Smyrna times., 1883-05-23

per line.
HOME ADoRNMENTs.-We have no
labor Day" in Delaware as they have
West where the citizens by common
consent drop their other occupations
and devote the day to tree planting, as
we'll for sanitary and economic pur-
poses as for beauty and comfort. The
boundless and treeless pararie lands
forces the consideration of an labor
day" with them more than with us
where trees abound and forests needed |
to be cut out of the way, but it would
be o blessing to many of our farm
houses if they had an labor day" A
we'll shaded home with yards of shrub
berry and beautiful flowers indicates
not only thrift, but refinement and the
evidences of happy home. A taste
full home thus becomes an agent of
civilization, for here is the chief school
of virtue, the fountain-head of individ-
ual and national strength and prosperi-
ty. 1t is worthy ambition to sur
round home and children with such
scenes and influences as shall make
everyday life and labors brighter and
happier.
We are happy to record growing
culture in this particular in both our
urbane and rural population. More
comfortable and attractive dwellings
and surroundings are springing up on
all sides, while our Usage hedges that
line the public thoroughfares like green
ribbons for miles at stretch, present
a driveway rarely equalled in any
other country. From any point of the
compass surrounding Smyrna can be
found homes, country homes, that give
every evidence of means, culture and
happiness. There are others equally
able who might present as good an ap-
pearance if they had more sentiment"
mixed with the practical duties of life,
while their children would be infinitely
the gamers and their sons be less in
clined to hunt for the deficiencies of
home in the indictments and allure
ments of a city life. There is a differ
ence which we are compelled to notice
between prOprietorship and a rented
home, many landlords giving them
selves little concern for anything but
the income from wheat, corn and
peaches. But there are exceptions and
with one whose name appears promi
nently elsewhere in this issue it i!
notably so: the buildings, fences, &c.
are put in complete order and the ten
ant furnished with nails, whitewasl
brushes and other appliances to keel
everything in slightly appearance.
In the town where ground is scarc
and yards small, sometimes none at all
the adornments of nature is reduced Il
Horticulture which we are happy to sa,
is adding to the attractions of man,
homes. The humblest dwelling il
town or country is rarely without tn
rose, the Queen of flowers, to whic
the pink and sweet-william have bee
natural attendants, but the florist ha
added so many and such beautifu
flowers, though no sweeter, that ever
home can have an array of them i
some form, if only window box.
There was wide difference las wild
as the difference in asthetical culture
between the first and the present HON
builders in our towns. The idea of th
original town settlers was the simil
tude of the city,-houses joined clio:
together and planted squarely on I'll
front. Now it is for yards and ope
grounds with as much adornment
taste and art Will justify, and this ru
is being adopted for residences whe
ever it can be in suburban, city ar
country homes. A large number of Il
"old" homes are blest with beautif
yards and gardens, but are shut o
from sight by high fences suggestive
seclusion or selGshness. Wherev
there is beauty it should be made
far as possible serve a public benei
for it is through the eye as well as t
ear the more refined senses are reache
Our neighbors in Dover seem to ha
reached this idea fully in building
State " street, of which they have il
cause to be proud, which is turned @
to the public" in most cases without
semblance of enclosure; and VIII,
this is not the case, the surroundir
are of ornamental shrubbery.
There is positive pleasure to tho
people so situated as not to be favor
with such surroundings, in walk
with them in view, and builders of n
properties would serve more than Il
think in having this thing in mi
The humble dwelling cannot expect
rival the elaborate homestead but
roadside cottage with its damask rol
holly-hocks and honey ma
far more favorable impression of
character and quality of its inms
than the house that stands out bare
stark and cheerless. Beauty is G.
parative quality and Keats immo
line, "a thing of beauty is joy
ever" may be made to apply to
country homes as we'll as to the gri
plats and magnificent parterres of
rich and noble.
Smyrna and Vicinity