OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES 



promising — so also are the representations of 

 the real estate agents, (the most citified of citi- 

 zens,) who are loudest in their praises to a 

 new comer — of some property, dull of sale, 

 which has been a long time on their books. 



And here, I wish to interpose, by way of 

 parenthesis, a suggestion — our need of a more 

 intelligent and trustful real estate agency, (so 

 far as relates to country homes,) than now 

 exists. It should be in the hands of parties 

 who have lived in the country, who are famil- 

 iar with the country, and with country re- 

 sources, and country drawbacks, who by travel 

 and experience are competent to advise, and 

 wiio by large intercourse wlith landholders 

 can put an inquirer on the right trail. Still 

 further, it is eminently desirable that such 

 party be able to furnish leading hints for 

 whatever changes may be requisite — the sys- 

 tem of management that may be safely pur- 

 sued, and to forecast the home which is sought 

 for. I am by no means suggesting what is 

 impracticable, or impossible. Older countries 

 have long seen the advantages of such agency 

 as I describe. A man of business in London, 

 who after a series of successes conceives the 

 idea of establishing a country home, is able to 

 put himself at once in communication with 



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