AN OCTOBER ABROAD 153 



there is yet less glitter and display than in this 

 country, less publicity, and, of course, less rivalry 

 and emulation also, for which we pay very dearly. 

 You have got to where the word homely preserves 

 its true signification, and is no longer a terra of dis. 

 paragement, but expressive of a cardinal virtue. 



I liked the English habit of naming their houses; 

 it shows the importance they attach to their homes. 

 All about the suburbs of London and in the outly 

 ing villages I noticed nearly every house and cottage 

 had some appropriate designation, as Terrace House, 

 Oaktree House, Ivy Cottage, or some Villa, etc., 

 usually cut into the stone gate-post, and this name 

 is put on the address of the letters. How much 

 better to be known by your name than by your 

 number! I believe the same custom prevails in the 

 country, and is common to the middle classes as 

 well as to the aristocracy. It is a good feature. 

 A house or a farm with an appropriate name, which 

 everybody recognizes, must have an added value and 

 importance. 



Modern English houses are less showy than ours, 

 and have more weight and permanence, no flat 

 roofs and no painted outside shutters. Indeed, that 

 pride of American country people, and that abomi 

 nation in the landscape, a white house with green 

 blinds, I did not see a specimen of in England. 

 They do not aim to make their houses conspicuous, 

 but the contrary. They make a large, yellowish 

 brick that has a pleasing effect in the wall. Then 

 a very short space of time in that climate suffices to 



