The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-11-24
From the Rural New-Yorker.
Pleasure Grounds.


Pleasure Grounds.
Home, the place of ones constant resi- |
dence, is term replete with deepest in- |
terest. 1t should also be place of beauty. |
There should be an exhibition of taste,
not only in the architectural construction
of the house, but in its surroundings. How
few rural residences are beautifed by
what is truly and elegantly termed pleas
ure grounds, Taste is the faculty Of dis
corning beauty, order, congruity, proper
tion, symetry, or whatever constitutes ex-
cellence. 1t is nice perception of that
which is beautiful, or the power of per-
ceiving and reishing excellence in human
performances, especially the fine arts. 1t
is style and manner in respect to what is
pleasing.
The FARMERS BEAU IDEAL.-It is a
source of regret that so few Of the agri-
cultural classes, seem to have developed,
in any considerable degree, this noble fac
ulty. A large two story dwelling, 40 by
so, situated nearly on a line with the
highway, with 7 by 9 yard about the
front door, crammed with briers and bushes
few or no trees about 1t, large old fash
ioned barn on the opposite side of the
road--the road itself in part being used
for barn-yard-a corn-barn and hog
house in close proximity, with shabby rail
fences to match--these constitute their
"6eau ldeap of home
COMMON FoLLY.-It is sickening truth
that there is fearful waste of property
throughout our rural districts by invest
ments in over-large houses. Millions of
dollars are worse than destroyed by being
buried amid huge piles of boards, brick
and mortar. 1t seems that this is the
fruit of foolish vanity, for in four cases
out of every five, the family occupy simply
the wing, or kitchen part, while the main
building serves only to be looked at by
wayfarers, or dreamed of, and kept in
partial repair by its owner.
PLEASURE GROUNDS INDIsPENs1BLE.-
Every house in rural situations should
have its pleasure grounds, the area of
which should vary and agree with
the size of the residence. The grounds
should be tastefully laid out and arranged
with circling drive-ways, winding foot
paths, groups of trees, shady arbors and
retreats. IF the surface of the ground is
uneven and varied, all the better. An
elevation here, and depression yonder,
only serve to highten its charms. Roses
and Towering shrubs may be planted as
borders to the walks, and here and there
an evergreen will serve to heighten the
effect. Let no one imagine that this is
turning land to valueless account. The
grounds are in grass, and are made to
contribute favorably to the dimensions of
the hay-mow. We advocate no extrava-
giant outlay of means in fitting the grounds
much less in the construction and cost OF
the buildings. Houses Of moderate di-
Inensions, finished neatly and conveniently
and furnished substantially but not show
lily, with ample pleasure grounds, arranged
with taste and beauty, are far more desi-
rable than those huge, unsightly dwelling:
which are to be seen all through the
country, crowded into the highway, and
meagerly furnished within.
A BEAUTIFUL OBJEoT.-Were We calleC
upon to mention thing of beauty, w
would cite to a snow-white cottage, hal
screened from view by generous foliage
having ample pleasure grounds, nicely di
vided by winding foot paths and gravele'
walks, and inviting to its cool retreats tn
dusty, weary, way-worn traveller.
The CULTIVATION OF TASTE Duty
The effects Of these tasteful arrangement