37° AMERICAN HOMES AND WARDENS 
June, 1906 
Monthly Comment 
4 ARMERS’ Institutes are having their legiti- 
mate successor, and what is perhaps a more 
advanced form, in the “Better Farming 
Special.” Of all special trains this prom- 
ises to be the most useful, exactly as it is, at 
this writing, the most novel. It is true it 
is not quite so new an idea as the eastern press seems to 
imagine, trains of this description having previously been 
run by some of the western railroads; but the introduction 
of the “Better Farming Special” by the Boston & Maine 
Railroad, and sending it through the State of Massachusetts 
has aroused wide interest in this way of teaching the newest 
ideas in farming. For this is the purpose of.the “Better 
Farming Special,” and it will undoubtedly yield excellent 
results. Notwithstanding that great publicity is now given 
to advances in farming methods, and that every one who 
wills may be a scientific farmer, the farmers, in many sec- 
tions of the country, still adhere closely to the methods of 
their forefathers, and refuse to believe that good ideas and 
trustworthy knowledge may be obtained from books. Some- 
thing more than mere directions as to how to do things seems 
to be required, and the practical demonstration which the 
“Better Farming Special” supplies, is intended to meet this 
want. The extension of this method of disseminating farm- 
ing knowledge is unquestionably destined to lead to rich and 
important results. 
Shall one travel through America before visiting Europe? 
The question has been raised by a western railroad with an 
urgent plea for American travel on patriotic grounds. That 
American railroads in general, and this one in particular, 
will be benefited by American travel, is an unimportant 
matter which need not enter into a discussion of the subject. 
Of the advantages of American travel too much can hardly 
be said. And the same is true of European travel. But 
the statement which is calmly put forth, that “there is not an 
attraction in the Old World that cannot be duplicated and 
discounted by the phenomena of America”’ is too absurd to 
be patiently considered. ‘The reasons for travel are, of 
course, very varied; what appeal to one will not appeal to 
another; what one traveler brings home from Europe de- 
pends, in large measure, on his preliminary training and 
what he goes for. The same is true of American travel. 
America is rich in splendid scenery, in magnificent distances, 
in costly means of transportation, in high priced hotels. 
Europe abounds with works of art of all kinds, with beau- 
tiful buildings, splendid pictures and expressive sculpture; 
it sums up all the culture of humanity in times past and 
present; it epitomizes human history; it possesses exquisite and 
wonderful scenery; travel in Europe is comparatively cheap, 
and the excellence of the hotels are not necessarily in the di- 
rect ratio of their cost. These are the conditions, material 
and immaterial, of travel in the two continents. ‘There are 
few buildings of interest in America, and most of our paint- 
ings and sculptures are kept within private galleries to which 
the public has no access. The real problem is which travel 
will do the individual the most good, that in Europe or that 
in America. It is useful and inspiring to know one’s own 
country, but the average American will probably get more 
for his money abroad than at home. 
One of the most interesting problems connected with the 
building of large houses in America is their final disposition 
after the death of their builders. The large American house 
is a very new structure indeed. It is apt as likely as not, to 
be built late in the lifetime of its owner. This is particularly 
the case when built by a man who has acquired wealth 
through his own exertions. Such a house is dowered with no 
family traditions and represents little more than the personal 
taste or wishes of the builder at a certain time in his life. 
His family may not be interested in it, and may have no 
associations with it of any value. They may not care to keep 
it up after his death and may not be able to do so. Mr. 
Charles I. Yerkes has solved this problem in a way highly 
satisfactory to himself, and beneficial to the city of New 
York, by bequeathing his palatial residence on Fifth Avenue, 
together with its remarkable art treasures, to the city. Mr. 
Charles M. Schwab announces that he will do the same with 
his great new residence on Riverside Drive. It is easy to 
see that this disposition of great houses might become em- 
barrassing to a city or entail burdens that the average mu- 
nicipality would not care to undertake, but it certainly solves 
the problem of the final disposition of these great houses in 
a very interesting way. 
The personal associations of a house add greatly to its 
interest. “The inherent structural charms of Mount Vernon 
are of the most penetrating sort, but the personal associa- 
tions of this house with General Washington add immeas- 
urably to the respect and interest with which it has been 
viewed by everyone who has seen it since his time. The 
numberless headquarters of Washington owe their chief 
interest to their personal associations as Washington’s abid- 
ing places, which far transcend any structural or architectural 
interest they may possess. There are few American houses 
of any type or period which possess sufficient interest as 
dwellings alone to excite public regard. On the other hand, 
there are numerous houses in America of very penetrating 
personal interest that have no architectural value at all. In- 
terest in a house, therefore, is not measured by its architect- 
ural qualities, and it is entirely possible that a house most 
uninteresting architecturally may, from its associations, at- 
tract and retain the widest possible interest. America is per- 
haps no worse off than Europe in this respect, but the small 
unimportant house seems to be the typical shrine of America. 
The dulness of the country surpasses belief. It is quiet 
beyond the bounds of the most quiet dwelling in imagina- 
tion. Nothing ever happens in the country. There is no 
life, no variety, no gaiety. ‘There are but few people pass- 
ing to and fro. There is no gathering together of multi- 
tudes. There are no general means of amusement. ‘There 
is absolutely nothing save nature. Obviously the country is 
no place for the lover of excitement, for the person de- 
pendent on others for amusement and occupation, for those 
who wish to be with other people. Hence the person with- 
out individual resources, without any means of personal 
relaxation, without love for sport or a genuine zest for 
country life, is utterly lost, unhappy and dissatisfied amid the 
most beautiful surroundings that nature has _ provided. 
Hence the migration of the country folk, wearied with dul- 
ness, to the city, which to them is a veritable haven of light 
and activity, of bustle and excitement, of change and unrest. 
Hence also the movement of the city folk, wearied with the 
ceaseless clamor and uproar of the town, to the peaceful 
serenity of the country which is no figment of the imagina- 
tion but a true reality. Truly the country is not intended for 
everyone, nor everyone for the city. 
1 
i 
