THEATJtENT OF GROUND.^-FOEMATION OP WALKS. 289 



only the beauty of the architectural facade but also one 

 of the end elevations, thus giving a more complete idea of 

 the size, character, or elegance of the building : and 

 instead of leading in a direct line from the gate to the 

 house, it curves in easy lines through certain portions of 

 the park or lawn, until it reaches that object. 



If the point where the Approach is to start from the 

 highway be not already determined past alteration, it 

 should be so chosen as to afford a sufficient drive through 

 the grounds before arriving at the house, to give the 

 stranger some idea of the extent of the whole property : to- 

 allow an agreeable diversity of surface over which to lead' 

 it : and lastly in such a manner as not to interfere with the 

 convenience of ready access to and from the mansion. 



This point being decided, and the other being the man- 

 sion and adjacent buildings, it remains to lay out the road 

 in such gradual curves as will appear easy and graceful, 

 without verging into rapid turns or formal stiffness. Since 

 the modern style has become partially known and adopted 

 here, some persons appear to have supposed that nature 

 " has a horror of straight lines," and consequently, 

 believing that they could not possibly err, they immediately 

 ran into the other extreme, filling their grounds with zig- 

 zag and regularly serpentine roads, still more horrible : 

 which can only be compared to the contortions of a 

 wounded snake dragging its way slowly over the earth. 



There are two guiding principles which have been laid 



down for the formation of Approach roads. The first, that 



the curves should never be so great, or lead over surfaces 



so unequal, as to make it disagreeable to drive upon them. ; 



and the second, that the road should never curve without 



some reason, either real or apparent- 



19 



