a good excuse for extending beyond the wall-face.  But a projecting belt of brick adds nothing either in appearance or in reality.  If horizontal lines are required to diminish the apparent height of the building or affect its proportions, make them of brick of different color from those of the main wall or laid in different position.  Remember this; fanciful brick decorations are quite sure to look better on paper than when executed.  As a rule, the more complex the design the greater the discount.  Such work is apt to have an unsafe appearance, as though the whole was at the mercy of the bottom brick.

[Illustration:  Fragments of brickwork.]

Your own sense of fitness must decide what shall be the general character of your house, whether light, open, airy, or sober, solid, and dignified.  If the latter, let the strength of the walls be evident.  Set the window-frames as far back from the wall-face as possible, in spite of any obstacles the builders may raise; make the arches above the openings massive, and the recessed portions of the cornice or any other ornamental work deep and narrow.  There are not the same objections to a recess as to a projection; it is better protected, any imperfection is less apparent, and the desired effect of shadow is more complete.  Much variety in color will not increase the appearance of strength, but the expression will be emphasized by pilasters and buttresses; also by the low segment arches and wide piers.

On the other hand, for a lighter effect, make the windows wider and crown them with semi-circles or pointed Gothic arches.  Leave out the corners of the piers in building them up; introduce belts of brick laid in various positions and of different colors, if you can get them, as I trust you may.  Indeed, this very season, a brickmaker has reported himself prepared to furnish black bricks and buff, red bricks and gray, all of good and regular standing.  You may be sure I gave him my blessing, and invited him to press on.  I do not know whether he will prove to be the coming man in this department, but whoever brings a greater variety of brick in form and color within reasonably easy reach will do a good work that shall surely have its reward; for brick houses we must have, ugly ones we won’t have, and rich decorations of stone we cannot afford for common use.  Meantime, if you can do no better, do not hesitate to use brick that have been treated to a bath of hot tar.  They may look old-fashioned, by and by.  No matter; an old fashion, if it is a good one, is more to be admired for its age than despised.  It is only by reason of its falseness and inconvenience that it becomes absurd.