 



96. The whim of building a Greek house in a northern 

 latitude is much on a par with having one in a dry hot 

 climate provided against the effects of cold and snow. There 

 is no universal style for every country, as there is no universal 

 medicine for every complaint ; though there is one condition 

 which will apply equally to northern and southern climates — 

 that the walls be thick, being a protection both against 

 heat and cold. How far a particular kind of architecture may 

 be modified so as to suit another country, and other habits, 

 will depend on the ability of the architect ; nothing, however, 

 should be adopted from a mere love of imitation, without due 

 considerations of its adaptability. An inferior work may 

 sometimes be improved by an able imitator. But he must 

 have perceptive talent in an eminent degree who shall pretend 

 to improve ; and we often see the difficulty which some have 

 in copying any subject, and in giving the exact spirit ; fully 

 confirming the observation of M. Topffer already quoted 

 (p. 327). This is sometimes the case in drawing Greek statues, 

 where the likeness may be given, and yet the real character 

 may be wanting. And the remark applies even more for- 



