Year: 1876




We wonder if anybody knows how many


country homes there are within fiftv miles


of New York, and owned by its citizens
| that are offered for rent or for sale. We


suppose one does not know either this, or
how many in addition their owners would


be glad to part with. A New Yorker makes


a pile of money, and then he begins to note
| the palaces that overlook the Hudson from


their beautiful heights, and to long to give


a kindred expression to the wealth he pos


sesses. His family, long confined to their


city residence, sympathiZe with him. and


light IN the prospect of country home
| A site Is bought, and the grading, fencing.


tree planting and building commence. The


enterprise Is in every way delightful; and


for two Years it gees on, in all its interest,"


ing details. The building introduces a new


set of ideas, and new kind Of culture.


There arebookS to be read. and plans to be
discussed, and new furniture to buy, and


visits to be made to the charmed spot, and
the family never was so. happy. At last,
everything is ready, and the family, on
some fresh June morning, take possession.
Friends come in welcome throngs to see
the new glory, and the host is never weary
in showing them over the house and
grounds. The first summer passes away
II.
save that the charm of novelty IS some
what worn away. The third season Is en-
tered upon cOurageously, but. at last. if |
begins to be discovered that the orange has !
been sucked and that the family would |
really like little variety. They were for |
merly in the habit of going to Saratoga, the |
White Mountains, Long Branch, Niagara |
or Lake George. The Overtasked house !
keeper of the city finds that her cares are
continued through the summer, and she |
wishes she could have little freedom. The |
daughters have no company except such as
they can bring into the house by Invitation:
and social recreation can only be had at
the cost of the fathers purse and the moth
er's care.


To the average family, a fixed country
home for the summer may possibly retain
its attractions for five years-rarely longer.
Then they are sick of it. Perhaps the head
of the house can be there but little, and the
women are left nearly alone. Perhaps there
are burglars around, and then a sad fare
well is given to peaceful sleep. There are
troubles connected with the marketing
The old doctor is beyond call Worse than
all, hard times come, and the fortune, |
which was deemed so ample, shrinks until
the head of the house wishes from the bot
tom of his heart that his place were at the
bottom of the sea, or that he could get his
money back They have all tried the ex-
pertinent They had a good time at the be-
ginning of it, but what would they not
give if their costly toy were well off their
hands, and they were at liberty to run
around among their old haunts, cut free
from all household cares, fall in with the
tide of society at the watering places, see
new sights, make new acquaintance, and
20 and come when they choose.


We suppose we have thus given substan-
tally the history Of more country home" i
than can be counted. Up and
lown the Hudson, among the hills of New
Jersey, out into Winchester County, over
lpon Long Island, there are parks and pal
ices, villas, cottages, and what not, that
IAN be bought to-day for from twenty to :
iixty per cent. less than they cost, in any +
lumber. They are regarded as burden ]
)y their owners, and bore by the women ,
Who are obliged to pass their summers in
hem. Instead of their keeping house in Z
he country, the house keeps them. In '
tead Of being masters and mistresseS, they r
re slaves in wearisome bondage Hap J
~ the day when they can rent or sell, and !
nee more become summer vagabonds.


Scribner for N0Uem5er. !