OUT-OF-TOWN PLACES 



in presentable shape the walks and drives 

 which would be ruin to a private holder. The 

 rule of action, as of taste, in public parks, is, 

 to produce the best effects at inordinate cost: 

 the whole question of economy, whether of 

 establishment or future treatment, is elim- 

 inated from discussion. With private holders, 

 on the other hand, the great question is,— what 

 effects may be produced at a minimum of cost 

 for their establishment, and at a minimum of 

 cost for their future annual keeping. 



For these reasons, I think the ruralist who 

 meditates a repetition of a bit of the Central 

 Park upon his grounds, will sink fearfully in 

 the mire of costs and of mud. There are 

 charming features in the Park undoubtedly, 

 but the charming things are, most of them, 

 underlaid with gold, and will be found to 

 require a golden watering for a long time to 

 come. 



Again, if Mr. Urban or any other farm ad- 

 venturer has his chemical or other hobbies 

 which he wishes to carry out, let him not 

 count implicitly upon his power to uproot in a 

 season all the practices of centuries. There 

 is an obstinacy (after all) in God's soil and 

 seed-beds which humiliates the wittiest lect- 

 urers or the best adepts at the retort. If he 



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