Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/823

 BEAU IDEAL OF AN ENGLISH VILLA. 799 ance of idleness, every thing should be so arranged, both here and in the drawing-room, as if the persons using the rooms had been employed in some way or other. This effect would be produced by the daily papers, and some periodical works, and open letters received in the morning, on the principal tables ; and, on other tables, some of the blotting books might be open : the inkstands not thoroughly in order, with some unfinished writing and open books or portfolios, would give at least the appearance of industry. I do not recommend such foolish tricks, which are, I know, often used by idle people, wlio have sense enough to feel the bad taste of indolence ; and in a sensible family, who spent their time rationally, this would be, in fact, the usual state of the room, at least during the morning. I do not think that drawings and drawing implements would be out of their place in a library. The ladies would generally draw ; and every country gentleman ought to have some knowledge at least of architectural drawing, so as to be able to design the buildings to be erected upon his estate, which are now often built from the coarse plans of ignorant workmen. Drawing would also add to the in-door amusements of a country gentleman ; it would give him a taste for the picturesque, and enable him to improve judiciously his park and grounds, and miderstand the beauties of the natvual scenerj' around his place. It would also open to him a source of innocent enjoyment, by gi-ing him a taste for the fine arts, which eveni- gentleman should patronise as far as his income will permit. But to return from this digression to the suite of living- apartments. When there is company in the house, the librarj' would be the morning sitting-room for the gentlemen, who might here read the papers and new publications, write and answer letters ; and thus, with a stroll round the garden or farm, and a look into the stables and kennels, employ the time till luncheon, after which some would join the ladies in an excursion on horseback, while others rode with their host to see some improvements upon the farm or estate. In the sporting season, those who are sportsmen would be of course engaged in the sports of the field. The ladies would occupy the drawing-room and saloon, and there amu?e themselves, some with needlework, others with a book or a drawing, others with writing or music, till they met the gentlemen at luncheon ; and afterwards the equestrians would probably ride with the gentlemen, while the rest took a carriage airing, or made calls with the lady of the house. This woidd be a frequent arrangement for the morning ; but, of course, it would be varied as much as possible. Sometimes the whole party would make an excui-sion in carriages, and on horseback, to view something interesting, or make a 'isit at a distance ; at other times the ladies would take walking exercise in the park and gardens, or visit the schools and cottages in the illage, as the weather and inclination might suggest. After luncheon, and in summer evenings, the doors of the living-rooms would be th j^ji- Open ; and on the return of the party, they would, probably, arrange themselves in groups in each of the rooms. Thus, in the library, a gentleman may, perhaps, be referring to a book, while he explains something to the ladies with whom he had conversed during the morning ride. In the saloon a lady is, perhaps, playing a lively air, while the young ladies and some of the gentlemen are lounging about the room engaged in playful convers- ation. In the drawing-room would most likely be another group, some sitting upon a couch, while others stood round the table collecting their work, books, or drawings, before they retire to dress ; and all talking over the place or people they had visited in the morning. While we have them in these positions, let me ask what you think of the general effect of the sitting-rooms now seen together through the open doors. Stand for a moment near the bay window at the end of the library, and look at the perspective view of the whole, terminating in the distant prospect seen through the opposite bay window in the drawing-room. I hope the effect is not disagreeable ; but, we cannot wait to speak of its merits or defects : the half-hour bell has rimg, the ladies are hurrying to their dressing-rooms ; and, as the gentlemen slowly follow, let us take a look at the dining-room, while the party are engaged at the toilette. 1686. The Dining-room. To get to the dining-room we must proceed through the saloon and lower gallery into the hall, where a door of two leaves in the centre of the lower end admits you to the room. Here I would have double doors. We will suppose the room of the same width as the hall, but six or eight feet sliorter. The walls covered with old oak wainscot ; the ceiling rising from them with a slight cove to the flat com- partment, which would be formed into panels of various shapes by rather hea-y mouldings of stucco. Scattered over the whole would be groups of fruit and flowers, shields of arms, and three pendent ornaments to support bronze or gUt lamps. The coved part of the ceiling should be also richly adorned with devices in stucco : a large shield of the family arms would be an appropriate ornament for the centre of each side, surrounded by emblems of hospitality. The wainscot should have a broad handsome cornice round the upper part of it, and might be covered nearly with pictures in handsome gold frames, of any subject (except, perhaps, scripture pieces), such as portraits, landscapes, historical pictures, amusing subjects, and pictures of feasts. The chinmey-piece should be very