538 



OUR COUNTRY VILLAGES. 



end of that state to the other, and find flourish- 

 insr villages, with broad streets lined with 

 maples and elms, behind which are goodly 

 rows of neat and substantial dwellings, full 

 of evidences of order, comfort, and taste. 

 Throughout the whole state, no animals are 

 allowed to run at large in the streets of 

 towns and villages. Hence, so much more 

 cleanliness than elsewhere ; so much more 

 order and neatness ; so many more pretty 

 rural lanes ; so many inviting flower gar- 

 dens and orchards — only separated from the 

 passer-by by a low railing or hedge, instead of 

 a formidable board fence. Now, if you cross 

 the state line into New- York — a state of far 

 greater wealth than Massachusetts, as long 

 settled and nearly as populous — you feel 

 directly that you are in the land of " pigs 

 and poultry," in the least agreeable sense 

 of the word. In passing through villages 

 and towns, the truth is still more striking, 

 as you go to the south and west ; and you 

 feel little or nothing of that sense, of" how 

 pleasant it must be to live here," which the 

 traveller through Berkshire or the Connecti- 

 cut valley or the pretty villages about Bos- 

 ton, feels, moving his heart within him. 

 You are rather inclined to wish there were 

 two new commandments, viz: thou shalt 

 plant trees, to hide the nakedness of the 

 streets ; and thou shalt not keep pigs — ex- 

 cept in the back yard ! * 



Our more reflective and inquiring read- 

 ers will naturally ask, why is this better 

 condition of things — a condition that de- 

 notes better citizens, better laws, and high- 

 er civilization — confined almost wholly to 

 Massachusetts ? To save them an infinite 

 deal of pains-taking, research and investi- 



* We believe we must lay this latter sin at the doors of our 

 hard-working emigrants from the Emerald Isle. Wherever 

 they settle, the}' cling to their ancient fraternity of porkers; 

 and think it " no free country where pigs can't have their 

 liberty." Newburgh is by no means a well-planned village, 

 though scarcely surpassed for scenery ; but we believe it may 

 claim the credit of being the only one among all the towns, 

 cities and villages of New- York, where pigs and geese have 

 not the freedom of the streets. 



gation, we will tell them in a few word's. 

 That state is better educated than the rest. 

 She sees the advantage, morally and so- 

 cially, of orderly, neat, tasteful villages ; in 

 producing better citizens, in causing the 

 laws to be respected, in making homes- 

 dearer and more sacred, in making domestic- 

 life and the enjoyment of property to be 

 more truly and rightly estimated. 



And these are the legitimate and natural 

 results of this kind of improvement we so 

 ardently desire in the outward life and ap- 

 pearance of rural towns. If our readers 

 suppose us anxious for the building of good 

 houses, and the planting of street avenues, 

 solely that the country may look more beau- 

 tiful to the eye, and that the taste shall be 

 gratified, they do us an injustice. This is 

 only the external sign by which we would 

 have the country's health and beauty known,, 

 as we look for the health and beauty of its; 

 fair daughters in the presence of the rose on 

 their cheeks. But as the latter only blooms 

 lastingly there, when a good constitution is 

 joined with healthful habits of mind and 

 body, so the tasteful appearance which we 

 long for in our country towns, we seek as 

 the outward mark of education, moral sen- 

 timent, love of home, and refined cultiva- 

 tion, which makes the main difference be- 

 tween Massachusetts and Madagascar. 



We have, in a former number, said some- 

 thing as to the practical manner in which 

 "graceless villages" may be improved. 

 We have urged the force of example in 

 those who set about improving their own 

 property, and shown the influence of even 

 two or three persons in giving an air of 

 civilization and refinement to the streets 

 and suburbs of country towns. There "is 

 not a village in America, however badly- 

 planned at first, or ill-built afterwards, that 

 may not be redeemed, in a great measure, 

 bv the aid of shade trees in the streets, and 



