RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 
353 
ticularly on the banks of the Hudson and Connecticut 
Rivers, as well as in the suburbs of our largest cities. 
Here and there, beautiful villas and cottages in the Italian 
or old English styles, are being erected by proprietors who 
feel the pre-eminent beauty of these modes for domestic 
architecture. And from the rapidity with which improve 
ments having just claims for public favor advance in our 
community, we have every reason to hope that our Rural 
Architecture will soon exhibit itself in a more attractive 
and agreeable form than it has hitherto generally assumed. 
We take pleasure in referring to a few of these buildings 
more in detail. 
The cottage of Thomas W. Ludlow, Esq., near Yonkers, 
on the Hudson (Fig. 54), is one of the most complete 
examples on this river. The interior is very carefully 
and harmoniously finished, the apartments are agreeably 
arranged, and the general effect of the exterior is varied 
and pleasing. 
There is scarcely a building or place more replete with 
interest in America, than the cottage of Washington 
Irving, near Tarrytown (Fig. 55). The “Legend of 
Sleepy Hollow,” so delightfully told in the Sketch-Book, 
has made every one acquainted with this neighborhood, 
and especially with the site of the present building, there 
celebrated as the “Van Tassel House,” one of the most 
secluded and delightful nooks on the banks of the Hudson. 
With characteristic taste, Mr. Irving has chosen this spot, 
the haunt of his early days, since rendered classic ground 
by his elegant pen, and made it his permanent residence. 
The house of “ Baltus Van Tassel” has been altered and 
rebuilt in a quaint style, partaking somewhat of the 
English cottage mode, but retaining strongly marked 
symptoms of its Dutch origin The quaint old weather- 
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