The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-07-03
From The Literary W@id.
A Model Country ViiIaue.

4 MOuci village.
Mr.. Downing's Iortcnlturist slips in at this sea.
son, amongst our pile Of mopthes, with some
thing in its cheerful page of the of the coun.
try about it, reminding Of the exuberant bou-
quets brimming baskets of fruit which country
denzens sometimes favor their pent-up city friends
with Mr.. Downing's leader is always on
thing pleasant and available, and the topic OF this
month is peculiarly 50 in reference to the present
Improvement and specnlating movement in coun
try lots and cottages on tue Hudson. Cannot some
spectators 1--WE think they would lind Mr. Down
ng's recommendations profitable) be found to
carry out his tempting plan of an Ornamental Vii
lager
''In no country. perhaps are there 80 many ns,o
villages and towns laid out every year as in the
United States. Indeed, 80 large is the number, that
the builders and projectors are fairly at loss for
names-ancient and modern history having been
literally threadbare by the godfathcrs, until
all association with great heroes and mighty deeds
Is fairly bcggared by this rechristening going
IN our new settlements and future towns, yet
only poptious to the extent OF ak houses. Apd
Notwithstanding the apparent vastness of our terri
tory, the growth al new towns and States is
wonderlui-nitee or twenty years giving popu
latian VI hundreds Of thousands where all will
derness before that the plan and arrangement of
new towns ought TO be a matter Of national mpor
tance. And yet, to judge by the manner in which
We see the thing done there has not, in the whole
duration Of the republic been a single word said,
or single plan formed calculated TO embody past
experience, or to assist in any way the laying
OF u village or town.
'Now a rural viliage--newly planned in the sub
urbs OF great city, and planned too, specially for
those whose circumstances will allow them to own
tasteful cottage in such vilage-should present
attractions much higher than this. 1t should aim
at something higher than mere Of houses upon
streots crossing each other at right angles, and
bordered with shade trees. Any may find as
good shade trees, and much better houses, in GER
tam streets OF the city which he leaves behind him;
aud IL he is 10 give up fifty encnces and COM
ID, he Yapre 1uc fal
resh air, he had better take board during the
ner months in some snug farm house as before.
The Indispensable dosiderata in rural villages Of
THIS KIND, are tao foowing:-lst, large open
space, co1.inon or park, situated in the middle OF
the viIlage-not less than twenty acres; and better
II nifty or more In extent. This should be wei
Rlah'oo win groups OF trees, and kept as a lawn.
The expense of u!awing :; would be paid by the
grass IN some cases; and in others considerable
part oi the space might be enclosed with a wire
iencc' and fed by sheep or cows. like many Of the
public parks in England.
This park would be the nucleus, or heart of the
c'fdss, and would give it am essentially rural char
acter Around II should be grouped all the best
cottages and residences of the pac e. and this would
be secured by selling lots fronting upon it Of lcss
than one fourth an acre III extent Wide streets,
with rows of clms or naples, should diverge from
the park on each side, and upon these streets
smaller l0ts, but not smaller than 100 feet front,
should be sold for smaller cottages.
"ln this way we would secure to our village
permanent rural characeri first, by the possession
ut large central place, always devoted to park
pleasure ground, and always held joint property.
and Tor the common use of the whole village; sec
ond, by the imperative arrangement Of cottages
dwellings around it, in such a way to secure in
all parts Of the village sufficient space, view, circu-
lation OF air, and broad. we'll planted avenues Of
shade trees.
"Atter such village was built. and the central
| 20 planted a few years, the heinhabitants would
be contcnted with the mere meadow and trees
usually called park in this country. BY sub
uniting 10 small annual tax per family, they
could torn the whole park, If small, considera-
ble portions here and there, II large into pleasure
grounds In the latter there would be collected,
by the combined means Of the village. all the rare,
hardy shrubs, trees, and plants, usually found in
the private grounds OF any amateur in America
Beds and masses Of ever blooming roecs, sweet
scented climbers, and the richest shrubs, would
thus he open TO the enjoyment vi all during the
whole growing season. Those who had neither the
means, time, nor inclination To devote 10 the cu-
ture Of private pleasure grounds, could thus enjoy
these which belonged 10 all Others might prefer
to devote their own garden 10 fruits and yegeta bes
since the pleasure grounds, which belonged to all
and which all would enjoy, would by their greater
breadth and magnitude offer beauties and enjoy
mcnts which few private gardens give.
THE next step. after the possession Of such pub
lac pleasure grounds would be the social and com
mon enjoyment of them. Upon the well mown
glades of lawn, and beneath the shade OF the forest
trees, would b. formed rustic seats. Little srbors
would be placed near, where IN midsummer even
ings ices would be served 10 all who wished them
Aud little by little, the musical taste OF the village
with the help Of those good musical folks the
German oInigrants, would organize itself into
band which would occasionally delight the OF
| all irequeniers Of the park with popular airs.
"Do VIC ovcrratc the mental and moral inhu-
enccs OF such n common ground of entertainment
as thus, when we say that the inhabitants OF such
village enjoying la this way common interest
Ia flowers trees. the ircsh air and sweet music,
daily-would have something more heathful than
the ordinary life of citie-, and more refining and
elevatng than the common gossip OF country vii
ages'