Page:Architectural Review and American Builders' Journal, Volume 1, 1869.djvu/433

 1868.] Our Architecture Reviewed. 355 viewed as stately worship, and took every possible pains to avoid. Their churches they called meeting-houses, and these were as plain in external and internal appearance, as they could well make them. To such an extent did they carry their opposition to every thing bearing the slightest approxima- tion to the worship of former days in England, that they insisted on having the reading-desk placed at the side, in- stead of at the upper end of the audito- rium. Aisle or nave they had none — gallery they would not admit of. In fact, nothing that could in any way remind them of the manner of worship, or the churches they fled from. But, all this asperity gradually lost its edge, as the rising generation grew ; and at last the primitive meeting-house began to put on some architectural airs, which grew with the growth of the com- munity, until, by slow degrees, the for- saken features of Ecclesiastical Archi- tecture became so prominent, that the very styles of most imposing promi- nence began to raise their fancies, to lead the way for still more decorated structures ; and to so completely over- shadow their earl}' parent-buildings, as to leave them as simple objects of in- terest to all who yet cherished the memory of the Pilgrim Fathers. A compromise seemed to be tacitly agreed upon, between the more and the less progressive of that day. The for- mer, still holding to even the semblance of Puritanic taste, chose the classic tem- ple, with its beautiful facade, in its sim- plest form. The latter took hold of the more aspiring style ; and, at first placing belfries on the front pediment, soon ventured on a tower, and sometimes two towers, one on either corner. At length the Gothic was the ambition of the time ; and at this day we have among us man}' specimens of what was then considered art unsurpassed. Park Street Church, in Boston, was a wonder in its day. It was intended for a Gre- cian design; but with an extremely heavy spire, more adapted to a Gothic building; and this error of judgment arose some two hundred feet into the air, being at that time the highest spire in the United States. Our German and French designers gave us manjr transfers of their national taste ; and made of our cities a series of schools for the study of the varied forms in which indifferent Architecture may present itself for study or for criticism. In Domestic Design our primitive builders displayed a modesty that was, to say the least, commendable. For, with the exception of the pleasant old stoop, with its orderty columns and cor- nice of no order at all, we had nothing to find fault with, because nothing was presented as a temptation. All was un- pretentious, yet comfortable. The next generation, as to their eccle- siastical ideas, were more ambitious ; and the styles, with their apportioned Orders, began to make themselves promi- nent in all our cities, as well in dwelling- houses as in public buildings. To such an extent did the desire for classic fronts carry our citizens generally, that it be- came necessary to issue books of in- struction on the Orders, which were rapidly bought up : and had a very de- sirable influence in the hands of the builders. In so rapidly rising a country as this, the growth of improvement was not to be easily retarded ; and Street Archi- tecture soon began to be a subject of considerable importance. The devices of Europe were grafted on the require- ments of America ; and a style, peculiar to the Nation, generated, which could not be properly called National; and yet to all intents and purposes was so. The spirit of equality gives an impetus to ambition, which can only be limited by the purse ; and this is very apparent in all our cities to-day, as well as it was in the day we are reviewing. The Domestic Architecture of that time was highly indicative of a desire