THE PHILOSOPHY OF RURAL TASTE. 105 



The corollary to be drawn from this learned and curious investi- 

 gation of the history of national sensibility and taste, is a very clear 

 and satisfactory one, viz., that as success, in " the art of composing 

 a landscape" (as Humboldt significantly calls landscape-gardening), 

 depends on appreciation of nature, the taste of an individual as well 

 as that of a nation, will be in direct proportion to the profound sen- 

 sibility with which he perceives the Beautiful in natural scenery. 



Our own observation not only fully confirms this theory, but it 

 also leads us to the recognition of the fact, that among our country- 

 men, at the present day, there are two distinct classes of taste in 

 rural art ; first, the poetic or northern taste, based on a deep, in- 

 stinctive feeling for nature ; and second, the artistic or symmetric 

 taste, based on a perception of the Beautiful, as embodied in works 

 of art. 



The larger part of our countrymen inherit the northern or Anglo- 

 Saxon love of nature, and find most delight in the natural landscape 

 garden ; but we have also not a few to whom the classic villa, with 

 its artistic adornments of vase and statue, urn and terrace, is an ob- 

 ject of much more positive pleasure than the most varied and seduc- 

 tive gardens, laid out with all the witchery of nature's own handi- 

 work. 



It is not part of our philosophy to urge our readers to war against 

 their organizations, to whichever path, in the " Delectable Mountains," 

 they may be led by them ; but those who have not already studied 

 Cosmos will, we trust, at least thank us for giving them the key to 

 their natural bias towards one or the other of the two world-wide 

 styles of ornamental gardening. 



