44: PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS. 



most convenient. Both tlie elements of warmth and 

 beauty, however, may sometimes be secured by placing 

 the family rooms toward the south, and the public 

 rooms toward the east or west, with end windows to 

 the south or north, if the finest views happen to be in 

 these directions. 



Note. — It will be readily seen that our author writes 

 for an English, Scotch, or Irish climate, in remarking 

 that " the views from the hall door are of minor im- 

 portance." Our American climates in summer, when 

 fine views are most to be enjoyed, are decidedly dry, 

 as well as warm ; and the hall door, or one of them, 

 at least, if there be two, should lead on to the veranda 

 overlooking the best view from the house. The ve- 

 randa, even in the northern states, is the most pleasant 

 place of resort in fine weather, and in the southern 

 states it is indispensable for the enjoyment of the open 

 air. Thus, the hall door, in that connection, becomes 

 a prominent feature of the house with us ; while in 

 England, even in midsummer, it is but little used for 

 such an object. For the same reason — the compara- 

 tive coolness and moisture of the summer climate — we 

 see few verandas on the English houses. They court 

 the sun ; we seek the shade. Contrary to the text, there- 

 fore, a hall door and veranda should be on the best front 

 of the house, whenever the main conveniences of the 

 dwelling will permit them. "With the other quite cor- 

 rect remarks of our author we entirely coincide, and 

 with him most heartily beg every builder of a house in 

 the country to avoid a cellar-kitchen as he would a 

 pestilence. Such things have no business out of a city 

 under any pretense whatever. A rear wing to the 

 house is the appropriate building for the kitchen, and 



