The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-08-03
Now for the story itself.

NOW Tor the story ltSelf.
In discussing Bennington street by
street, we may just as well begin
with Main street and say right at the
beginning that it is remarkable for
the fact that, with one single excep-
ticn. all OF the home grounds are re-
markably well kept and many of them
very beautiful That is very strong
point because beauty does not con-
sist solely in the display of excellence
in some parts of the picture. Its re-
quirements are not merely intrinsic
worth, but absence Of ugliness in all
OF its parts as well.
This praise does not mean that
there is no room for improvement.
There is, however. what may be crit
icized is certainly not due to neglect
or absence of civic pride, but to ap-
parent lack OF familiarity with one of
the principles, and some of the tricks
a the trade of the landscape afon4-
tect. Your city builders seem to
have forgotten that the human eye is
exceedingly curious. 1t is at ali times
desirous to make discoveries. More
over, 1t abhors monotony. 1t does
not like succession of straight lines
because they are monotonous-but
it loves TO guess what It does not see
at glance. Hence what is known to
the landscape gardner as partial con
cealment of principal Objects" A
| monumental building, when seen all at
once, does not provoque more than a
passing glance, but II partially con,
cealed by vegetation. the eye inVolun
tarily seeks to discover what is hid
der.
This point is well illustrated with
the really beautiful vistas which
most OF your cross town streets offer
The most interesting part Of these
vistas are not the nice features to be
seen on either side of the roadway
but what is barely visible. what one
guesses exists in the distance.
If, for instance, we walk on School
street, let us look especially at st
Peters church, the parsonage of the
Congregational church, that church IL
self, and finally even at the plair
square building. Richie. partially hid
den behind the drooping branches o.
stately elm trees. Even that las
building is attractive to the eye. bu
as we advance, as il begins to appeal
IN its entity II becomes uninterestinl
and there remains nothing for tn,
eye to discover, and one involuntaril!
turns the head to seek another sight
Then we face the Masonic Temple
with its pleasing, graceful outlines
but, unless we are especially inter
ested in architectural design, in fey
seconds we will have seen all that In
terests us about II and We will b
overcome with something akin to
feeling of disappointment that ther
Is nothing else worth locking at o
: that spot.
Let us suppose that II had been pos
sible to plant a tell tree at a conyer
lent distance of the Temple. hidm
part of its features The beholde
. would have turned around to have
good look at what the tree at FIRST col
cealed and, as matter OF fact, b
seeing only part Of the building at
time. he would see, and permanent
remember more of its beauties tha
by seeing II at glance. In defau
OF a tall tree. II n few shrubs wer
planted at the base of the building. II
whole aspect would be immensely ei
hanoed.
Another instance OF the applicatio
of this principle Ia offered by th
| High School building It Is monl
ment OF which Bennington may /
proud. The effort made there is