This will give you a contrast in color (unless you have the reddest of red sandstone for the walls), the utmost economy and durability of construction, and a whole effect very likely better than that of the stone.  These brick dressings may be light, especially the jambs; but the corners, at least, should be laid in such fashion as to bind well into the stone walls, and if of considerable height, should be strengthened by belts of stone, or iron anchors running through the brick and extending into the main wall several feet each way.  Any large blank surface may be relieved by a little ingenuity in the selection of the stones for the main walls, introducing, perhaps, some of regular shapes and size, the raised mortar, which may be colored dark or red, marking the joints, or inserting a belt of different color.  Horizontal bands of brick laid in fancy pattern may be convenient and effective.

Of course you will not adopt this style of wall unless there is a crop of suitable stones within easy distance.  It is more probable that you will be afraid to use what you have than that there are none to use.  Whatever can be made into a stone fence will make the walls of a house, if you are not too ambitious of height, and do not attempt to make them too thin.  Other things being equal, the thicker the walls, within certain limits, the better.  You don’t care to build a Bastile, but deep window-jambs without and within add wonderful richness and dignity.  If the walls cost little or no more, as is often the case, it is a pity to refuse the additional ground required for their extra thickness.  Such walls should not be monopolized by hundred-thousand-dollar churches and fancy summer residences.  They are quite suitable for the simplest, most unpretending country homes.

[Illustration:  Stone body with brick members.]

You will understand the general idea thus far by the accompanying sketches, with which I must close this letter, without concluding the subject.

LETTER VIII.

From John.

There is A soft side even to A stone wall.

My dear architect:  I’m slowly digesting your last production; not being an ostrich, it goes rather hard.  For all that, it may be worth thinking of.  Perhaps I shall be converted by the time the subject is fully shown up.  I suppose we’ve always looked upon these loose rocks and stones sprinkled about the country as a part of the original curse, and have never thought of turning them to any sensible use, though good old Dr. Hopkins seemed to have faith that their soft side would some time be discovered.  Funny, isn’t it, that we should burn so much fuel and spend so much labor making bricks and other artificial building-blocks, when there are piles of them ready made, that would only cost the hauling?  Not always on the square,