The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-12-25

ornamented with terraces of maj
sive masonry, costly fountains
architectural grottoes, cIippe
hedges, arranged with inches 70
the display of statuary. Such
style is calculated to produce start
ling if not grand effects, and dur
ing the earlier stages of societ
distinction was at once impaired
by introducing level or slopinj
well kept surfaces of ground, will
trees planted at regularly uniform
distances apart. so as to leave n,
chance Of installing any position
of the scene as having been the re
suit of unassisted natural arrange
ment, but Enthusiastically to convey
the impression of wealth and re
finement, and to indicate owner
ship by distinguishing the coun
try residence from the natural, un
Inclosed rude scenery of the neigh
borhood.
In the geometrIc style every
thing is architecturally accurate
in its lines, perfect symmetry per.
vades the whole, and all parts are
equally balanced. Statuary of all
kinds, fountains, steps, ballusters,
and pediments, broad walks,
straight planted avenues of trees,
formal shaped flower beds, and
clipped plants, all belong to this
species of landscape and garden
decoration. In this style the hand
of the artist is manifest in every
detail; but in the natural style ar
tificial interference is not so APP
parent.
In the disposition of the mater
ial used for the development of
views and landscape effects every
thing is done to preserve. as far as
possible, the general impression
that the productions are natural
and Indigenous to the locality.
All natural beauties are carefully
preserved, so far as is consistent
with objects of use or conven-
fence.
The element of utility enters
more largely perhaps into our ideas
of the beautiful in this than in the
geometric style. The perception of
the beautiful ought to he the first
impression, and not that of the art
by which it was created. The OBJ
Ject is to create the impression that
the grouping of the trees and shrubs,
is natural one, as far as the scenic
effect is concerned, and not the
work of art; yet close examina-
ton of details will lead to the dis
covery that the trees and plants
employed are not indigenous to the
locality, and thus art and design
will be recognized. Thus in a dis
trict where evergreen trees do not
exist in the surrounding woods nat
urally, their introduction into the
scenery at once conveys the impress
sion of an artificial plantation, so
far as regards the materials of which
it is composed. While, therefore,
the general effects produced by this
style of landscape adornment are
similar to those with which we are
familiar in nature, the details are
dictated by convenience, utility and
adaptability to the end in view.
In speaking of ornament in ar
chitecture Ruskin says "that it's
arises, not only from
its abstract beauty, but also from
the sense of human labor and care
spent upon it, from the fact that
the record of thoughts and intents,
and trials and heart-breakings, of
recoYeries and joyfulness of sue
cesses' has been associated with it.
AS a woman of feeling would dis
dain to wear false ornaments, SO
would a builder of honor disdain
false ornaments. lie should Sc
ornaments wrought by the human
hand, not those cast Ia molds, or
cut by machinery to initiate the
work of the hand. lie should abb
hOr all the short, cheap, easy ways
of doing that whose difficulty is its
honor" So it is with reference to
ornamental gardening. Pleasant as
it might be to have our trees and
shrubs brought and planted for us
full grown, as by magic, we should
hesitate to accept the gift. 1t is
often recommended, in choosing g
site for q home and grounds, to Sc
lect one. If possible, already covered
with trees. This will apply TO but
few of us in this state of extensive
prairies and treeless plains, yet there
is much of Kansas in which beauti-
tiful building sites may be found,
where the ground is already cover
ed by growth OF natural forest.
If trees were wanted, and valued
for their shade only, this would an
swer very well, but this is a small
part of their use. Such trees have
no history. Their value consists in
a great measure on their domestic
associations, They are wanted for
their individual as we'll as combined
beauty; for their fitness and the
domestic associations connected
with them, and where q new home
is established amongst them there
is no connection between them and
the life experience of that home
Better plant the trees when the
house is planted, and let both grow
up together, and have a common
history.
The following beautiful sentimen
lie from the pen of a prominen
writer on this subject:
"Trees and plants have domesti
associations, also. Not to speak O
fruit bearing trees and vines, tn
locust, maple, elm and balsam- fiji
. the lilac, rose and honey-suckl
have so long been planted abou
every country house as to form al
most an essential part of q rura
Homestead. Some of the pleasan
recollectiOns of childhood cluste
around these familiar objects.
But, aside from long establishe,
associations, there are others whicl
grow up in ones individual exper
rience, and to which every passing
year gives new sacredness aud Pow
: er. When q man steps out to es
tablish a permanent home, the land