Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-08-01
THE WALLS COMING DOWN.
4 Growing Disposition to Share the Pleas
ures of Beautiful Grounds.

A man of wealth, residing in beauti-
full suburban town, pointed out to me
with delight that there was not wall or
even fence remaining to divide the six
successive estates, some dating back to
colonial days, some quite recent, of
which his was one. He had recently
purchased it, and / had noticed that his
first act after purchasing was to lower
the wall separating it from the street.
Ever since l have known that particular
street the walls and fences have been
growing lower. All the present ten
dency in our northern states is in that
direction; IN some attractive suburbs
there are absolutely no fences whatever,
and one sees roses and even Strawberries
growing unmolested up to the edge Of
the sidewalk. An American visiting
Europe Is extremely struck with the
contrast; in many suburbs Of London
the walls are 50 high that you feel as if
living in a kind of fortress; and on the
continent you often walk through miles
of lanes which are shut In on both sides,
so that only an occasional elevation gives
you q glance at the surrounding country.
A villa Ia the United States usually i'm
plies something open, attractive. accessi-
BILE to the eye. A villa on the European
continent, and often in England, implies
an inaccessible wall with iron gates.
1t Is impossible to deny that there is
something very attractive in the privacy
created by the wall The world is left
outside, and the family Is as free within
its own domain as IL il lived ON a planet
Of its own. 4 suburban villa at Ken
sington or Harnmersrnith, for instance,
safe within its encircling wall, possess
ing its own fountain, its own nightin-
gale, and almost its own moonlight
what can be more delightful! Or the
patio, or inclosed court, Of a Spanish
house, where the hoose itself makes the
garden, and the world is absolutely ex-
cluded7 On the other hand, these very
charms increase the regret felt by every
generous nature for the exclusion thus
implied. They press home the question,
was the earth really meant for the few,
or for the human racer Many an Amer
lean traveller has felt this drawback On
the delicious rural life Of England
Charles Sumner. who was more petted
in English society than any American
since his day, and was suspected o. An
glomania on his return by even his
ever kindly friend Longfellow. jet wrote
soon after, 4" have always enjoyed the
refinement Of the best society, butI have
never at 10 the palaces Of England with
out being panied by the inequality Of
which the inor6inate luxury was q
token"
OF course It may Be Justly said that
property Is property, and that tbs most
imp~rceptihle lins drawn around real IS
tate-or 10 line q: an-leaves 1t Just a.
clearly within private ovnership Is il
the wall we're there This "a true, but (.
IL ALEC true tina, the o~nerxhip becomes
less exclusive from the moment when IL
ceases to be visible ard. as Il were, az
grexsire. II the foot Of q stranger k en-
Guided. 1t Ia something that the ere u
not onoe beard q poor Portuguese
woman say tia: size ard her husband
were 80 destisu:s thsy had nothing bot
the day and The night" but The Day and
the high: ere less raluable-ssy, rzsher,
tia; there Is too little day and TOO much
night-fors these who are shut cot from
ereu the sssh; Of the lazdscaps ET hish
walls The mere denial Of al possibility
Of ownerzhip il bad enough / reznem-
Der bow depressing 81 was. OF first Visit
20 Europe. when IL suddenly ds~red
upon me tAa. the whole beautiful region
q EjIa-rer I'd lakes, hills, Villages.
fscsor.sa ~ ssuare ranes q rsr4are.
WIS al tie literal property Of t~o I-e-s-
the Ear, al Kennars and Herbert Of
Nuckro~,. 70 s8As not a<quzse foos Of
the territory could Be houxhs ~ any eoe.