238 RURAL ARCHITECTURE. 



trees, to Mde the nakedness of the' streets ; and thou shalt.not keep 

 pigs — except in the back yard ! * 



Our more reflective and inquiring readers wjUnatui-ally ask, why 

 is this better condition of things— a condition that denotes better 

 citizens, better laws, and higher civilization— confined ahnost wholly 

 to Massachusetts ? To save them an infinite deal, of painstaking, re- 

 search and investigation, we will tell them i^i a few words.- ' That 

 State is better educated than the rest. She Sees the advamtagei mor- 

 ally and socially, of orderly, neat, tasteful villages; in producing 

 better citizens, in causing the laws to be respected, in .making homes 

 dearei;. and more sacred, in making domestic life and the enjoyment 

 of property to be more truly and rightly^estimated. 



And these are the legitimate and natural results of this kind of 

 iihprovement we so ardently desire in the outward life and appear- 

 ance of rural towns. If our readers suppose us anxious for the build- 

 ing of good houses, and, the planting of street avenues, -solely that 

 the countiy may look more beautiful to the eye, and that the taste 

 shall be gratified, they do us an injustice. This is only the external 

 sign by which we would have the country's healtli and beauty 

 known, as we look for the health and beauty of its fail- daughters in 

 the presence of the lose on their cheeks. But as the latter only 

 blooms lastingly there, w}ien a good constitution i? joined with 

 healthful habits of mind 'and .body, so the tasteful appearance which 

 we. long for in our country towns, we seek as the outward mark 

 of education, moral sentiment, love of home^ and refined cultiva- 

 tion, which niakes the main difference, between Massachusetts and 

 Madagascar. 



We have, in a, former number,, said something as to the practi- 

 cal- manner in which "graceless villages %raay be improved. We" 

 have urged the force of example in those who set about improving 



* We believe we must lay this latter sin »t the, doors of oiu- hard-working 

 emigi-ants from the Emerald Isle. Wherever they settle, they cling to their 

 ancient fraternity of porters;' and think it "no free country where pigs 

 can't have their liberty." Newbui-gh is, by no means a well-planned village, 

 though scarcely surpassed for scenery; b>it we believe it may claim the 

 credit of being the only one among all the towns, cities afid villages of New- 

 York, where pigs and geese have not the freedom of the streets. 



