RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 
383 
Among the numerous entrance lodges which we remember 
to have seen in the United States, we scarcely recall a single 
example where the means, or rather the facility, of opening 
and shutting the gate itself, has been sufficiently considered. 
Most generally the lodge is at too great a distance from the 
gate, consuming too much time in attendance, and exposing 
the persons attending, generally women or children, to the 
inclemencies of the weather. Besides this, service of this 
kind is less cheerfully performed in* this country than in 
Europe, from the very simple reason of the greater equality 
of conditions here, and therefore every thing which tends to 
lessen labour, is worthy of being taken into account. 
For these reasons we would place the gate very near the 
lodge ; it would be preferable if it were part of the same 
architectural composition : and if possible adopt the contri- 
vance now in use at some places abroad, by which the gate, 
being hung nearest the building, may be opened by the 
occupant without the latter being seen, or being scarcely 
obliged to leave his or her employment.* This is certainly 
the ultimatum of improvements in gate lodges ; and where it 
cannot be attained, something may still be done towards 
amelioration, by placing the gate within a convenient dis- 
tance, instead of half a dozen rods apart from the lodge, as 
is frequently done. 
* In Fig. 61, is shown the section of a gate arranged upon this plan. At the 
bottom of the hanging post of the gate, is a bevelled iron pinion, that wurks into 
another pinion, &, at the end of the horizontal shaft, a, — which shaft is fixed in a 
square box or tunnel under the road. The part to the right of the partition line,/, 
is the interior of the gate-keeper’s house; and by turning the winch, e, the 
upright shaft, c, is put in motion, which moves, by means of the bevelled pinions, 
g, d, the shaft, a, and therefore, through d, the back post of the gate, which is 
opened and shut by the motion of the winch, without obliging the inmates to 
leave^the house. 
