The age-herald., 1898-08-07
THE REVIVAL
 OF THE COLONIAL

The renaissance of the Colonial days which has come like wave over the country is- spreading itself with all it's delightful width and length in Birmingham. Its pop ularty means even more for Birmingham than the mere architectural beauty of it's buildings The Colonial recommends itself in many ways and lends itself to pictur- esque localities better than any other form of architecture. Its popularity is somewhat surprising, however, in that it followed in comparatively a brief time in the shadow of the old Colonial mansions. These places that are regarded as typical of the old regime are placed nowadays in interesting contrast with what may be called the col onial of today. The colonial houses of the present in following the classical lines that distinguish the old-time places have not been regardless of modern advantages, so the colonial house of today is like a relief with the colonial house of the past for a background. The colonial wave coming this way is one of the very best things that could come to a young city.
 If ones ancestors owned a great colonial house, then ones family tree is intact. "They were fine old family and lived in oneof those beautiful old colonial places" some one will say to you. That is enough to know about the family. You are sat- ished that they belonged to the oldest and best" A colonial house contributed as much prestige in the past as what the family servants said of the glories of the danes that graced them.
 The colonial places here that are become ing so greatly in evidence will really give to Birmingham what may happily be called prestige and a certain dignity that Is un- usual in a new town, and will take away the newness that is always such hard thing to overcome.
 The places here that are not colonial have in the passing of a few years acquired that delightful homelikeness that is the charm of all old places. and the colonial. adapting itself almost at once to its sur roundings will do more towards preventing that unattractive atmosphere of newness that forces itself very frequently upon you in many new towns.
 There is at once a charm about colonial places. They suggest sunlit rooms, great halls, open fire places, and the like. The halls especially give that big, airy, com- fortable look to a house. The craze for a roomy hall, ith an open fire place and 8 window seat may almost be said to take precedence over any other fad. The col- umns outside that give the imposing air are all very we'll in their way and are of course, the important feature from the colonial point of observation. The open fire place and the window seats are import ant also in the general colonial complete ness. A very lovely hall here that is car- rying out the colonial idea will have, how ever, for its only decoration besides the oak paneing columns of polished oak on either side of the doorways that lead into the drawing rooms and library.
 A colonial house that has followed very closely the beaten path has in the pretty hall way, no other aaornment than beau- tifully carved stairway that leads, appar- ently, to a great colonial window that is large enough for cathedral. The columns support an arch beteen the drawing room and library and are of pure white with colonial griling above
 A charming old hall here that admits of colonial effect is finished entirely in beau- tiful oaks. The wide chimney corner is of ornamental brick, the shelf containing handsome old curos that did duty in 9 colonial place a century ago. The stairA way looks as if it might have been bought bodily from an old English place and leads opposite the chimney piece to a rather wide landing where circular window opens. A low seat in oak runs the length of the window, and the stairway curves upward to great hall above. A place that is thoroughly typical of colonial days from its graceful columns to the great rooms inside has a vaulted oak ceiling with panels of oak reaching to the ceiling. The stairway is beyond an arch which is SUD- ported by columns and along the first flight of steps, runs a carved oaken seat. At landing there is to be placed a tall, old fashioned clock that will give a touch of colonial air to this charming hall.
 The colonial, wile demanding wide, high apartments, and great windows does not demand, as other architectural styles any great amount of furnishings. There is probably less need of draperies, and wor- rying over color effects. It has the advan- tage of completeness. It precludes any useless display of brc-a-brac, and a thou sand other things that some time cheapen houses.
 The uncovered portico that has met with great favor here is one of the most pie turesque features of the colonial places. Then the places that have been remodelled in colonial style are like charming pie typify picturesque and glorious period Even the great trees on the lawn are like a gentle breath of statelier days and are looking as if they were familiar with colonial period of powder and patches and general picturesqueness.
 ANNIE KENDRICK WALKER.