LITTLE GARDENS 



they dominate the ground less arrogantly, and 

 the ground shows for Itself. 



I suppose there Is no law against the use of 

 Italian wells in American parks, any more than 

 I suppose there Is a lack of Americans who can 

 design American wells for Italian parks, but 

 these objects, weighing a ton or two — I am not 

 speaking of the designers now, but of their well- 

 curbs — require large surroundings and back- 

 grounds, not of shrubbery alone, but of stately 

 trees; in short, the setting of a large landscape. 

 If we have an important tree In the city yard we 

 shall always live in the shadow, for there will 

 be no room for anything else. Yet a large oak, 

 or even a maple, w^ould be no more out of place 

 on the spot where we are supposed to dry the 

 clothes than a big piece of sculpture would be. 

 A statue, unless It Is small and simply pedestaled, 

 demands room. It subordinates to itself a space 

 of three times its greatest dimension. It can be 

 exhibited in city squares and parked spaces with 

 surroundings of flowers and ornate leafage; in- 

 deed, it should have this footing In the natural- 

 beautiful, so long as it Is out of doors. In a 

 small garden we can not dignify a work of art 

 236 



