THE COUNTRY HOUSE. 291 



the rich and the poor man. We remember 

 Mr. Jerome K. Jerome's lady who desired a 

 country house within an easy carriage drive of 

 some nice little slums. Now, 1 suppose the 

 advertisement would be amended to " an easy 

 motor drive." 



On the other hand, there is, I imagine, a 

 larger intellectual life in the country house of 

 to-day than in the time of Jane Austen, and 

 though this may be largely tinged with 

 cynicism, the mental outlook is clearer than 

 that which obtained in days gone by. 



Lady Henry Somerset, who must have had a 

 large experience of the English country house 

 in various counties, has stated " that there is 

 far more spontaneous happiness in a village 

 where there is no great house than even in the 

 best village where everything is beneficially 

 arranged by a great landlord for the benefit of 

 the people." " Servility and envy," once said a 

 youth to her, "was the effect of the great 

 house. Servility, because we are all afraid 

 we may lose if we offend ; envy, at the sight 

 of what appears to be so wonderful and 

 romantic." 



The occupation of a country estate by a 

 new family from town is always a disturbing 



