out of large estates and public parks has gone far and changed 
much in these eighty years, but the broad basic principles laid 
down by Andrew Jackson Downing are still those followed by 
the best landscapists today, and his name is still revered as a 
classic by all students of that art. That this is so, is the more 
surprising when one realizes that Downing was but twenty-six 
years old when his book was published, that he w'as the son of 
a nurseryman of small means, in a small town (Newburgh, 
N. Y.) and that his education ended with high school when 
he was but sixteen. His originality of mind, breadth of vision, 
correctness of judgment and taste far in advance of his times 
in many ways, combined with a charming literary style in the 
somewhat ornate manner of the early Victorian era, make his 
work uncommonly agreeable, as well as instructive reading. 
Downing was the first in this country to plead for more public 
planting of trees in towns and villages, especially of the 
indigenous trees and shrubs. He wrote vehement and passion- 
ate appeals for the appropriation of really large tracts of land 
for public parks in cities and towns ; and it is largely owing 
to his urgency that Central Park was secured to the city of 
New York. 
The lay-reader will find the book well worth his perusal, 
not only for its value in practical advice, but for the picture 
it sets before us of what was in so many ways, the golden age 
of simplicity, combined with elegance in American country 
life. Merely to read the headings of some of the chapters 
brings up visions: The Philosopliy of Rural Tastes, The 
Beautiful in a Tree, On the Drapery of Cottages, Enibellish- 
went, A Talk icith Flora and Pomona, On Feminine Tastes in 
Rural Affairs. 
Does not the mind's eye behold a lovely lady in sweeping 
full skirts gliding down the neat gravel path, wuth a large 
straw bonnet trimmed with broad ribbon, barely revealing her 
clustering ringlets, accompanied by a little girl in a lilac print 
frock with crisp white pantalets and shiny prunella ankle-ties 
showing beneath, pausing here to cut a Moss Rose sparkling 
with dew, or tie back a Morning Glory there ? We will content 
ourselves with quoting but one paragraph (though we should 
much like to transcribe the long dissertation on the difference 
between The Beautiful and The Picturesque! because it 
seems characteristic of the author, both in style and substance, 
and in a few words, ornate perhaps, but thoroughly expressive, 
gives us his object in offering his views to the public.) "The 
Love of Country is inseparably connected with the love of 
home. Whatever therefore, leads man to assemble the comforts 
and elegancies of life around his habitation, tends to increase 
local attachments, and render domestic life more delightful; 
thus not only augmenting his own enjoyment, but strengthen- 
102 
