New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-29
cry PEOPLE ~ THE COUNTRY.

Those who think that we are being " dubbed
to death" nowadays would possibly feel that
the country club. 50 popular in recent years, is
an evidence that they arc right. For, at the
first blush, the country does not seem the
natural habitat Of such purely artificial thing
A. club. Nature cannot be successfully woocd
with n brass band, and the well-manncrcd
conventional people who establish country clubs
are not likely 10 be as much interested in her
silent and often hidden workings as they are
in each other. i ii not almost Il sacrilegionS
thing the quiet lover Of Nature may ask, for
lot of sophisticated city people to invade
the sweet simplicity Of the country with
their French cookery, and the illrations
and their yacuous urban gossip. and their com
placcnt air of patronizing superiority? Is it
not a dcsccra,ion for wealthy people to eStab
lieh /" camp" in the Adrondacks. for instance
furnished with priceless rugs and grand pianos
and pictures by the old masters and servants
in livcry? Is this the way to get the pleas
urc and the recreation that the country is able
10 give 10 the unfortunate worshpperS of Nam
mon in the city? And a. the Naturclovcr asks
these questions. he shifts a sniff OF indignant
scorn at tho very thought Of such an ndignity
Bot in point of fact such critics arc unjust.
II is true that many wealthy city people
do ,lrry too much of their Artificial city life
with them when they go g. the country. and
for that reason they do not reap rs great
benefit n they might from their sojoum there.
The people VIII, daily ca twclrr-couiSc din
ncrS with several kinds Of vines in " camp
in the woods and see the beauties Of lake and
forest only from the seat of a modish nix driven
hy a livcricd coachman certainly miss much
that might contribute 70 their health rs well
- ENJOYMENT But while they miss much the,
also gain much BE they IL conventional and
artificial aS they please they cannot reproduce
all III their usual life, nor can they shut out
all the simpler and purcr cnjoy mentS that come
to the dWcllcr in the country. lie; them sur
round Themselves ii they will. with many of
the acquired Injuries of the city, which have
bccomc a second nature 10 them. they cannot
fail 10 appreciate some of the charms around
them. They must pcrforCc breathe the fresh,
pure air they will hear the singing Of the birds,
and will sec spread before them day by day
the ever changing panorama of stili life with
its suggestions OF marvel and mystery. They
may not be aware OF the fact, but when they
90 back 10 the world of balls and operas and
theatres some memories Of Natures simpler
noblcr plan will 20 with them, and will swccten
and ill out many an otherwise vacant and arid
hour. The failed Antacus renewed his strength
every time he touched his mother, the earth
And so it will be with all Of us to-day who
put ourselves in relations, however imperfect
with the great common mother Of us ALL
But such advantages as the country club offers
70 those who arc wealthy enough ~ belong 10
it may he enjoyed by many others The great
multitude Of people in moderate circumstances
who can take house in the country Tor two
or three months Of the summer have, as
matter Of fact. the most delightful kind Of u
country club. composed of their own family
and ,hc;r congcnal friends. Cottage life IN
the summer has received a great impulse dur
ing the last few years. But even yet people
generally do not make rs much OF II as they
might. The most common objection 10 it is
loneliness, and 10 avoid that largo numbers OF
people are willing to endure the discomforts
Of the average summer resort hotel or boarding
house But there need be no loneliness in the
summer cottage. The smallest of them gen
orally has spare room or two, and few of
those who occupy them are so poor in friends
as to know no pleasant people whom they could
ask to spend few days With them. In this
matter We have much to learn from the Eng
lsh people. who have reduced the art OF enter
tanning III their country houses 10 q science. and
who. by doing so. not only give much pleasure
70 their friends, but add n great deal to the
variety and enjoyment of their own lives. In
stead of looking at the country club as an I'M
a,tanabe and doubtful luxury, let every coun-
Try house be made country club. in which |
there shall be a pleasant and harmonious
of the pursuits and recrcations of |
life with the more artificial charms of |
urban social life.