KUDENESS AND SIMPLICITY. 



WHEN making a pedestrian journey I always follow the 

 rudest paths, unless the whole surface is wild and rugged. 

 Especially in the suburbs of cities, I avoid the roads that 

 would lead me past elegant villas, and turn aside into the 

 more homely parts of the town, where I may behold some 

 pleasant reminders of simple and humble modes of life. 

 I am willing to see an occasional dilapidated house, with 

 its broken fences, its burdocks, and its neglected garden. 

 These hardly lessen the pleasure afforded me by the sight 

 of neat little cottages, in many different styles, their 

 modest gardens and flower-beds, their playful children 

 around their doors, unencumbered with elegant restraints, 

 and the general signs of unambitious comfort. I prefer 

 these neat and homely scenes to the most beautiful pros- 

 pects when marred by ostentatious decorations. 



A great deal has been said and written in these days by 

 lecturers and essayists to persuade men to love and ap- 

 preciate the " beautiful." But the multitude are very far 

 from needing ;any such lessons ; as well might we waste 

 words in persuading them to seek pleasure. It is rude 

 landscape and homely objects, having a charm about them 

 that is more admirable than beauty, which men in general 

 can learn only by tuition to appreciate. All men have an 

 innate love of the "beautiful," a native passion for 

 paint, feathers, and brocade. To children and boors a 

 border of peonies is vastly more attractive than the rude 

 scenery of our New England hills ; and the love of flashy 

 colors manifested by barbarians has always been remarked. 



