The New York herald., 1920-12-05

erected by some one who evidently knew
something about architecture defaced In
an idle moment by some one who evil
IDENTIFY knew nothing not even enough
to keep his hands Off The sketch should
give an idea of how satisfactory these
houses can become with the most sim
pie kind of treatment.
The row In the back offered more dif-
ficulty than that on the street, being
piainer and lacking the architectural
finish OF sthe older houses. The same
method Of restrained restoration pro-
duced good results. however. strength
ered by the addition of simple door
ways. Nevertheless. they are not over
loaded--even the solid shutters occur
only on the first floor. 1t was not con-
sidered necessary for their further beau
tification to go to the expense of putt
ting on tile and stucco ramparts In imi-
tation of the Californa mission style. or
to throw on for variety some half tim
ber stock details, or both. In spite of
all these oversights, the buildings wf1l
probably make presentable south wall
to the courtyard.
How Chenge Was Brought About.
The garden space resolved itself sim
ply through the conditions imposed on
1t. Here 1t was not feasible. as at Tur-
tie Bay. to have an elaborate system
of flower beds. but rather a layout that
would almost take care of itself. 1t
was also determined to go into as little
preliminary construction work as possi-
Bile. for this was intended as a plan
practical enough to be actually carried
out--not paper landscape.
The first step in the plan, after elimi-
mating backyard fences and outhouses
was to cut off the cement paved en-
trance court by lattice fence, to piece
out the side of the main court Next
1t was seen that the old brick and stone
pavement in front Of the rear houses
might. with a little adjustment, he re-
tained to form broad and shaded
promenade running the length Of the
row. This fortunate and interesting fea-
ture ready to hand required to get the
most advantage from 1t, row Of trees
wn1ch even while young will have great
decorative value, setting off rather than
detracting from the palmer rear houses
A few poplars helped to define the
court and to veil unsightly buildings.
ana the main body of the court was
given over to lawn fringed with
shrubs and terminated by covered ar
Dor at the more secluded end. Add to
this walks planned to reach the doors
OF the houses without cutting up the
lawn unnecessarily. some sort of stone
feature at the end opposite the arbor,
with little lattice and vines to soften
the end walls. and an effect is attained
which Will require practically no up
keep. although giving scope to any in
dividuals who may wish at certain se-
lected spots to grow beds OF flowers
So much for Pigs alley
II would seem from this that It was q
very possible thing for our man of taste
and moderate resources to have a SUIT
able and attractive home In New York
city. In fact. his resources would In
crease by 1t rather than lessen, II he
considers the enormously enhanced
value Of the property, or 1t would give
him actual return II he wished to rent
part of his house. From the artistic
point of view. this venture should de-
monstrate the adaptability of our older
buildings, under intelligent management,
to beauty as well as profit, and show
what feasible thing 1t is. with suffi-
cient common sense, to give our Colonial
architecture half chance to transform
a pigs alley into a very livable place,
q place of real beauty.