The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1871-11-30
RenutIfYing Country Homes.

Strange ideas enter the minds of many
persons when the subject of beautifying
home surroundings is mentioned in their
presence. They will usually utter the
FAR too common and absurd remark that
such things are costly, and it is only the
rich who can afford them. 1t certainly
costs no more, as general rule, to
build a house ten rods from the high
way than one as many feet from it; and
still these latter unsuitable and inappro-
pirate locations are being occupied al
most every day. IT lawns are named,
rollers, particular kinds OF seeds, ana
lawn mowers are brought to mlno
and while we are ready to admit that q
good lawn cannot be made nor kept In
frst-rate condition without these imple-
ments, still q grass plat, large or small,
occasionally mown, is far better than
none. Even meadow or pasture in
front or near dwelling might add
something to its general good appear
ance.
The far too common style of arrange
ment of country homes, is to place the
mansion within few feet of the public
road, the barn few rods in the rear,
and the intervening space is filled with
wood piles or necessary outbuildings.
If there is kitchen garden it is usually
situated near the road, at one side OF
the house, and then enclosed with
picket fence, painted white or white
washed. Where man owns but a frac-
ton of an acre, such cluttered arrange
ment may be admissible and passed
without comment but upon farms OF
many acres in extent, it not only shows
q sad want of taste, but of broad ideas
in regard to the fitness of things in gen.
ersl. A few trees from the forest,
planted here and there, cost but little or
nothing, and yet how much they add to
the beauty and elegance OF home sur
roundings, besides affording an agree
able shade to both man and beast. 1t
is true that we have men who begrudge
even the shadow of tree to their ami
mails, and compel them to stand the live
long day beneath broiling sun. But
we are thankful that the number OF
such cruel mortals is annually decreas-
ing.
The broad acres Of meadow or pasture
dotted with handsome trees, give us q
scene worthy of the artists pencil. The
pond in the foreground was once q
filthy slough, the home of willows, al
ders and frogs; but very little labor
properly expended, has changed it into
an ornamental as we'll as useful sheet n
water. 1t is not necessary that man
should devote so extended a field tc
ornamental purposes only, for few farm.
ers could afford it ; but it may be USED
as meadow or pasture, and if sheeI
are kept upon the farm they might bt
hurdled upon that portion directly II
front of the mansion. In fact, there
are many ways of making home sur.
roundings elegant without incurrine
any extra expense. Farmers in particu
lar are prone to imagine that they can
not afford to spend much time or money
in outside decorations of their homes
and in many instances it would not b
advisable; but little forethought il
the general arrangement of buildings
planting of trees and seeding down lanc
for meadows and pastures, would give II
thousands of homes an air of eleganc
and refinement without penny of ad
ditional expense. And after all it is tn
thinking that is necessary. The mai
who thinks learns to DESIRE and desiring
learns to act.-RuraI Neao Yorker.