| OCR Text |
Show Architecture In California. Tho Americans have uot the art of making houses or a land picturesque The traveller is enthusiastic about the exquisite drives though theso groves of fruit, with tho ashy or tho snow-covered snow-covered hills for background and contrast, con-trast, and he exclaims nt tho pretty cottages, vino and rose clad, iu their semi-tropical setting, but if by chance he comes upon an old adobe or a Mexican ranch houso iu the country, he has emotions of a different sort. There is little left of tho old Spanish occupation, but the remains of it make tho romanco of the country, nnd appeal ap-peal to our sense of lituess and beauty. It is to bo hoped that all such historical histor-ical associations will bo preserved, for tlicv give to the traveller that whieh our country generally lacks, and which is so largely the attraction of Italy and Spain. Instead of adapting and modifying tho houses and homes tli-,t the climate suggests, tho new American, comers havo brought hero from the East tho smartness and prettiness of our modern nondescript architecture. The low house with recesses re-cesses aud galleries, built round au inner in-ner court, or patio, whieh however small, would fill tho whole iulerior with sunshine ami the scent of flowers, is the sort of dwelling that would suit tho climate and tho habit of life here. But the present occupiers havo taken no hints from the natives. In village and country they havo dono all they can, in spito of the maguey und the cactus nud the palm ami tho umbrella-tree umbrella-tree aud tho live-oak aud the riotous flowers and the thousand novel forms of vegetation, to give everything a prosaic look. But why should tho tourist find fault with this? The American likes it, and he would not like the picturesqueness of tho Spanish or the Latin races. Charles Dudley Warner, in Harper's Magazine. |
