540 



OUR COUNTRY VILLAGES. 



him, instead of houses on all sides, almost 

 as closely placed as in the city, which he 

 has endeavored to fly from. 



Now a rural village — newly planned in 

 the suburbs of a great city, and planned, 

 too, specially for those whose circumstances 

 will allow them to own a tasteful cottage 

 in such a village — should present attrac- 

 tions much higher than this. It should 

 aim at something; hia;her than mere rows of 

 houses upon streets crossing each other at 

 right angles, and bordered with shade trees. 

 Any one may find as good shade trees, and 

 much better houses, in certain streets of the 

 city which he leaves behind him ; and if 

 he is to give up fifty conveniences and 

 comforts, long enjoyed in town, for the 

 mere fact of fresh air, he had better take 

 board during the summer months in some 

 snug farm-house as before. 



The indispensable desiderata in rural vil- 

 lages of this kind, are the following: 1st, 

 a large open space , common, or park, situated 

 in the middle of the village — not less than 

 20 acres ; and better, if 50 or more in extent. 

 This should be well planted with groups of 

 trees, and kept as a lawn. The expense of 

 mowing it would be paid by the grass in 

 some cases ; and in others a considerable 

 part of the space might be enclosed with a 

 wire fence, and fed by sheep or cows, like 

 many of the public parks in England. 



This park would be the nucleus or heart 

 of the village, and would give it an essen- 

 tially rural character. Around it should be 

 grouped all the best cottages and residen- 

 ces of the place ; and this would be secured 

 by selling no lots fronting upon it of less 

 than one-fourth of an acre in extent. Wide 

 streets, with rows of elms or maples should 

 diverge from the park on each side, and 

 upon these streets smaller lots, but not 

 smaller than 100 feet front, should be sold 

 for smaller cottages. 



In this way, we would secure to our vil- 

 lage a permanent rural character ; first, by 

 the possession of a large central space, al- 

 ways devoted to park or pleasure ground, 

 and always held as joint property, and for 

 the common use of the whole village ; se- 

 cond, by the imperative arrangement of cot- 

 tages or dwellings around it, in such a way 

 as to secure in all parts of the village 

 sufficient space, view, circulation of air, 

 and broad, well-planted avenues of shade 

 trees. 



After such a village was built, and the 

 central park planted a few years, the in- 

 habitants would not be contented with the 

 mere meadow and trees, usually called a 

 park in this country. By submitting to a 

 small annual tax per family, they could 

 turn the whole park, if small, or considera- 

 ble portions, here and there, if large, into 

 pleasure-grounds. In the latter, there would 

 be collected, by the combined means of the 

 village, all the rare, hardy shrubs, trees and 

 plants usually found in the private grounds 

 of any amateur in America. Beds and 

 masses of everblooming roses, sweet-scented 

 climbers and the richest shrubs would thus 

 be open to the enjoyment of all during the 

 whole growing season. Those who had nei- 

 ther the means, time, nor inclination to devote 

 to the culture of private pleasure-grounds, 

 could thus enjoy those which belonged to 

 all. Others might prefer to devote their 

 own garden to fruits and vegetables, since 

 the pleasure-grounds, which belonged to 

 all, and which all would enjoy, would, by 

 their greater breadth and magnitude, offer 

 beauties and enjoyments Avhich few private 

 gardens can give. 



The next step, after the possession of 

 such public pleasure-grounds, would be the 

 social and common enjoyment of them. 

 Upon the well-mown glades of lawn, and be- 

 neath the shade of the forest trees, would be 



