CHAPTER IX. 



EXTKAXCES, DRIVES AND WALKS. 



For an approacli to be jrood there must be an easy turn-in 

 from the higli road; tlie grade within the gate must be as 

 uniform and as gentle as possible; there must be no sharp 

 turns; . . . the house must be well displayed to advanc- 

 ing eyes; and the line of gravel must not so intersect the 

 ground as to interfere with a beautiful arrangement of its 

 parts, or to be itself a disagreeable object when seen from 

 the house. Mrs, Van Rensselaer. 



The orator takes great pains that his exordium shall 

 be at once a fitting introduction to his oration and cal- 

 culated to win the favor of his audience. The comj^oser 

 of an opera gives special care to his overture, endeavor- 

 ing to introduce the best themes of the subsequent score, 

 and to make an agreeable impression on his hearers. In 

 the same way, when a landscape gardener pLans a con- 

 siderable picture he tries to arrange it so that the 

 ajjproaching visitor shall get not only a prejudice in its 

 favor, but also a fair suggestion of its character. Among 

 farmers who try to arrange their homes tastefully, and 

 among people who have summer residences in the coun- 

 try, the importance of an appropriate approach is quite 

 generally felt. In some other lines of work, — park- 

 making, for example, — it is sometimes underestimated. 



When the grounds are of any considerable size there 

 ought to be an adequate (undefined) entrance area. 

 The entrance is of some importance in itself, and other 

 items in its immediate neighborhood may best be made 

 subordinate to it. Usually this area will be more or less 

 enlarged by being recessed from the outside. This 

 emphasizes the entrance, makes it seem more hospitably 

 inviting, gives room for a carriage turn, etc. Usually 



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