^location of Builfcfnas 119 



landscape by the architect. Each one is needed to help 

 the other; for in actual experience it is often found 

 that a change of fifty feet will greatly improve the ap- 

 pearance of the house as well as that of the landscape 

 as seen from the house. 



In order to further realize the significance of what 

 has been said in this chapter on the important subject 

 of the location of buildings one instinctively remembers 

 Haddon Hall. Take it altogether, Haddon Hall has 

 come to be recognized by many of the best judges as 

 the finest, although by no means the largest or most 

 expensive, country seat in England. Most people in- 

 stinctively prefer it to Versailles or the Italian villas, 

 but it may be said that is a matter of taste, though good 

 taste should naturally have a basis on acknowledged 

 precedents of good art. In this respect Haddon has a 

 great advantage in its setting. This all will concede 

 is most admirable. It rests pleasantly on the gentle 

 slope of a sidehill. On one side is a simple and broad 

 terrace backed by the most wonderful beeches, which, 

 standing in just the position they occupy, enhance the 

 beauty and dignity of the house tenfold. Passing down 

 the steps of the terrace one sees wide simple stretches 

 of soft pastoral English landscape which is certainly 

 the most beautiful in the world. The trees and grass 

 spaces seem to love each other and the house rests 

 quietly in the midst of them like a rare jewel. 



