Union County star and Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1859-1864, 1860-06-01

Architecture fer the Country.

And on 70 ths e5ua.st with hearts oudisEnayoI.
From IL Phila;. Leissr, 21i May.
Architecture fer the Country.
There is no way Of improving the yaiu
Of property go fast as by paying create
attention to the architectural structure o
our dwellings, particularly in the country
Downing has done good Ihiug for tn
State Of New York, but his Efforts hav,
had, at present, but very small eject
comparatively, on the Interior Of the State
Round about our largest city, We are ge,
ting a few respec'able-l55kiug county
houses, but rural architecture has beet
greatly neglected. We have some of the
most forehanded farmers that are to bt
found in the United States. They have
well cultivated fields, rich bottoms, mag,
nifcent barns, a delightful climate, and
some of the finest scenery 10 the world
but the houses, what are they! General.
ly speaking, rough stone, with two front
dOors-small, jnconvenient, unwholes ome,
iil-lookiug structures, tha; de'ract from
the beauty and value Of the whole Of the
rest Of the property. Make the cOun-
try residences Of our farmers aitrac-
tive, aud they would draw capital into
farmiug-our merchants and men Of prop
erty would each want place for his fam
lily in the summer, and it would raise the
value Of lands generally, and especially of
those lands thus improved, so as to make
i, the most productive Of all Investments al;
this time.
Throughout the State Of New York, a
good deal Of this sort of movement has
been going on for several years, but i, has
only comparatively lately taken start in
the interior # our Own State Men have
speculated, aud are speeula,iug, iu miner
a. lands, but there is DO such sure invest
ments as farming land, and comfortable
home iu the country, fitted up with taste,
may become not only valuable as proper
ty, but more valuable for the feelings aud
associations to which i; gives rise, and the
habits of country life which it forms
among many who now see DO beauty in
bat costly dresses, gildei draw,
ing-roOms, and city dissipation.
Col. Slifer, the State Treasurer, is IN
dersiood to De building himself very
tasteful residence on the banks Of the Sus
quehauna, on property, part Of which be
has long owned, and on plans furnished
by Mr.. Sloan, Of this city. There is
very pretty Female Seminary a, Elmira,
and another a. Lewisburg, where the Uni
versiry Buildings planned by Thomas {.
Walter also stand; butall the way Up the
SusquehaDna, from the mouth Of the Ja-
1iats to Locshaven, the sites and opportu-
mites for good buildings, and the develop
neut Of architectural taste, are very many.
In the interior towns, the great fault, go
ar, has been determination 10 initiate
Red brick Of the plliucst
lind, with white doors aud wniow-shut-
ers, in square, narrow-trouted blocks,
tare you in the face. Now, iron fronts,
With various devices to initiate stone, form
happy relief to the eye here and there
D the new buildings Of the more thriving
owns. A Mr.. Palmer builder ard ar
hitect Of 10 little taste, has done mach to
eform and cyrrec, some of the old errors
round about him in the interior tosns Of
lilton and Lewisburg
But much yet remains TO be done, and
ew consider how much is dependent on
i,uation, and on the surrounding scenery.
'as,e need not be expensive. Let every
nan build house in the country who caD,
there his family may at least enjoy
reath of fresh air part of the year. Let
i'm first study the cost, or how much be
an afford to lay ou! in this-then conre-
ience, and then appearance, by the aid of
rural architect, man who not only un-
erstands and appreciates the beautiful in
TT, bot in nature, aud eau not only con-
truct we'll proPortiOred pile Of brick aud .
iortar, but make the whole appearance of
liDgs in harmony. A rural Gothic cot
lge stuck down iu the middle Of town,
III of course look as badly as building
twenty feet front BY sixty deep and
,ur or five stories high, would, and some
mes does, in the suburbs of city or
,wn. There is real wealth In the coun.
>, aud nothing new will pay SO we'll, or
0 SO much good, as little taste ard ar
li'eetural skill in dwellings.
-LErIs PsIxIs Q. Levisburs. whose lsrsnt.i death.
nee the .e0Ts .ss ~T.i:sr,. Jas: r.ss !sco.!.!-
J.. Ss1y { l-..-A!.a.