18 INTRODUCTION. 



square form, and frame them together into 

 houses ; but you see that these framed houses 

 were at first rather rude in their appearance. 

 It was not long, however, before they learned 

 to build them more elegantly ; and now for 

 many hundred years, but very little improve- 

 ment has been made in the style of wooden 

 buildings. But instead of wood, many build- 

 ings, especially in cities, are now made of brick 

 and stone, which you know are much more 

 durable than wood. This is particularly true of 

 stone, which, it is well known, will last several 

 hundred years. 



I observed that there had been but very little 

 improvement made in the style of building for 

 many hundred years ; but I meant in regard to 

 elegance. People are learning, every year, 

 how to construct houses so as to make them 

 more convenient for those who occupy them ; 

 as well as more easily and cheaply warmed, 

 ventilated, &c. The ventilation or airing of 

 buildings, to purify them and make them more 

 healthy, was once scarcely thought of. And 

 as for fuel, which, so long as a country was new, 

 many were glad to burn as fast as they could, 

 in order to get it out of the way, they are now 



