DECEMBER. 



553 



different nations from the earliest age to the present. They 

 may build in the classic, or the Gothic style ; or they may 

 adopt the historical and geographical variations of these styles, 

 as exhibited in the Hindoo, Italian, English, or other manners 

 of building. In like manner the landscape-gardener, who 

 would lay out grounds at the present day, may adopt either 

 the oldest or geometrical style, in which the forms and lines 

 of the house are reflected in the garden in front of it, and 

 which was practised by the ancient Egyptians more than 

 three thousand years ago ; or he may adopt the modern 

 irregular style, in which the forms of nattu-e are brought into 

 immediate contrast with the forms of art ; lastly, he may com- 

 bine the two styles in such a manner as to join regularity and 

 irregularity in one design. In a word, both in architecture 

 and gardening, the artist of the present day is at liberty to 

 adopt the style or manner of any former age, or of any other 

 country, and adapt it to the wants of the country in which 

 he lives. 



The remarks of the author respecting the comparative 

 merits of the different styles of laying out grounds are worthy 

 of particular attention. Since the introduction of the modern 

 or irregular style it has been customary to consider that style 

 only as exclusively beautiful, and the geometrical style as 

 unnatural and altogether in bad taste. In consequence of the 

 universal prevalence of this opinion, we see constant attempts 

 made to introduce the irregular manner of planting, and ser- 

 pentine lines in places where they are altogether nnsuitable. 

 It is not uncommon, for example, in the suburbs of a city, to 

 find a garden or a public square, with the boundary fence in a 

 straight line, and parallel to it a serpentine gravel walk. Any 

 person not entirely guided by fashion in his feelings and 

 opinions, must perceive the utter want of harmony which 

 exists between the straight line and the serpentine line, besides 

 the impossibility of walking with comfort, when, at every 

 five or six steps, the walk makes a turn, and when the turns, 

 at some distance before the eye, may be all seen at once. For 

 such scenes, ;ind for all small gardens bounded by straight 

 lines, the ancient or geometrical style is unquestionably the 



VOL. XXII. NO. XII. 70 



