ELEVATION OF THE SITE. 



'25 



we should be sorry to see removed from where they 

 are ; but similar situations are now seldom or never 

 adopted for new residences. 



Note. — At the risk of being prolix on this subject, 

 we must be permitted to enter a protest on the charac- 

 teristic tendency of Americans to place their country 

 establishments in close proximity to the highway or 

 public road. A prominent object in the enjoyment of 

 a country, residence, is retirement' — shutting ourselves 

 from the gaze and remark of the passing world, and 

 enabling us to take our own pleasure in our own way. 

 A familiar connection with the public road, therefore, 

 should always be avoided; while the park, and the 

 buildings within it, should still be at a reasonably con- 

 venient distance for the necessary purposes of living. 

 A suburban villa, simply, may look out upon the pub- 

 lic street in front, and at a few rods distance from it ; 

 but a proper country-house, with extensive grounds 

 around it, appropriated for the use and convenience of 

 its occupants, should shun all such familiar contact. 

 In fact, no family, not possessing within themselves 

 resources of mind, and books, sufficient to keep them- 

 from yearning after the idle gossip of a village neigh- 

 borhood, should ever think of living in a "park," or 

 away from the daily intercourse of a pedler's cart, or 

 the interesting spectacle of a passing drove of cattle, 

 sheep, or turkeys. — Ed. 



Elevation of the Site. — -The house should be 

 placed on ground moderately elevated, of easy access, 

 and commanding some of the best views of the 

 park and the surrounding scenery. The expression, 

 "ground moderately elevated," applies more to an 

 undulating country, than to a level tract, or to a hilly 



