The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-08-20
The Roofs Of parts.


The Roofs Of Parts.
We notice in the Providence, (R. l..
Journal, very pleasant letter written from
Paris. One remark in it is worthy OF con.
sideration. 1t is this:
81 know not BY what indefnable charm
what subtle influence Paris so captivates ms
imagination. Certainly, il is not by thu
brilliant baxaars Of the Boulevards and the
Palais Royal, nor yet by the superb equipag-
es and gay throngs Of pedestrians that give
to the streets and promenades Of the imperi-
al city such endless variety OF attraction
1T any special and separate feature OF Paris
produces that unwonted sense OF buoyancy
and exhileration that :" lifts me above the
earth with cheerful thoughts" think j,
must be the tall, quaint, fantastic roofs, the
spires and obelisks, the domes and towers
and pinnacles TINT rise SO airIiy into the
deep, Questionable blue above. Although
my attention is often called to the long lines
OF glittering splendor in the crowded streets
and quais, can never willingly withdraw
my gaze from this aerial panorama; of this
am never weary. Often rise at the FIRST
hint Of dawn, while the air is still cool "and
delicate with some last starry touch" to
see, from the balconies Of the Hotel de Lou
vre, the red light stream through the long
perspective OF B street, lighting up its
many sioried roofs and quaint dormer win
dows, and shedding its soft glow on the east
ern FACADE of the old palace Of the Louvre,
that looks, at this early hour, so dreamy and
quiet among its garden plots Of geraniums
and june roses"
The use that is made Of roofs for purposes
OF adornmcnt and picturesque effect, in Eu-
rope, often ELECTS the attention of travellers
from America. And it is a matter of sur.
prise that more use is not made of the roof
for these purposes, in this country, than VIC
often see. Next to the broad mass Of wall
no part of the building presents SO admira-
BILE a means of producing agreeable and at
trnctiye effects. Its very size would seem
sufficient to have recommended ii for that
purpose, and to have prevented its being
overlooked. In the earlier history of thi.
country, it WAS more frequently employed
than it has been latterly. This fact is in
dicative Of decline Of TASTE And vet pop.
ular taste has probably improved, instead Of
declining, during the growth of the nation
The cause Of its existence would doubtless
be found in the general disposition anon.
architects to copy after the Grecian form
and styles Of building, and that people mad
little use Of their roofs for such purposes
But yet it is great resource of beauty an,
effect thrown away,--a resource which "
have made infinitely less use Of than tn
builders Of Europe. We have almost trie
to shut out Of mind the mere existence of
roof. We build the mass of our store,
warehouses, and what we call our "better
buildings, flush up to the highest point, q
around, and then make the roofs fat, so tina
the eye cannot rest upon them at all. Fo
all purposes except to shed rain, they are or
t,rely lost, and they are very nearly RUNE
Tor that purpose. Some features Of III
roof we delight in. The spire and the dom
we employ whenever We can, often in n,
chaste and inelegant forms. But the broa
mass Of roof, so susceptible Of rich nj
quaint and gratifying adornment, we eith
thoughtlsssly or deliberately cast aside. 81
this will not always be so. There are sigI
greater variety Of styl has been introduce
and more attention is paid TO the roof al
its capacities for ornamentation and effect.
Mr. stanlcy's Letter Of Acceptance.
Upon having received information Of h
nomination Of Governor for California
the Republican State convention, Mr.. Stal
ley made the following hasty answer BY ,c
egraph;
SAN FRAscIsco, july o, 81.
To Messrs. T. W. Park, Ira p. Rank
and a. A. Sargent
Soon after | learned the Lords praye
ana the Ten Commandments, was taus
THAI every man had duties to discharge
his country. Among the first to adyoca
Der claims for admission into the Union
shall be the las. to say she has no claims
me.
II you cannot prevail, ns hope you ma
Oh better man 10 be your standard bear,
and can trust North Carolinian upon fai
in his past life and expressed opinions, 1
name is at your service.
| know the honest men and patriots "
make this nomination will do their coun,
no harm. Yours, &C.,
ED. STANLEY.
RoBsEEY II MoLlss.-~We have lust b.
Informed By Mr.. Mills, that the store Of \
M-..:s, IL Mcsire, was entered his Morn,
abou, 2 O'Clock, the safe blown open v
gunpowder, and pocket book contain
yaluable notes and money to the amount
one hundred and fifty TO two hundred d
lars taken tberefrom. Two explosions
10 be made before the safe could be ester
The locks Of the inner and outer door v
filed with powder and touched OF. Wei
that the villains will be apprehended aud
example made Of them il found guilty
We like to see fellows Of this chara
have I'll the Law allows them. Rock lei
Adv.
GT-Dr. ]. Foster Of Minnesota, info
the Chicago Ledger that for one hund
miles above Minneapolis and St. Anthol
Falls, there are not one hundred acres
crops spared By those rapacions insects,
grssshoppsfs.