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Caption: Board of Trustees Minutes - 1870
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288 green or white house. A house painted green would appear ridiculous. A white house may, for the reason given, be made a subject for ridicule. Architecture, viewed as an art of taste, or practically considered, is so important and comprehensive, that volumes would be requisite to do it justice. I have endeavored to bring to your notice the leading principles, and have (tediously, perhaps,) given you my views of construction in detail. The principles set forth will apply to school houses, churches, or other public buildings. Fitness, purpose and style are words easily remembered, and may be reduced to the single thought, utility. DISCUSSION. FLAGG—What style of architecture is most appropriate to our Illinois prairies? T A N OSDEL—I think Rural Gothic or Italian appropriate to our landscape. A plain landscape requires a plain house. Hills and valleys and pointed trees may excuse the Pointed Gothic. The objection to Gothic is that you must have the bed rooms in the roof. A two-story Gothic does not appear well, so we have a half story. I should prefer a very subdued Gothic, if any, on the prairies, but like the Italian better. WHITNEY—How about the French or Mansard roof? Y A N OSDEL—It is applied generally to buildings in the Italian style. I t is very fashionable. WARDER—How would it look in the country ? VAN OSDEL—If a little broken, it would look very wrell. WHITNEY—Which is the French or Mansard roof? VAN OSDEL—The concave roof is an American invention. The French roofs are generally straight. GREGORY—! have amused myself planning houses a good deal, especially of the octagon form. Our ideas of beauty are largely associated. A house in itself would hardly be regarded as beautiful. I never knew but one that would stop m© to look at it: < that was a church in the Grecian style, without steeple, and depending on color and form alone for its beauty. But a house is more interesting than a landscape. It attracts. I have analyzed my own feelings, and believe it is the associated idea of comfort, convenience, etc. I like a verandah across the front of a house exceedingly. My heart warms towards the men who build them. Broad eaves are also attractive, and add to the expression of a house. The most expressive to me are the old Dutch houses on the Hudson, with
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