Embellishments 117 



will surround by a raised platform or terrace, wide enough 

 for a dry, firm walk, at all seasons; on the top of the wall 

 or border of this terrace, we will form a handsome parapet, 

 or balustrade, some two or three feet high, the details of 

 which shall be in good keeping with the house, whether 

 Grecian or Gothic. On the coping of this parapet, if the 

 house is in the classical style, we will find suitable places, 

 at proper intervals, for some handsome urns, vases, etc. 

 On the drawing-room side of the house, that is, the side 

 towards which the best room or rooms look, we will place 

 the flower-garden, into which we descend from the terrace 

 by a few steps. This flower-garden may be simply what 

 its name denotes, a place exclusively devoted to the culti- 

 vation of flowers, or (if the house is not in a very plain 

 style, admitting of little enrichment) it may be an archi- 

 tectural flower-garden. In the latter case, intermingled 

 with the flowers, are to be seen vases, fountains, and some- 

 times even statues; the effect of the fine colors and deep 

 foliage of the former, heightened by contrast with the 

 sculptured forms of the latter. 



If our readers will now step back a few rods with us and 

 take a second view of our villa residence, with its supposed 

 harmonizing accessories, we think they can hardly fail to 

 be impressed at once with the great improvement of the 

 whole. The eye now, instead of witnessing the sudden 

 termination of the architecture at the base of the house, 

 where the lawn commences as suddenly, will be at once 

 struck with the increased variety and richness imparted to 

 the whole scene, by the addition of the architectural and 

 garden decorations. The mind is led gradually down from 

 the house, with its projecting porch or piazzas, to the sur- 

 rounding terrace crowned with its beautiful vases, and from 

 thence to the architectural flower-garden, interspersed with 

 similar ornaments. The various play of light afforded by 

 these sculptured forms on the terrace; the projections and 

 recesses of the parapet, with here and there some climbing 

 plants luxuriantly enwreathing it, throwing out the mural 

 objects in stronger relief, and connecting them pleasantly 



