OUR COUNTRY VILLAGES. 241 



veniences and comforts, long enjoyed in town, for the mere fact of 

 fresh air, he had better take board during the summer months in 

 some snug farmhouse as before. 



The indispensable desiderata in rural villages of this kind, are 

 the following : 1st, a large open space, common, or park, situated 

 in the middle of the village not less than twenty acres ; and better 

 if fifty or more in extent. This should be well planted with groups 

 of trees, and kept as a lawn. The expense of mowing it would be 

 paid by the grass in some cases ; and in others, a considerable part 

 of the space might be inclosed with a wire fence, and fed by sheep 

 or cows, like many of the public parks in England. 



This park would be the nucleus or heart of the village, and 

 would give it an essentially rural character. Around it should be 

 grouped all the best cottages and residences of the place; and this 

 would be secured by selling no lots fronting upon it of less than 

 one-fourth of an acre in extent. Wide streets, with rows of elms or 

 maples, should diverge from the park on each side, and upon these 

 streets smaller lots, but not smaller than one hundred feet front, 

 should be sold for smaller cottages. 



In this way, we would secure to our village a permanent rural 

 character ; first, by the possession of a large central space, always 

 devoted to park or pleasure-ground, and always held as joint pro- 

 perty, and for the common use of the whole village ; second, by the 

 imperative arrangement of cottages or dwellings around it, in such 

 a way as to secure in all parts of the village sufficient space, view, 

 circulation of air, and broad, well-planted avenues of shade-trees. 



After such a village was built, and the central park planted a 

 few years, the inhabitants would not be contented with the mere 

 meadow and trees, usually called a park in this country. By sub- 

 mitting to a small annual tax per family, they could turn the whole 

 park, if small, or considerable portions, here and there, if large, into 

 pleasure-grounds. In the latter, there would be collected, by the 

 combined means of the village, all the rare, hardy shrubs, trees, and 

 plants, usually found in the private grounds of any amateur in 

 America. Beds and masses of ever-blooming roses, sweet-scented 

 climbers, and the richest shrubs, would thus be open to the enjoy- 

 ment of all during the whole growing season. Those who had 

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