The Artist 



preserved in Germany than in England it- 

 self. I think, however, that they are iUus- 

 trated best of all in our own country, as re- 

 gards the noblest problems ; and for many 

 other reasons travel here is more indispensa- 

 ble to the student than travel abroad. 



Nature herself speaks more directly and 

 variously in America than in Europe, and, 

 on the other hand, many of our artistic 

 problems are peculiar to ourselves. Most of 

 our country houses are differently built, 

 placed, and surrounded from those of other 

 countries. Our large parks and private do- 

 mains are often laid out upon virgin soil in- 

 stead of upon sites which have been used for 

 other purposes, while in the west of Europe 

 such a thing as a virgin site hardly exists. 

 Our cemeteries are distinctive. Our cities 

 are planned in local ways ; and, in general 

 idea and details of arrangement, our vil- 

 lages and summer-colonies are like no oth- 

 ers. Add those fundamental diversities in 

 soil, climate, vegetation, and atmospheric ef- 

 fect which the artist can never for a moment 

 forget, and it will be clear why his first 

 travelling should be done in his own country. 



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