New-York daily tribune., 1856-02-27

assistance. barren and unsighty surfsce-for the
most part of naked clay and rock-overgrown Wild
weeds cct up into city lots and nteseoted by regular
sr, cts and avenues offers htle native pecuhantyt 10
designate il by But If such IL its present state mas
not always been so. May there not have been some
ancient wood, some bill or brook, or some noted
garden or country seat within its confines st hnger-
ing uleasautly in the memory Of our oldest citizens 70
which BY their aid we might recur. Or II no natural
featuresurey this Island, whose history Is 80 preg
DaIt with the destnies OF our county, every ioVe must
be marx ed by some memorable incident-connected
wi h some illustrious name worthy OF perpetuaton
VIII not Mr. Irving, whose discerning eye In tne
preraraiion OF his Life of Washington Is ranging
constantly the whole ground who has wen noteu
We may Be sure each locality to which attaches even
q tradItion-tel of some skirmsh when dlsuh-
gu hes the spot in questionsome patriot whose blood
Las watered II. were il only some General who had
there his quarters. name Of Natures gvlng It Is
Dc stute Of and must be for years until her apprentice
Art 81 ell have supplied one. But let Us have his
torical OF q traditional one.
Having, then, name-and this, Jet it be remem-
bered i, all that millions are ever to know OF it-a OF
agreeable impression It can convey to those remote
al Of refesbnent its cool glsdes and green slopes can
afford to many fevered invalid and bed-ldden crp-
pie in our midst, aDguishing through the summer
heats and the noisome air Of our cityyhavlng tor
their sakes settled the name, what shall We offer TO
sat,y the just expectations of those who do approach
it's gates'
In the disposition of it, interior arrangements there
is one essential principle which we would ike to see
laid down as the basis of all operations, whatever
special plan may be adopted. Ii is this: to so dispose
Of the inclosure to eradicate as far as possible
and il il entirely pOss befrom the mind OF the visitor
all recollection that he is in q rectsngle of certain d.
II ueusious-that it lies in the center of popuious
sand-and is, once was, waste and negecteu
tact Of land. To substitute in the place OF Is the
impression that he is in tie presenccn her fui-dress
ssect if YOU ChOose-of Nature; that the extent OF
her charming demain, though varied, IA boundleas;
lat tie umbra geous growth be around him. the
uXuant turf he tIeads Is spontaneous ana clothes
diyets ficla rOuQQet
To produce this effect conceive to be the iunda-
mental object 10 be kept in view in laying ont our
Park TO which every other consideration should he
subserven Upon the greater or less success attained
in accomplishing this end will depend the beauty OF
the spot tselfthe degree OF wholesome pleasure It Is
capable OF afiordng. "
To dwell upon the means OF ehectng TINS would oe
long We shall be satisfied for the present II the
priLciple is acceded to and adopted. For we tear
there are those who would like 10 cary their city
tase-whch Ike its air, IL vltlated by connnement-
into this ts newly-annexed territory; who would de-
vote the funds architectural decorations to arches,
columns or elaborate water-w0rks such a. they have
seen at Verailles and 81. Cloud who would prefer
stately aud geometricaly straight avenues, crossing
each other at exact right angles scrupuously level;
who in short would have it an elegant parade
grourd-perhaps even race'course. May their coun-
sels not prevail.
rrteuarty of Nature would be discontented with her
simplicity and tameness. They would be reluctant to
dispense with a thousand contriyances which busy
suggest for frittering away what money there is to
spepd and with il the repose and serenity OF the and-
scape. They could not resist Chlnese pagoda-an
IbGian wigwam they would sulfeit US with nyinphs
and mermaids and dancing fauns-woud seek to TICKLE
the fancy at every step by curious grottoes and aby:
rintls artificial pords, lDnuueraOe cascades, ana
otLer cunning devices studiOusy disposed to conceal
under their merotricious array the chaste beauty OF
Nature These spicy ingredients are all well In their
way introduced with sparng ana by skilfu hand;
but green grass and the staple for which we
pent-up prisoners of the city hunger we have vaety
of details enough within our wals-Loveltles IN shoals
greet us at every OF city, and weary US by
their incessant demand upon the attention. What we
seek when we emerge from it is repose We want an
e1tent-an apparently boundess extent Of rural land
scape Offering the variety, it may be of hill and dale,
of grassy mead shady grove, with stream aud lake,
but broad, expansive, and tranquil, such Natures
| own bosom offers to the way-wOrn traveller.
To obtain this, is the case with every pure and
simple enjoyment, must exercise great self-denia,
must turn aside from many tempting offer, exclude
many an inporuning suggestion. But we shaII have
our reward. The Of the whole people is, we be-
eye for the cbaste and simple, and il IL the few only
VITO aie led astray by the claptrap and gewgaw.
Fron these latter may BE- saved, and above all may
we be spared witnessing in new and ongchershed
Park the narrowing spectacle of Nature made mnce-
meat Other fair proportions Unfortunately chopped
up and served to suit only yated taste, with So
| called French, or il may be a German sauce.
We are far nom wishing to underrate the vahuc of
landscape gardening as an art. We believe that the
very result had been advocating can only be OBJ
tanned by so considering it, by its dgen study, and
| by the experience its practice affords.
But we think that under it, name too much is apt TO
| be attempted. Not content with Nature she il,
| people think to improve upon her. Nature is not ex
trayagany lavish of her charms She does not bring
them all to bear upon any one spot. While, there
fore it is doubt the province Of art to represent
her under the best possible aspect and for this pur-
pose, far may be- to concentrate and blend her
attractions, the assemblage must not be ncongruous
| and must be governed by her own laws. Hence, in
| limited space of ordinary conformation we would
| rather see representation of more usual phase,
where the features she actually offers are developed and
assisted and advantageous is made of such hints
a. she herself supplies than studied and motley show
box which sets ol with the determination to exhibit
in abrupt transition all her varying expressions This
one danger not always avoided in the study Of land
scape gardening Another the tendency to the too
frequent introduction, in view OF further beautyng
and adornng the scene of objects Of art properly so
! called, such as temples, statues vases, &c.-whch
though beautiful in themselves, are not therefore al
WAYS appropriate nor everywhere desirable. This
would do very well in the heart OF the country, in
wilderness, where rural scenery is drug, and where
you wish TO mark the civizing presence of man and
| the ants; but in great and popuous city natural
scenery il luxury the rsrest, the greatest you can
possibly offer and ike other country blessings, most
| to be priced when unadulterated.
Thus ID happens that in those countries where per-
haps as art, landscape gardening is most assidu
ousy cultivated the prevalent standard of taste has
established not, il seems to u.s. true one and the
models to which points as its creations have failed
| 10 satisfy us.
Such Is the particularly in Germany. 1t is here
probably that the greatest number OF books have been
published, many OF them magnihcently embelished,
10 illustrate this branch Of the arts Here are issued
the most import ant gaines devoted TO s consdera
ton and here to greater degree than in any other
country landscape gardening is elevated 10 the dignity
of profession. In the German States, too are to be
r L. -