I failed to find Walker or Roach & Tilden and sent back the plans for them. You will advise them. I will only say as {to} the Franklin Park cottages, I would have them of the general aspect of the simplest style of English rural cottages; thatch roof; diamond paned, lead mounted, casement windows, long horizontally, low walled, projecting, thick thatched eaves, casting strong shadow and half hiding the walls; the roof being the principal feature. If it can be managed unobjectionably, I would step from a porch, or uncovered stoop, down into them, as is nearly always done in old English cottages; the effect being lowly walls. So covered with overhanging thatch, I should like pebble dash walls. I would have the main room go to the roof timbers, and lighted by dormers, gaining all practicable simplicity and breadth of undisturbed surface in walls. Rotch will find it hard to make them simple, quiet and featureless enough. I would not object to little gardens in front, enclosed by low walls to be completely covered with honeysuckle or euonymus & cotoneaster.

I found Hartwell & Richardson in and liked them; thought they promised well.

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The Board’s order was that the plan shd be changed so that the house would be of one story above ground but with a partial second story for necessary accommodation of lessee & family, (not the servants of the Refectory), and, perhaps, a deck partially covered with awnings and canopies. I have pictures of Syrian and Persian houses in my mind, of the simpler antecedant types out of which moorish architecture has been developed and I have visited such houses in Eastern Mexico, extremely simple, bold walls with rich decoration in small features at the openings. I tried to suggest this without imposing it, and they seemed to take to it, though regretting that the Board wished to make so little of the building architecturally. With refce to effect from the carriage approach I said that the north windows could be omitted if desirable, as in the pre–moorish sort of structure. I should think it would be, and if more light should be desirable in the interior than wd come under the trellis, skylights in the deck would not be objectionable. I set them thinking about terra–cotta supports for the trellis and brick pavement. Finally told them to go on the [389]

ground, look over the plans and form some preliminary ideas and then let you know, and you would come to them for a consultation. But if you can manage to give a couple of hours to it, you had better call on them before they advise you. It is so desirable to prevent them from getting a wrong start. Perhaps you can before the meeting Friday. You will have to see Walker, and Roach & T. but those can wait now better than H. & Richardson. Look well after abundant soil for the vines.

The building is to be planned with a view to the possible requirement of a second story after thirty years.

Narrow terra cotta columns to support trellis might, to secure greater stability, be connected at intervals—

Eventually vines could be grown to supply foliage above deck (2d Story) taking place of awnings.

H. and Richardson will take all desirable guidance if you get hold of them soon enough to start them well.