406 OLD HOUSES. 



the sight is a humble two-story house, unadorned by a 

 single artistical decoration, with a venerable old tree in 

 front and a wide extent of lawn, than the most showy 

 house in the modern filigree style, with its narrow en- 

 closures, its stiff spruces, and its ornamental fence that 

 seems purposely designed to shut out Nature. 



One principal charm of a cottage consists in the rural 

 appurtenances around it; and the less inexpressive archi- 

 tectural ornament there is about it the greater is this 

 charm. It is true there is a style of building which is 

 always pleasing to the eye, and another which is either 

 offensive or unattractive. A good style differs from a 

 bad style chiefly in suggesting, by its external appearance, 

 all those exterior and interior arrangements which serve 

 to make it a happy and comfortable residence. This is 

 the principal beauty which is desirable in a dwelling in 

 order to produce the most charming effect. There are 

 certain ornaments the utility of which is not apparent ; 

 but everything added externally to a house, in accord- 

 ance with the rule of proportions, that suggests to the 

 mind an additional comfort or convenience, renders it 

 more pleasing to the sight. Hence a plain, square house, 

 without a single projection, is not so pleasant to look 

 upon as another, whose wings and vestibules, under 

 separate roofs, exhibit at once to the mind the conven- 

 iences within. A neatness and elegance of finish would 

 improve it still further ; but any inexpressive ornaments 

 would spoil it. There is a class of ornaments, however, 

 which are beautiful from suggesting something, indepen- 

 dent of actual utility, that is agreeable to the imagination. 



I would venture to affirm that the more showy the 

 house, other things being equal, the less pleasure does it 

 confer upon its owner or occupant. A perpetual glitter 

 soon tires upon the eye and wearies the mind. There is 

 a want of what painters call repose in a building that is 



