New-York tribune., 1880-06-27
A BEAUrIFUL COUNTRY HOME.

TIE PRESENT IDEAL COUNTRY HoUsE-BARoSIAL
DWELLINGS NOT IN FAvoR-woDENETHE ON
THE HUDsoN--ITs MAGNIFICENT WOODS.
1t is n matter of frequent discussion nova
d.ys and the question is easily asked than an
swercd whether the taste for rural life 10 this country
Is growing or dcculag Crtan t Is that the desire for
co ntry homes was never stronger or moro prevalent
than It is now, but very often the home
contemplated IA rather suburban than strictly rural.
THIS distinction Is not one OF nero remoteness
from solid city blocks, for It is possible
in these days Of steam TO have home shut in among
the most primitive forms OF Wild nature, and yet be
within daily roach Of some City Hail. Corn Exchange,
or board of brokers' What ls demanded rather is
homc which combines cortain advantages offered
at onoe by the city aud tho country. Suburban ground
must guarantee fresh air and shaded walks ana velvet
lawns. which afford opportunity for embollishment
and tho formation OF cabinet pictures OF grass ana
foliage IN light and shadow. But they must not be too
spacious for they imply society," near neghDors nGDted
streets and other city convenicnces
RFor somirural places Of this general character the
closest observers detect q steadily increasing demand
On the contrary for country seats Of more ambitious
class with grounds park-lke In extent and elaborate
adornment there ia not q growing TASTE Indeed, the
broad domains which under the stimulus OF the passion
for fashton) for rural life developed in Dowuing's
lime wore then planned and planted, are
already falling to pieces or going into decay
Occaslonally tho owner Of half dozen railroads will
purchase one OF these old places rs Summer resi-
deuco" and make brief aud unintelugent struggle to
restrain Il from rovortng to It's original condition Of
Wilderness or TO prevent It from disintegratng into
buildine lots. But rarely any attempts
now seen TO establish "homo" on any such
magnificent scale is presented by Euro
pean models Indeed, gentlemen whose income
ia sufficiently ample TO justify the expense OF preparing
and maintaining such extensive estate have little en-
to embark In tho undertaking. The trans
misaon of wealth from generation to generation in the
same family is uncertain here, ana even II
the children should iuherit the fathers taste
and habits with his money. the wives
Of the sons would very likely prefer TO i've In Newport
or NewYork. Tho loving care which plants aud builds
for posterity must have stronger assurance Of the
future than the social tendencies of this country cen
guarantee and 80 the forwRrdloOking parent invests
hia time and means in something that will sell rs ash,
pstead ofs snkinR It park which, Of all property, real
or personal, Is most worthless as collateral
But while this country will have no ohsswortns 10
show for many year. II there is genuine taste
abroad for the renements OF rural life which will not
be satisfied with suburban cottage on lot OF 100 feet
'front.' Men OF wealth. who are neither Doors nor msers
win surround themselves with as much beauty OF enc
kind or another their incomes Will warrant, and
as tho country becomes older local attach
ments will grow stronger. The old home
and home grounds wiz call out more
profound affection. AS years roll on the
family estate win occupy larger plaoe In family lie
and history, so that every motive drawn from family
PRIDE the social affections and cultivated TASTE to
getnsr With that deep-seated and inAtnotive yearnng
for rural repose which Of the traditions Of Peras
dise inherited by all humankind, will unite 20 mako the
country homon object to DO preserved and adorned with
the ost tender care Every honest effort then TO make
home grounds attractive deserves grateful recognition
suoh places viii help improve the taste OF a Who
visit and enjoy their beautes They VIII furnish ideas
10 be embodied only in designs Of places OF tho same
general class but in pretentous public parks, ana
they will give hints at decoration which can DO used IN
smaller places and suburban lOts. One good example,
OF private grounds Of moderate dimensions successfully
planned, planted and maintained VIII prove more Ell
fective educational inusnee than the most thorough
and exhaustive treatise on landscape ART
On tine high ground back of Eishkilonthe-Hudson 10
Wodenethe, the home Of Henry Winthrop Sargent
Country places could be named which e1oel ths ono In
some particular as instance in trim italian gardens
or moro spacious greenhouse Rhododendron masse
or broader lawn Stretches in venerable feature
ike an old oak grove group Of ancient elms. But