242 RTJR'AL ARCHITECTURE. 



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

 private pleasure-grounds, couid thus enjoy those which belonged t» 

 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 ca'n 

 give. 



The next step, after the pdlsession 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 e^rs of all frequenters of the park with populai- 

 airs. ' # 



Do we overrate the mental and 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 

 mealis. 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 effoiis to raising its condition. But people must 

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

 of towns and 'villages, and' especially of rural t6wns 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 nfuch in Amei"^ 

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

 nieaii now, for refined culture, physical conlfort, and the like. Re- 

 publican education we are now beginning pretty well to understand 

 the value of; and, it 'frill not be long before it will.be hard to find a 

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



