232 Architecture in the United States. 



attempts at what is pretty or wonderful. Even the suKiple Turkish 

 fountain is in far better taste. 



Domestic Architecture. 



We pass to the last division of our subject; a part yielding to no 

 other in importance, but upon which we shall be extremely brief. 

 Dwelling houses are capable of such endless modifications, and de- 

 pend so much on circumstances for their character, that it is extreme- 

 ly difficult to reduce them to rule, or, at all events, to bring the sub- 

 ject within moderate bounds. In cities, houses must be crowded 

 and generally of considerable height; in towns they are of less ele- 

 vation and at greater intervals ; while in the country they take a still 

 different character. We will endeavor however to give the subject 

 a brief consideration. The architecture of dwelling houses should 

 be marked by two qualities, first and mainly by convenience, and 

 secondly by cheerfulness. The former we must leave to take care 

 of itself. As regards the latter, a choice of one of the three ancient 

 orders will in most cases be necessary, and on this the character of 

 the edifice will chiefly depend. The Doric, it has been already re- 

 marked, is grave and majestic; the Ionic cheerful and graceful; the 

 Corinthian gay. If this is true, the Ionic is the proper order for a 

 dwelling. If the facade is large and imposing, the Roman Doric may 

 sometimes be used for the sake of variety; but where the taste is left 

 free to its exercise, we should always prefer the Grecian Ionic, and we 

 may trust to it without a fear. It has a good mixture of simplicity 

 and richness; it is pure and extremely graceful; it is in short just that 

 to which we would desire all the internal arrangements and even the 

 manners of a family to correspond. The idea may excite a smile, but 

 I assert without hesitation, that the character of a family will generally 

 be found to have some resemblance to the house in which they live. 

 The Grecian Ionic however does not appear well in small objects ; 

 and where the dwelling is broken into a multitude of diminutive parts, 

 or where none can be large, the Composite or the Modern Ionic may 

 be more advantageously employed. These are frequently used in 

 small porticos and the like ; and to them they are very well suited. 

 The Grecian Doric may perhaps be made to appear well in a dwelling 

 house, but I have never yet seen it succeed, and consider the at- 

 tempt as an extremely hazardous one. Its character of bold and 

 manly grandeur, coupled with simple majesty, is not at all suited to 

 such a building ; the Corinthian errs as greatly on the other side. 



