Outside Decoration Of French Houses

Ferdinand Mazas, ia The Architectnral Rocord, explains sculpture as applied to Paris houses. "Twenty years ago, " Mr. Mazas says, "the exterual oraamentation of Frencb houses was, in general of a very sober character. " Today decoratiou is very much in fasbion and prehaps not always discreet. M. Paul Heueux, haviug been infansted with the erection of the new town hall at Les Lilas, a oharming little place near Paris, conoeived tbe idea of treating all the scnlptnre of tbe bnilding with lilaca Tbe capitals, the balcony, the friezesand tbe flower work placed above the dorruer windows represent nothing bnt sprays, bnnches, leaves and petals of lilao. The brackets of the windows are also forrned of flowers of the same spring shrub. As to the balnster of the grand staircase, it repreeents a trellis with branches of lilao clitnbing over it. Yet the architect bas roided monotouy and bas produced the most graceful variations npon thia single themo adopted by him. We will also mention a house designed by M. Paul Heneux. In this case all the sculpture bas been iuspired by the profession of the owner, who is a druggist. Th8 frontals of the dormer windows of this house are ornamented with garlands of tnallows and poppies. The friezeiscomposed of renaissance motives, in the oraamentation of which other medicinal plauts figure. Finally, on the flrst story there is an escutcbeon that recalls the origin of the fortune of the owner, who is the disseminator of somekindof ointment or elixir.