Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-08-22
Letter from a Country Town.
a Word AbOUta Town on the Back
Track-Elm Hill, the Home of an Ar
tisi-The Crops.
lcoRREsPoNDENcE OF THE DAILY sPY.l
HOLLAND. Aur 20. 1877:

HOLLAND, Aug. 20, 1872.
NeSSrS. Editors. 1t is not my purpose to write
a prize essay on green fields, running rivers,
babbling brooks or high hills covered with hue
kleberries; therefore may be compelled to go
outside the little town in which am writing
for a subject in which your readers will find
sufficient interest to last them through the col
umn. Holland is in many respects beautiful
place, but in one respect like crab for
it goes backward, and that as naturally
as the towns around it seem to go ahead. Pos
sibly, like a crab, it can advance in the regular
way; but it has never done so within my recol-
lection, and while catching pouts where l used
to spread hay twenty years aback, and watch
ing two long-legged and long-necked cranes
fishing in their own style on field where have
in former times hoed corn more days than |
wanted to, am led 10 think that a reservoir
covering hundreds of acres, empty houses, gar
dens grown to rank weeds and grass, and wa
tering troughs floating around barnyards arc
signs of anything but progress. The reader will
readily see that this style of descriptive writing
will not enhance the value of the remaining
acres among the beautiful hills and valleys of
the sequcstered corner of creation called Hol
land. Therefore / will respect the jewellers
therein and desist
have place in my mind, however, of which
| have no doubt many Worcester people will
read with interest. 1t is quaint old country
house on Elm Hill, Smrbrdge, the home of
Willard, the artist. 1t is a rare old mansion of
the last century, built almost hundred years
ago by General Timothy Newell, who spared
neither timber, work, nor time, to make it the
graudest house in town, or even in that part of
the county. 1t stands on hill designed by ma
ture for just such an old square rooted house,
and is located trife more than quarter of a
mile from the old church, whose history dates
back even beyond that of the house in question
The name elm Hill" is sufficient direction for
any stranger who finds himself fairly in the
town, for the reason that by the roadside a few
yards east Of the house stands a lofty elm tree
with smooth, straight trunk rising to a height
of fifty feet or more before the limbs branch
out.
Since its occupation by the original owner,
who lived in it more than half century, the
old house has sheltered several proprietors, a
majority of whom came and went only TO leave
the buildings and surrounding grounds in a
condition of unsightly disorder, but the house
was too strongly and thoroughly built TO give
way before the rough usage to which it was
subjected, and when Mr.. Willard cast his arts
tic eye upon the grounds, and made the old
house home for himself, daughters and aged
mother, he found a building as staunch and
mistaken by the changes of time as the consti-
tuition of our country. Like IA Hindoo idol
remember having seen somewhere, it faces all
ways, having view from either of the doors
such as any lover Of landscape would delight
in. The prospect takes in broad expanse of
field and woodland, hill and valley, while on
every hand, and seemingly equidstant,
can be seen a belt of wooded hills,
the trees upon which minge their tops
with the blue haze of the horizon. While call
ing my attention to the beauties of every turn
Of the eye, with pride which any man should
be blamed for not feeling, the owner remarked
that il was far better to live where he could de-
light his eyes by looking upon all these beauti.
full fields, than to own them; for, said he
''they can't shut out my view while my eye
sight lasts, and have neither the care of them
upon my mind nor their taxes to drain my
purse" This was vein of philosophy readily
grasped and accepted with appreciation by
your impecunious correspondent; it was in
vigorating, and heightened the effect of the
scenery.
The inside of the house has not been modern
ized for the idea Of the owner is to preserve the
large rooms and delightful ariness of the place,
coupled with cheerful simplicity in furnish
ing, inviting as it is unpretending. The old
hallway into which the north door opens is
broad and roomy, in agreeable contrast to many
later built balls which are terribly crowded by
a small hat rack and oyerrun if the baby car.
riage happens TO be left inside The halls, and
the rooms as well, abound in panel work, while
the moulding around the ceiling contains more
of the handiwork of the builders than would put
up half dozen tenement houses of the present
day.
Perhaps those interested in art are laboring
along through this letter in search of some
mention Of the artists studio, and ] would ad.
wise such to prepare themselves for a terrible
shock, The studio is in the barnl In the barn,
and entered through barn door, secured by an
old paddock, which is rendered necessary in or
der to keep the lile.like portraits from coming
out in the night and spelling their frames by
knocking about the village in the dark. At
least, this Is as near the true reason as the old
German story writer came TO the truth when he
told of a studio in which the portraits formed
in lines, the statesmen speaking, the singers
singing, and the merchants selling the small
pictures at auction to the bankers.
But, to return from fiction 10 fact, will re-
mark that il any one having knowledge of
studios and their requisites doubt my statement
that this is superior one, such person had best
come directly and convince himself or
herself, rs the ease may be, for un.
der my rude handlug their many
marks Of excellence would grow dim.
hope no one will be led 10 think our friend
| willard IS seated at bis easel among horses and
cattle; and for the benefit Of those whose imap.
nations might conjure up such picture will
I say that bis spacious studio occupies what was