770 The Architectural Review and American Builders Journal. [June, PARISIAN PROMENADES. IN the ensuing A'olume •we will com- mence the continuous notice, with illustrations from the original, of a pub- lication which must command the atten- tion of every one of taste in this coun- try. It is entitled Les Promenades de Paris, and is the only illustrated descrip- tion of the Empire City of the world of Art and Fashion, giving all those mag- nificent works of Architecture, which decorate the streets and boulevards, as well as all the art displaj-ed in the public gardens of Paris. The work will be completed in two superb folio volumes, one of text accompanied by choice vig- nettes, and the other filled with steel engravings and chromo-lithographs, by A. de Bar, Lancelot, Rion, Weber, J. Gaildreau, Faquet, Lambotte, Free- man, Pizetta, and numerous others, forming a corps of artists capable of carrying out any art enterprise. The second volume of les Promenades des Paris, will be an album in itself. This grand work will be issued in sixteen parts. It is conducted by A. Alphaud, Chief Engineer of the Imperial Corps of Bridges and Highways, &c, &c, and is published by J. Rotschild, Editor, 43 Rue Saint Andre des Arts. Extravagance in Ornament. — The modern styles introduced from Europe, where they have been resurrected from intended oblivion, are but too apt to lead young architects into a very sense- less display of embellishment, so over- done as to detract from any merit their design may intrinsically possess. It was this very spirit that led on the de- signers of the olden day from bad to worse, until at last their works were so encumbered with would-be flowers of art that they came to display vast col- lections of rankest weeds which flaunted over their fagades wherever they could find a place. Tudor Architecture — "Henry the Seventh's policy," sa3's the English his- torian, Hume, "when he came to the throne, consisted in depressing the barons, and elevating and promoting men of new families, who were more dependent on his will. The nobility therefore now, instead of vj'ing with each other in the number and courage of their retainers, which had hitherto been the case, by degrees acquired a more social and laudable emulation, en- deavoring to excel in the splendor of their mansions, stables and equipage; while the common people, no longer re- tained in vicious idleness by their supe- riors, were now obliged to learn some calling: or trade, thus becoming useful both to themselves and to the State. Henry the Vllth was himself a great builder, and with him, and not at the dissolution of the monasteries, began that style of domestic architecture which continued till the reign of Elizabeth under the title of the Tudor, and which still retained, in a slight degree, the embattlements and other features of de- fence of the early feudal mansions." Fires Prevented. — In Japan they have a very effectual plan for the pre- vention of fires ; and, as prevention is far better than any efforts at extinction, it is to be hoped that the example set by our friends the Japs may become pretty general. It is simply this : "Every one with whom, or in whose house a fire originates, whether acci- dentally or not, shall be decapitated without any appeal." That idea of making the head of the house responsible by such a process is rather cutting, but very conclusive ; for, few fires would occur in case it was made the rule here where heads count. What say our insurance offices ?
