Part 46 (1/2)
”In what does it consist?”
”Principally in the newness of the one, and the oldness of the other
There, what one sees reminds him of the past; here, he beholds only presentireat difference, I a”
”You may well say that Here there is no style Our houses are models of bad taste, and pretty much all alike The time will undoubtedly come e shall have a domestic architecture, but it will require soet rid of narrow cornices, innumerable small s, and exclusive white paint”
”You should ly
”Consider the poverty of a new country, and theto allow the excuse all the weight it deserves, but I cannot understand how poverty can be an excuse for bad taste, or why because wood is used, a house may not be made to have an attractive appearance I think there are other reasons more efficacious than the plea of poverty, which can, indeed, no longer be , ”you do not love anything about us Puritans, and your objections, if politeness would allow you to speak the at Calvin's children; but hearken, if I cannot find excuses to satisfy even you”
”I shall listen eagerly, but s about the Puritans, but some Puritans themselves”
”Surely, I know it But now listen to my defence The first settlereat rants were accusto to be attended to was to secure shelter
Under these circumstances you will admit that attention to the principles of architecture was not to be expected They knocked up houses as cheaply, and plainly, and rapidly as possible, content if they kept out wind and weather Wood was preferred, because it was cheaper, and quicker worked Thus lived the first generation The condition of the second was somewhat improved; they had become accustomed to their houses and were tolerably satisfied The third had never seen anything better, and not having the means of coe, and finally, as man is a creature of custoard a style of building that had sprung out of the necessities of their ancestors, as an evidence not only of good sense, but of good taste
The iht have disabused them, but these would naturally fall into the ways and sentiments of the people, and were their tastes ever so aratify thein, and thus is to be explained the continuance of Ae, ”that would have driven a Greek out of his senses But though I will not quarrel with you about its origin, does not its perpetuation for so long a time affect the character of our countryloomily, ”and with it the stern virtues that are of more importance than a trifle like this”
”There can be no connection between an improvement in architecture, and a deterioration of s wealth, and wealth is the ratify the caprices of luxury and taste Perhaps, at some future day when stone and nificent Grecian and Gothic telass, taken the places of the huhtful and judicious will sigh for those times of primitive simplicity, when an hu, and God's as listened to devoutly on hard seats instead of being dozed over in cushi+oned pews”
”You are becoe ”This will never do Progress,every day Banish these sick fancies”
Ar shook his head ”I envy you,” he said, ”your hopeful and joyous spirit, while I know you are ive you a portion of it But to co so much fault, it is tiliness of our houses, this es and country towns, that in cleanliness and an appearance of substantial comfort, they infinitely surpass their rivals in Europe I do not except the villages in England Who can walk through one of our New England country tohere majestic elms throw their shadows over spacious streets, and the white rose clambers over the front doors of the neat, white painted houses, standing back a rod or two fro behind, while Peace and Plenty bless the whole, and not be grateful for a scene so fair, for a land so fortunate!”
They had now arrived in sight of the Judge's farm-house, which stood at some distance from the main road, from which a lane planted on both sides with e pointed out the changes he had made since he became the owner
”When I purchased the property,” he said, ”the house looked very differently It was stuck full of little insignificant s that affectedeyes; its two or three inches of cornice stole timidly out, as if ashamed of itself, over the side, and the whole wore an aard and sheepish air It made me uncomfortable every time I looked at it, and I resolved upon an alteration So I shut up half the s, and increased the size where I could, and threw out a cornice, which, besides the e (that is the national word, I believe) of acting as an uainst the mid-day heat of the sun in summer, and the storms in winter Besides, I added the veranda, which runs nearly the whole length of the front”
”I confess it is an i
”I expected the acknowledgment frohing, ”except when corrupted by traditional prejudices I must take care of my horse myself, I suspect,” he added, as they drove up to the door: ”the men are probably all in the fields He will stand, however, well enough under this shed” So saying, and after Arhted at the door, he drove the horse under a shed, near the barn, and fastened hi, the two entered the house
”La, Judge!” said Mrs Perkins, the far down her check apron, ”you take us by surprise to-day We didn't expect you, and the men-folks is all in the lot Didn't you find your ride very warm?”
”Not very; and if it had been, the pleasure of seeing you, Mrs