The day book. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1857-1867, 1866-08-06

ssf as COED medium Of co@n"y a"eer'tS'ny
to the community.
An COMMUNICATIONS FOR the DAY HooK must be
authenticated BY the names Of the toriters.
Al Letters containing rsmittancss Of money for
this office, must be reg'stsred.
Copies of our Weekly and IRE Weekly paper
san Be had at our counter, ready toraPped for
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Our Houses.
When Norfolk man for the first time
visits another town, he is struck with vast
difference between the architecture OF bis ma
tive CITY and that Of the one in which he has
arrived He finds the style of building SO
very opposite in all respects, that he opens
his eyes in amazement, like the Yarmouth
er" on his first visit to Boosting" He sees
everywhere residences combining convenience
and economy, with beauty of exterior such
as he may have seen in splendid pictures, but
which, up to this time, he believed existed
only in the imagination of the Artist lie be-
comes acquainted in the city Of his temporary
abode, and in visiting the houses Of his newly
made friends, he finds the internal arrange
ments very superior to anything he had ever
imagined. He observes that the kitchen. to-
gether with all the modern improvements of
ba5hing-rooms, &c., &C., are under the same
roof with the dwelling house; thus saving the
necessity of going out into the brolling sum
shine in summer, the snow and ice In winter,
and the drenching rain whenever it occurs.
He sees at once that there is an immense
.diminution of expense consequent upon these
Improvements and their position "a saving in
fuel and in many other things, and such a
saving in labor that, what work is done by
three servants in Norfolk, is easily performed
elsewhere by one. The advantages conse-
quent upon this latter fact, are evident by the
absence OF noise and chatter in dwelling and
in kitchen, and in the greater freedom the
lady Of the house enjoys in being relieved from
the harassing superintendent Of so many
eye-seryants, and in having always at her dis
posal plenty of time to devote to theimprove-
ment of the minds and manners and necessi-
ties of her family, or to the demands OF So
ciety
On his return hcnle, he makes up his mind
that what he can't alter must be endured.
He sinks back as an oyster in his she'll, and
after while, forgets his ''loreign" impress
sions. He determines, however, to build for
himself after while he selects lot, and az
Ger many months of anxious exertion OF his
mind about architecture, up goes house on
she exact box-like pattern OF those of his
nsighbors, with kitchen twenty yards dis
tant, little cstern with wooden pump in
Vie JAf - COuldfuluS tHOuSaild Raliouo VI oo,
and as far off from both house and kitchen as
he can get it, and 6 smoke -horse in position
to tempt thieves.
Why is it that we will not adopt styles of
building that will combine convenience with
economy and health?
One caase is, that among us We do not give
sufficient encouragement to the noble profess
sion OF the architect "a man must serve
bis Tina to every trade" but our builder, in
many cases, imagines that he needs not the
services f an architect, and draws his own
plans makes his own bargains with carpen-
ters and bricklayers, saves ,Jfvs per cent. by
dispensing with the architect, and loses thirty
otherwise, and to crown the whole, constructs
an unseemly pile, inconvenient in arrange
ments warm in summer, and cold in winter.
Our dwellings are nearly all built on the
same plan: two rooms on the first floor, two
on the second, with large closet at the head
Of the stairs, and room in the garrett. Some
times we have small wing in addition.
and this plan is adopted on every street,
Dot only those running east and west, but
those running north and south. Nothwith-
standing there are some buildings which are
attractive and an ornament to the city, yet,
it must be apparent to every observant man
ia walking through our streets, that the arch
itect has not been abroad among lis