We have already avowed that we consider fitness and expression of purpose, two leading principles of the first importance in Rural Architecture; and Grecian architecture in its pure form, viz. the temple, when applied to the purposes of domestic life, makes a sad blow at both these established rules. As a public building, the Greek temple form is perfect, both as to fitness (having one or more large rooms) and expression of purpose;-showing a high, broad portico for masses of people, with an ample opening for egress and ingress. Domestic life, on the contrary, requires apartments of various dimensions, some large and others smaller, which, to be conveniently, must often be irregularly placed, with perhaps openings or windows of different sizes or dimensions. The comforts of a country residence are so various, that verandas, porches, wings of different sizes, and many other little accommodations expressive of purpose, become necessary, and, therefore, when properly arranged, add to the beauty of Rural Architecture. But the admirer of the true Greek models is obliged to forego the majority of these; and to come within the prescribed form of the rectangular parallelogram, his apartments must be of a given size and a limited number, while many things, both exterior and interior, which convenience might otherwise prompt, have to bow to the despotic sway of the pure Greek model.* In a dwelling of moderate dimensions how great a sacrifice of room is made to enable the architect to display the portico alone! We speak now chiefly of houses of the ordinary size, for if one chooses to build a palace, it is evident that ample accommodations may be obtained in any style. (* We are well aware that such is the rage for this style among us just now, and so completely have our builders the idea of its unrivalled supremacy in their heads, that many submit to the most meagre conveniences, under the name of closets, libraries, etc., in our country houses, without a murmur, believing that they are realizing the perfection of domestic comfort.)
