Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1849-1856, 1851-09-11

HWc copy the following interest
ing letter from the Providence Journal
we intended TO have published il some
days ago, but Il has been crowded out
NEwPoRT, Aug. o, 1851.
On n hot day within week, with a
real live flesh and blood friend, and our
dear Wordsworth "A single thick tome.
clear type, clean paper, and cali.skin.-
we set of To SPEND short screnely-
soothing season on the Southern side Vi
this "isle OF peace" close by the shore
OF the sunny sea.
Newport which has hibernnted for
almost three quarters of century, is
now under the genial sunlight OF the
noontidc Of fashion, warming into gay
and vigorous lie. However, the peo
pie resume in part their ancient torpor
as soon as the fiery career Of the dog
star is finished. From the time OF Berk-
ley until this day, often has the praise
of Newport been sung. But man has
done but little here, nature almost ALL
Man has done more to despoll than to
renew, This Island, which the good
Bishop OF Cloyne called the "Eden Of
America" century ago, in some of its
features, has materially changed during
the long interval. Most Of the fine
trees with which il was once covered
have fallen under the vandal stroke of
the early settlers and not lew grand
old apple orchards went 10 make the
pot boil when those +" Internal British
ers" bore ruthless sway. Nothing does
this island need SO much throughout its
whole extent as trees aid We feel that
we give well-iimed and valuable advice,
when we say that it is the duty Of every
inhabitant TO set about AT once planting
hem.
Perhaps there is not in the wide cir
cult Of the country SO many sites admi.
rably adapted for most charming land
scapc gardens rs may be found on this
Island. A few have already been laid
out and they present in lawn and tiny
grove, and miniature deer-park, the
sweetest little bits OF artificial scenery
that the eye may desire to rest upon.
Since we last took upon ourselves (,
he chronicler at this place, not many
noteworthy changes have been made.
We deem the principal architectural! i'm
provcment Of the town to he the new
ROmish church. This edlice has been
in progress about two years. and will
probably be completed during the pres
ent season. 1t occupies one Of the
pleasantest and most accessible locations
in the southern part Of the town, and
presents towards the water a bold and
noble aspect. The material of which It
is constructed is red sandstone, laid in
rustic courses. the surface presenting
innumerable rude unchlseled promineu-
ces, producing shadows OF great force,
and when partly mantled with ivy, or
some other parasitic plant, the whole
will have fine picturesque effect. The
architecture of the building is after a
design by that rgidly Catholic archi.
tect, Pugln, and when i. Is completed,
we think it will be acknowledged the
most thoroughly re igious edifice. in the
State. We Of course speak technically,
for we deem the severe Gothic the
strongest type for structures devoted tn
religious uses. This church in parlicu-
lar satisfies us, because we discover in
the carrying out Of the details, less
sham and miserable shift OF hollow COL
umns and stucco arches, than is gener-
ally exhibited in our crude American
attempts. Here are real arches and
clere story of solid stone, resting upon
stone columns cut in single shafts. We
congratulate our enterprisiDg friend,
Father Fitton.- knows well enough
tn I we have li.e sympathy, but all
charity, for the dogmas Of his church.
upon having so nearly and successfully
accomplished work which has long
been favorable scheme OF his heart
The tower, which is 10 be Of ftone 10
the summit, will not be carried up at
present, but is rooled on a level with the
apex of the nave. For beauty Of archi-
lecture, and fitness for its purpose, and
by beauty here, we do not mean pro-
fuse display of finical ornament, stucco
or fresco, streaky, and tawdry, and
tasteless, as in some hands the latter
often is, compared with this there is no
church in Newport worthy Of NOM
ent's notice and not many in the State
that will surpass or equal It.
1t IS pleasant to see the cool silent
porch, the deep set doorway, the shad-
owy windows, the dim, and solemn, and
mysterious roof taking the place OF the
glarng open portico, the innumerable
dimnutive pine window open
ings, and the binding, while-washcd
exteriors and interiors, Of American con-
venticle erec ions.
In building churches and chapels, in
city or country, the responsible trust Of
the choice of materials design and fin
ish, should be confided TO persons of
feeling and taste, and not left TO any,
qualified or not, who are willing to uD-
dertake it. Conceited ignorant persons
may say what they please, but there is
no safer way than TO look into books and
consult authorities. How many attrac-
tive little structures, dedicated 10 wor-
ship, built OF substantial materials, after
pure models, might we not have in our
suburban and rural districts, ii proper
attention was paid to this matter. To
be sure there have recently sprung up,
under the influence oi better tendency,
some commendable examples, which
form exceptions but in ride through
the country we shall find that the gen.
eraI rule for a village church still is, a
glaring white wooden shell, surmount-
ed by u triangular or pyramidal ROOT,
s,anding upon an open plain the sac
red enclosure, If enclosure there is, un-
profaned by either shrub or shade tree.
Some of these pastboard structures have
been built not only in defiance OF all
rules OF art, but with such a sedulous
lack OF taste as almost to shock common
propriety. The same emotions should
l. IoI, and .yprcespI i'm rearing thc