268 RURA,L ARCHITECTURE. 



that lie soul opens, itself most to visions, of beauty— that the least 

 measure of harmony — the most simple notions qf the graceful and 

 -fiymmetrieal — fill it with joy. The few ya^'ds square, in which the 

 child is permitted to realize his own vague ideal of a garden — does 

 it not fill his heart more completely tilian the great' Versailles of 

 monarchs that of the mature man ? Do we not forever remember • 

 with what transport of delight we have first seen the' grand old 

 trees, the beautiful garden, the favorite landscape, from the hill-top 

 of our childhood ? What after pictures, however grand — however 

 magnificent — however perfect to the moj-e educated: eye, are ever 

 able to efiace these first daguerreotypes, printed on the fresh pages 

 of , the youthful soul ? ■■ -i; 



It is rather because teachers misunderstand the nature of^.taan, 

 and more especially of boyhood, that we see so much to deplore in 

 the exte'riors of the houses in which they are taught. They forget, 

 that in human natures there are not only intellects to acquire know- 

 ledge, but also hearts to feel ,ap(i senses to enjoy life. They forget 

 that all culture is one-sided and short-sighted,. vrtiieh does not aim 

 to develop human nature completely, fully. 



^ We have an ideal picture, that refreshes our imagination, of 

 common school-houses, scattered all over our wide country; no) 

 wild bedlams, which seem' to the traveEer plague-spots on the fair 

 country landscape ; bu.t little Dests of verdure and beauty; embryo 

 arcadias, that beget tastes for lovely gardens, neat houses,, and well 

 cultivate,d lands ; ^spots of recreation, that are play-grounds for the" 

 memory, for many long years after allelse. of childhood is crowded ■ 

 out and eflcaced for ever. ' 



, Let some of our readers who have an influence i%this matter, 

 tey to work a little reform in..their own districts. Suppose, in the first 

 place, the school-hous^ itself is rendered ,agreeable to the eye^ Sup- 

 pose a miniature park of elms and maples is planted about it. Sup- 

 pose a strip of ground is set apart for little gardens, to be. given as 

 premiums to the successful pupils ; and which they are only to hold 

 so long as both they and their gardens are kept up to the topmost 

 standard. Suppose the trees are considered to be the property and 

 imder the protection of certain chiefs of, the classes. And, suppose 



