The Italian chimney-tops, unlike the Grecian, are always openly shown and rendered ornamental; and as we have already mentioned, the irregularity in the masses of the edifice and shape of the roof, renders the sky outline of a building in this style, extremely picturesque. A villa, however small, in the Italian style, may have an elegant and expressive character, without interfering with convenient internal arrangements, while at the same time this style has the very great merit of allowing additions to be made in almost any direction, without injuring the effect of the original structure; indeed such is the variety of sizes and forms which the different parts of an Italian villa may take, in perfect accordance with architectural propriety, that the original edifice frequently gains in beauty by additions of this description. Those who are aware how many houses are every year erected in the United States by persons of moderate fortune, who would gladly make additions at some subsequent period, could this be done without injuring the effect or beauty of the main building, will, we think, acknowledge how much, even were it in this single point alone, the Italian style is superior to the Grecian for rural residences.* (* The villa of Theodore Lyman, Esq., at Brookline, near Boston, Fig. 48, is a highly interesting specimen of this style, designed by Mr. Upjohn- beautiful in exterior effect, and replete internally with every comfort and convenience.)
