SPONTANEITY. 351 



suckers, that grow up rapidly into a forest of dense cop- 

 pice, and the seedlings scattered among them fill up all 

 the intermediate spaces. Of these two examples of spon- 

 taneous vegetation, the tract which has been once reduced 

 to tillage alone presents a picturesque or beautiful ap- 

 pearance. 



The beauty of a thing in landscape is often enhanced 

 by being in the wrong place. Human hands will gen- 

 erally plant trees in their right places and in a proper 

 manner, and this propriety discovers the artist. Hence 

 the results of the rude operations of rustic laborers are 

 picturesque, because they plant nothing for embellish- 

 ment ; but men of taste, while endeavoring to imitate the 

 spontaneity of nature, produce only a ludicrous counter- 

 feit. This remark offers but poor encouragement to art ; 

 but it shows that there are certain graces beyond the 

 reach of art, which are nevertheless attainable by untu- 

 tored hands. There is a certain absence of congruity that 

 constitutes the charm of a spontaneous scene. Though 

 the voluptuous eye may be delighted with a view of 

 smooth-shaven levels, kaleidoscopic figures cut out in 

 lawn, and the harmonic arrangements of colors in a flower- 

 bed, we receive more passionate delight from the bramble- 

 covered knolls, the daisied and half-obstructed footpaths, 

 and the wild vines and trees not planted by hands, that 

 surround the homes of laboring men in the country. 



