The Farmstead: the making of the rural home and the lay-out of the farm, by Isaac Phillips Roberts, a Project Gutenberg e-book.

Fig. 40. The balloon frame.

Fig. 42.
The jig-saw cornice.

Fig. 41.
Too elaborate and short-lived.

The thought of permanent beauty, as well as economy and usefulness, should enter into the plans of a house. But what is beauty? I am well aware that many of my readers will not agree with me, for

“The standard of beauty ofttimes it doth vary:
Two pretty girls are Eliza and Mary.”

They may be very unlike, yet both beautiful. From the farmer’s standpoint it may be said that the chief characteristics of beauty are fitness, naturalness and simplicity.