Hints to Rural hnj>n>rcrs 191 



some of the best specimens of building and gardening in 

 the country, could not but have prevented their proprietors 

 from making their places absolutely hideous, and throwing 

 away ten, twenty, or thirty thousand dollars. Ignorance 

 is not bliss, nor is it economy, in improving a country- 

 seat. 



We think, also, there can scarcely be a question that an 

 examination of the best examples of taste in rural improve- 

 ment at home, is far more instructive to an American, than 

 an inspection of the finest country places in Europe; and 

 this, chiefly, because a really successful example at home is 

 based upon republican modes of life, enjoyment, and ex- 

 penditure, - - which are almost the reverse of those of an 

 aristocratic government. For the same reason, we think 

 those places most instructive, and best worthy general 

 study in this country, which realize most completely our 

 ideal of refined country life in America. To do this, it is 

 by no means necessary to have baronial possessions, or a 

 mansion of vast extent. Xo more should be attempted 

 than can be done well, and in perfect harmony with our 

 habits, mode of life, and domestic institutions. Hence, 

 smaller suburban residences, like those in the neighborhood 

 of Boston, are, perhaps, better models, or studies for the 

 public generally, than our grander and more extensive seals; 

 mainly because they are more expressive of the means and 

 character of the majority of those of our countrymen whose 

 intelligence and refinement lead them to find their happinr^ 

 in country life. It is better to attempt a small place, and 

 attain perfect success, than to fail in one of greater extent. 



Having pointed out what we consider indispensable to 

 be done, to assist in forming, if possible, a correct taste in 

 those who have only a natural delicacy of organization, 

 which they miscall taste, we may also add that good taste, 

 or even a perfect taste, is often by no means sufficient for 

 the production of really extensive works of rural architec- 

 ture or landscape gardening. 



"'Taste," says Cousin, in his Philosophy of the Beautiful, 

 "is a faculty indolent and passive; it reposes tranquilly in 



