MY FARM OF EDGEWOOD 



institutions. There is an absolute and charm- 

 ing fittingness about most of these humble 

 rural adornments, of which I speak, which our 

 progressive friend does not like to adopt, by 

 reason of their fittingness, and because they 

 give quasi indication of limited means and 

 humble estate. Wheii, therefore, such an one 

 makes blundering effort to accomplish some- 

 thing in the way of decorative display, it is 

 very apt to take a grandiose type, showing 

 vulgar strain toward those adornments of the 

 town which are wholly unsuited to his habits 

 and surroundings. Thus a thriving ruralist 

 with a family of two, will build a house as 

 large as a church, and perch a cupola upon it, 

 from which he may review the flat country for 

 miles while he contents himself with occupancy 

 of the back-kitchen. If contented with small 

 space, why not, in the name of honesty, declare 

 it boldly, instead of covering the truth, under 

 such lumbering falsehood ? What forbids giv- 

 ing to the country home a simple propriety of 

 its own, with its own wealth of rural decora- 

 tion—its shrubbery, its vines, its arbors, in- 

 stead of challenging unfavorable comparison 

 with an entirely different class of homes? If 

 a man is disposed to advertise by flaming 

 architecture and appointments— "I am only 



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