The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1876-01-29
Architecture

sso oS0 vi Clt llIZULIOIl tucIc Is
scarcely any that can be compared
to the comfort which flows trom the
system of habitation adopted by
mankind. 1t is obvious that saya
ges, living as they do in a state OF
nature, could not be supposed to
possess any very definite ideas in
regard to comfortable dwellings,.
1t is reserved for a higher order of
intelligence and cultivation to
improve upon the rude habitatlons
of the plain and wilderness. Man
kind has certainly made vast
strides in the direction of COW e
nlent and comfortable dwellings,.
Nay, we are prepared to admit
that the science of building has
made such wonderful progress in
our day, that no further improve.
ment seems possible.
W. DO not propose to enter intO
a discussion of architecture in
relation to its general principles,
but only in so far as it's principles
and practical workings apply to
the section of country in which
We are Immediately interested.
In the first place, what is the
effect produced on a stranger who
first sets foot on the soil of our
section of the State I! He may
have heard a vast deal about the
inexhaustible resources of our
land, the beauty of it's verdure,
the magnificent forests, the genial
and balmy zephyrs, whose gentle
influences tempers the whitening
breath of Winter, aud he fancies
that he is about to enter the gold.
Ell gates Of another garden of the
Hesperides. To his dismay and
evident disappointment he finds
that, with all the appliances and
resources with which nature mas
80 b%Ounteously blessed this favor.
ed land, we are still wofully iguo
rant of some of the simplest and
most elementary principles of
dwelling architecture.
The first defect in our system of
building, at least the one which
first attracts the notice of the
is the monotonous uni.
fcrinity of our houses. There
seems to be all cncbantnlent or a
spell on our builders, which pre-.
vents them from departing from
the old system of building prac.
tised by their ancestors from time
immemOrial.
How different it is in the North
and West. There, no man likes
to be an lmitator OF his neighbour,
but, on the contrary, he sets ali
bis wits to work to devise a plan
varying in all respects from that
adopted by his neighbors. The
consequences is, that skilled arcili
tects and mechanics are IN great
and a beautiful variety
Of dwelling houses is secured. The
rich banker has his stately man.
sion with its pillared portico and
ornamented towers I; the prOtes
man Of moderate means
has his elegant suburban villa
the vine-cOvered and flower
uncovered cottage or the sturdy
and cultivated mechanic rises in
modest proportions among it's
more ambitious neighbors. On
avery hand, We find something to
for We see comfortable
and tasteful homes.
1t may be asked what remedy
10 We propose to cure this mania
or building all houses alike. We
would suggest to persons who
intend building, to send for some
book Oh architecture, and the
chances are ten to one that they
would find some plan within the
of their MEANS They would
nus have a large variety of plans
or cottages and villas to select
rom, ranging in cost from fifteen
hundred dollars upwards.
"WoOdward's Country Homes',
\ Il valuable work on the sub
ect, aud can be bought for a trife
It any bookstore on application.
here are others of equal value
which could be consulted with
by those DESTROYS Of
If one public.spirited citizen
ould be induced to break the
pell we have indicated above
y building d house combining
aste, elegance Of design and com
Drt, then we feel assured, that
theirs would be found to follow
he example, and we might in
he course of time present a town
t which all its citizens might be
lstly proud. If the remarks we
ave made Oh this subject could
. the means of stimulating our
GLOW citizens to a proper appre
latiOn of its Importance then