OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES 



townships (in Massachusetts mostly) which 

 have taken this matter boldly in hand and en- 

 couraged order and thrift by wholesome 

 regulations in regard to encroachments upon 

 the highway, and the judicious planting of 

 trees. For the most part, however, American 

 highroads, throughout the rural districts, of- 

 fer to the eye two great slovenly stretches of 

 land, cumbered with stones, offal, wood-yards, 

 and gaping with yellow chasms of earth, 

 from which every spring-time and autumn, a 

 few shovelfuls of clay are withdrawn to patch 

 the road-bed which lies between. Under such 

 conditions the utmost neatness and regularity 

 which the farmer may bestow upon his fields 

 and crops lose half their effect, and the land- 

 scape lacks that completed charm which re- 

 gales the eye along the rural by-roads of Eng- 

 land. 



While town authorities continue to be ap- 

 pointed for their political aptitude, it is useless 

 to hope for any mending for such defects, or 

 for any deliberate scheme o^ improvement. 

 The most that can be done is by the combina- 

 tion of adjoining proprietors, in which they 

 have little to hope from the cooperation of 

 any town board of advisers. As an instance 

 in point— I have repeatedly offered to under- 



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