THE LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFUL 



completely demonstrable, as in the almost 

 childish attitude of the rank and file of 

 Izindscape artists toward criticism. The 

 contrast which they offer when compjired 

 with novelists and actors is discouraging. 



I have recently organized and con- 

 ducted a somewhat extensive correspond- 

 ence with the landscape architects of 

 America. Naturally, I have written most 

 freely to my own acquaintances, but I have 

 also written personal letters to many others. 

 In this correspondence I have been as polite 

 as my unhopeful expectations could teach 

 me to be ; and my direct questions have been 

 as few and as mild as was consistent 

 with getting any information at all. Some 

 data and some valuable expressions of 

 opinion have, indeed, been secured; but the 

 big result of the whole investigation is to 

 show the very general and hearty suspicion 

 in which all such inquiries are held. 



Some landscape gardeners politely, but 

 firmly, refuse to give any information 

 regarding their own works or anybody 

 else's. With rare exceptions, information, if 

 given at all, is given grudgingly, as though 

 a favor had been presumptuously and 

 unwarrantably asked. This being the atti- 



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