Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1897-10-22
HOMES FOR SUMMER.
SOME OF THE GOOD RESULTS OF VIII
LACE IMPROVEMENT.

Residents of Cities Select the Best Kept
Towns For Their Temporary Abodes.
Parks. Trees and Neatly Paved streets
Are Good Investments.
The pecunary as well as moral and
social value of village improvement is
the subject of an article by Mr.. w. II.
Yeamans in a recent number of the
Christian Work. lie says:
The more rural portions of the coun-
try, having learned that the residents
of cities are inclined to spend portion
of their time during the heated term of
summer among them, are now taking
measures to render the country village
more attractive, and so more desirable of
visitation.
If fresh air, pure as it is possible for it
to exist, is desired, it can nowhere be
better found than in the country. Not
only are healthful conditions there to be
found, but such a degree of quiet as is
conducive to rest.
Those who have always resided in the
country are accustomed to the hills and
valleys, the springs, rivulets and streams
of water, the myriads of plants, shrubs
and trees, the rocks and lodges, the
cascades and waterfalls, the many
feathered songsters that send forth their
sweet music, the animals that roam the
| fields. and so are not moved to ecstasies
by their sight, as is one born and reared
in the city.
Feeling this as they do and taking
pleasure in the enjoyment of others have
led to the attempts at village improve
ments by village residents, aud, not only
\ that, but to the general improvement of
highways. Within the period of %
years great changes have been wrought.
Roadsides that were given over to the
growth of weeds and bushes and were
unpleasant to the eye have been re-
claimed, weeds and bushes have given
place to grass, and the frontage of many
houses has been transformed into beau
tiful lawns, having additional attrac-
tons in the numerous blooming shrubs
and plants set therein. With such
scenes as these, in connection with the
great variety of natural conditions al
ways to be found in the country, afford
ed by its numerous roads that run in
various directions, is it any wonder that
drives are sought in the country because
of the beautiful scenery:
Then, further than this, by the gen.
eral Improvement of the commons at the
+ center of towns, by the laying out of
small parks, the planting of ornamental
trees, Towering shrubs and plants, with
corresponding changes connected with
private residences, towns have been
sought after for temporary homes for
summer.
But the effect has been still more far
reaching. Residents of cities, of means,
have been so captivated by the general
attractiveness of the well regulated
country towns as to be influenced tC
purchase real estate, upon which have
been erected magnificent residences, and
! 81 luduy VI lIc SOuully lOWus are Dc
coming deservedly popular because Of
their summer residences and as tempo
rary summer resorts.
1t has been one of the good results Of
village Improvement Indirectly to bring
the residents of city and country into
more friendly social relations. This has
had tendency to break down and remove
barriers that at one time were looked
upon as impossible. If the feeling tina
the better portions of rural cOmmuni
ties are of a class entitled to fully al
much respect as any in the cities can be
fully established, a great good vii
have been accomplished. 1t must be re
membered that those who are reared
where nature puts on her pleasantes
appearance, as rule, are not those who
go downward in the path of crime. The
continual observation of the genera
adaptation of everything in nature Il
some good purpose has an elevatins
effect upon the human mind, and the
more association there is with nature
the more powerful the influence exert
ed. Children taught in their youth tC
love the beautiful seldom become vicious
in their older and more mature years