242 RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 



neither the means, time, nor inclination, to devote to the culture of 

 private pleasure-grounds, could thus enjoy those which belonged to 

 all. Others might prefer to devote their own garden to fruits and 

 vegetables, since the pleasure-grounds, which belonged to all, and 

 which all would enjoy, would, by their greater breadth and magni- 

 tude, offer beauties and enjoyments which few private gardens can 

 give. 



The next step, after the possession of such public pleasure- 

 grounds, would be the social and common enjoyment of them. 

 Upon the well-mown glades of lawn, and beneath the shade of the 

 forest-trees, would be formed rustic seats. Little arbors would be 

 placed near, where in midsummer evenings ices would be served to 

 all who wished them. And, little by little, the musical taste of the 

 village (with the help of those good musical folks the German 

 emigrants) would organize itself into a band, which would occa- 

 sionally delight the ears of all frequenters of the park with popular 

 airs. 



Do we overrate the mentai snd moral influences of such a com- 

 mon ground of entertainment as this, when we say that the inhabit- 

 ants of such a village enjoying in this way a common interest in 

 flowers, trees, the fresh air, and sweet music, daily would have 

 something more healthful than the ordinary life of cities, and more 

 refining and elevating than the common gossip of country villages? 



" Ah ! I see, Mr. Editor, you are a bit of a communist." By no 

 means. On the contrary, we believe, above all things under heaven, 

 in the power and virtue of the individual home. We devote our 

 life and humble efforts to raising its condition. But people must 

 live in towns and villages, and therefore let us raise the condition 

 of towns and villages, and especially of rural towns and villages, by 

 all possible means ! 



But we are republican ; and, shall we confess it, we are a little 

 vexed that as a people generally, we do not see how much in Amer- 

 ica we lose by not using the advantages of republicanism. We 

 mean now, for refined culture, physical comfort, and the like Re- 

 publican education we are now beginning pretty well to understand 

 the value of ; and it will not be long before it will be hard to find a 

 native citizen who cannot read and write. And this comes by 



