50 THE VILT.A. TxARDENKR. 



season ; and also in the gravel walks of ■\valled gardens, and in the avenues 

 through woods. 



74. The height or level of the road relatively to the height or level of the 

 ground floor of the house, may seem almost too insignificant a subject to he 

 noticed as a separate desideratum. In practice, however, it is of very con- 

 siderable importance. No house that stands on a lower level than the 

 adjoining road ever yet looked well ; unless, indeed, the extent of the scenery 

 was so great, and the house at such a distance, and so decidedly below the 

 level of the road, as not to tempt the comparison. Every one feels that 

 there is always something mean in looking down upon an object, or in 

 descending to it ; while, on the contrary, there is always something dignified 

 and commanding in ascending to one. The truth or falsity of these positions 

 any one may prove, by observing the front gardens of houses, even of the 

 smallest size, in the neighbourhood of London, Edinburgh, or any large 

 town. Where the front garden ascends towards the house, there is an 

 appearance of dignity, dryness, and comfort ; but, where it descends, we 

 receive from it the impression of meanness, dampness, and unwholesomeness. 

 Even in the choice of a street, or of a public road, on which to choose or 

 build a residence, it is desirable, if it can be done without sacrificing more 

 important objects, to fix on one that ascends towards the residence, rather 

 than descends. In all cases of this kind the absolute elevation is, in a great 

 measure, out of the question ; the effect is produced by the elevation or 

 depression of the spot on which the house stands, relatively, to a near object ; 

 and it can, in all suburban residences of modei-ate extent, be completely 

 effected by art, whatever may be the natural chai*acter of the surface. Let 

 it be observed, however, that this evil can only be avoided before the house 

 is built, and afterwards is past remedy, for, when once the house is set down 

 on a piece of ground on a lower level than the adjoining road, and the 

 ground floor is on a level with the surface, or even if it is only a little above 

 it, it is beyond the art of man to give a chai-acter of dignity to the house 

 All that he can do is to raise the ground round it and between it and the 

 house or road, in effecting which a portion of the house is necessarily buried; 

 and, while a part of its dignity is lost by diminishing its height, the expres- 

 sion of meanness, and the actual unv/holesomeness, are aggravated by having 

 to descend to the parlour, or ground floor, by steps. Many villa houses and 

 large mansions in England have been spoiled, both in regard to effect and 

 use, as well as rendered unwholesome, by earthing them up, in order to give 

 them the appearance of being situated on a level, or on a gentle elevation. It 

 is better, in general, to submit to the first evil, rather than to incur another 

 which is greater. What we would recommend, in the case of small 

 suburban houses built on a lower level than the adjoining street, would be to 

 shut out the lower part of the house from the road, by a wall or open fence, 

 so that the relative levels of the house and road might not be observed ; then 

 to scoop out the ground between the house, and the door opening to the road ; 

 and to arrange the walk so that the entrance-door to the house could not be 

 seen till the person walking on it had arrived at the lowest part of the inter- 

 vening walk, from which he might ascend to the house. A great deal more 

 might be said on this subject ; but to one class of I'eaders we need only add, 

 bear in mind that elevation is dignity, and depression meanness; and to 

 another, who require principles to be reduced to rules, avoid a house to which 



