Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1877-01-03
Country Homes.


We wonder if anybody knows how many
country houses there are within fifty miles
of New York. and owned by its citizens that
are offered for rent or for sale. We suppose
no one does know either this or how many in
addition their owners would be glad to part
with. A New Yorker makes a pile of
money, and then he begins to note the
palaces that overlook the Hudson from their
beautiful heights, and to long to give kim
dred expression to the wealth he possesses
His family, long confined to their city resi-
dence, syinpathize with him, and delight in
the prospect of country home. A site is
bought, and the grading, fencing tree-plant-
ing and building commence. The new EN-
terprise is in every way delightful, and for
two years it goes on i all its interesting de-
tails. The building introduces new set of
ideas, and a new kind of culture. There are
books to be read and plans to be discussed
and new furniture to buy and visits to be
made to the charmed spot, and the family
never was so happy. At last everything is
ready, and the family on some fresh June
morning. take possession. Friends come in
welcome throngs to see the new glory, and
the host is never weary in showing them
over the house and grounds. The first sum
mer passes away delightfully."- and the second
is like unto it, save that the charm of nov
city is somewhat worn away The third
season is entered upon courageously but at
last it begins to be discovered that the
orange has been sucked and that the family
would really like little variety. They
were formerly in the habit of going to Sara
toga, the White Mountains Long Branch,
Niagara, or Lake George. The overtasked
housekeeper of the city finds that her cares
are continued through the summer, and she
wishes she could have little freedom The
daughters have no company, except such as
they can bring into the house by invitation
and social recreation can only be had at the
cost of the fathers purse and the mothers
care. To the average family, a fixed country
home for the summer may possibly retain
| its attractions for five years-rarely longer
Then they are sick of it. Perhaps the head
of the house can be there but little, and the
women are left nearly alone. Perhaps there
are burglars around, and then sad farewell
| is given to peaceful sleep. Servants are
away from their church and their com
panionships, and become discontented and
difficult TO keep. There are troubles con
nected with marketing. Their old doctor il
beyond call. Worse than all, hard time.
come, and the fortune, which was deemed sc
ample, shrinks until the head of the houst
wishes from the bottom of his heart that hi,
place were at the bottom of the sea, or tha
he could get his money back. They have al
tried the experiment. They had gooC
time at the beginning of it, but what woulc
they not give if their costly toy were wei
off their hands, and they were at liberty t,
run around among their old haunts, cut FIRE,
from all household cares, fall in with til,
tides of society at the watering-places, SCI
new sights, make new acquaintance, an'
go and come when they choose We sup
pose we have thus given substantially tn
history of more "country home enterprise
than can be counted. Up and down tn
Hudson, among the hills of New Jersey, on
into Westchester county, over upon Lon
Island, there are parks and palaces, villas
cottages, and what not, that can be bough
to-day for from twenty to sixty per cent
less than they cost in any number. The
are regarded as a burden by their owner
and bore by the women who are oblige
to pass their summers in them. Instead Q
their keeping house in the country, tn
, house keeps them. Instead of being ma!
ters and mistresses, they are slaves in
wearisome bondage. Happy the day whe
they can rent or SELL and once more be FIRE
to become summer yagabonds.-Scribner. il
, NorsuLsr