New-York tribune., 1904-09-25


This is beautiful picture book The text
undoubtedly counts for something, since the
brief notes of which 1t consists convey useful
bits of information: but the main thing is Mr..
Lathams collection Of photographs. reproduced
on generous scale In faultIess half tones To
turn these pages is to make. as it were. tour
Of England. to enter scores OF stately mansions
and to obtain a very good idea of their artistic
and social meaning We say social advisedly.
for the halls and mirrors Of Versailles not
more eloquent OF the movement and color OF
French society In its most Respondent era than
are the English manors Of the gait followed by
the English arfstocracy In its finest estate.
There are lessons here for the builders of great
houses. lessons OF dignity and taste. One may
see especially how the style of the spacious
English homes came 20 be the expression Of tina
actual daily life Of the country.
Take. for example. the question OF those
perb halls which lend a kind OF grandeur to
places like LongIeat and Hatfield. Mr.. Latham
points out that the hall was a great feature OF
a country castle OF manor. not only in the
twelfth and thirteenth centuries but later:
He Here the host received his visitors and
family and his guests sitting above the salt and
OF the hall was a high table for the lord and his
family upon the dais, with tall bay window
times. with approach TO other parts Of the house
tSe ha from n the lobby which Opened at one end
TO the courtyard. and sometimes at the other to
1t were the kitchens and domestic Offices
For long time the hall possessed character
of peculiar Importance If. as Mr.. Latham
notes. cit was customary for ladies to receive
their visitors OF both sexes in their bedrooms"
this because the bedroom was the only
apartment. after the hail. built on an ample
scale and furnished with special care. Amid all
the subsequent changes in the domestic archi-
lecture OF England. which added to the eonven-
ience and charm of every room In the house. the
haH retained its pride of place as the focus OF
family life. 1t did not serve the purpose OF a
vestibue. II the most used room In the
house. To certain extent this might be said OF
1t to-day. At all events in many OF the man
sions photographed by Mr. Latham the hall
holds its own with the drawing ROOM IL Il does
not take the place Of that feature This is one
way of saying that the English have had a way
with them of building houses for ase OF making
decoration subordinate to the sentiment OF
home. The influence OF this principle may bs
discerned in the mode followed by the English
men OF earlier centuries when they set out to
build.
The craftsmen took their directions from .
master builder who In effect the archtect
The owner would outline his requirements. and the
ciples. would carry them out intrustng various
were In possession OF designs. but who. at the
time. possessed great fund OF originality.
There were some owners. like the Cecils who
themselves men of great taste and understanding
IN architecture and the arts. and who gave the
Impress OF their personality to the houses they
built. Sir William Cecil. for example. devoted
CeasCleSS attentiOn to the building OF Burghley
House He secured from Venice twelve statues
Ot the EmperOrs. and marble pillars arrived from
Hamburg. while crowd Of masOns carried on the
work under his instructions. In the same way did
Hatfield arise. and CharleCOte. begun in 1858. and
other great houses. were built upon the same plan.
Upon LOngleat. Audley End and Hengrave Hall
the impress Of the owners is strong. and il is
largely concerned in the design and construction
Of those great places.
In short. there Is nothing professional fash
ionable or freakish about these homes. which
speak. indeed. of nothing so much as Of British
simplicity and sincerity. Here and there. OF
course there is an exception to prove the rule,
The painted dining room at BrakelOw Hall.
which MIR. Latham photographs. is one OF those
tasteless fantasticalities which In any epoch
of architectural development may easily get
themselves perpetrated- But In most cases the
noblemen OF Great Britain have settled them
selves in homes illustrating ideas OF simple
stateliness. relying upon space richness of ma
terial. solidity of workmanship and robustness
in design. to gain effects Of a kind Of weighty
magnihcence. And they could be dainty too.
when they chose. the carved staircase at Cas-
tie AShby the plaster ceiling In the oak room at
Burton Agnes, and a score OF other beautiful
productions all CLEARLY daunOuSfrafa One