ON SIMPLE RURAL COTTAGES. 247 



length, gothicized by the introduction of three or four pointed win- 

 dows, little gables enough for a residence of the first class, and a 

 profusion of thin, scolloped verge-boards, looking more like card or- 

 naments, than the solid, heavy, carved decorations proper to the 

 style imitated. 



Let those who wish to avoid such exhibitions of bad taste, recur 

 to some just and correct principles on this subject. 



One of the soundest maxims ever laid down on this subject, by 

 our lamented friend London, (who understood its principles as well 

 as any one that ever wrote on this subject), was the following : 

 "Nothing should be introduced into any cottage design, however 

 ornamental it may appear, that is at variance with propriety, com- 

 fort, or sound workmanship" 



The chiefest objection that we make to these over-decorated 

 cottages of very small size, (which we have now in view,) is that 

 the introduction of so much ornament is evidently a violation of 

 the principles of propriety. 



It cannot be denied by the least reflective mind, that there are 

 several classes of dwelling-houses in every country. The mansion of 

 the wealthy proprietor, which is filled with pictures and statues, 

 ought certainly to have a superior architectural character to the 

 cottage of the industrious workingman, who is just able to furnish 

 a comfortable home for his family. While the first is allowed to 

 display even an ornate style of building, which his means will en- 

 able him to complete and render somewhat perfect the other can- 

 not adopt the same ornaments without rendering a cottage, which 

 might be agreeable and pleasing, from its fitness and genuine sim- 

 plicity, offensive and distasteful through its ambitious, borrowed 

 decorations. 



By adopting such ornaments they must therefore violate pro- 

 priety, because, architecturally, it is not fitting that the humble cot- 

 tage should wear the decorations of a superior dwelling, any more 

 than that the plain workingman should wear the same diamonds 

 that represent the superfluous wealth of his neighbor. In a cot- 

 tage of the smallest size, it is evident, also, that, if its tenant is the 

 owner, he must make some sacrifice of comfort to produce effect ; 

 \nd he waives the principle which demands sound workmanship, 



