12 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
leaving no room whatsoever for choice, is of 
course outside our consideration — affords just 
one “ best ” place for the house which is to 
take shape upon it. And the location of this 
anywhere but in or upon this best place, is a 
misfortune which no amount of ingenuity can 
ever really overcome. 
But the owner of the average suburban plot 
never suspects it of possibilities of even the 
tamest sort; consequently such a plot is never 
treated expectantly, as it were. What it has 
been, it is — and apparently is to go on being, 
time without end. It faces north, south, east, 
or west according to the direction of the street 
whereon it “ fronts;” hence the dwelling which 
eventually occupies it also faces north, south, 
east, or west accordingly, “ fronts ” with the 
front, has a kitchen at the back and a porch 
“ displayed.” Thus, limited by custom and 
convention and the lack of a single degree of 
independent, individual thought, each average 
house is practically like its neighbor and is lo- 
cated on its plot of ground in practically the 
same wasteful way; and each average dooryard 
has the same features — or lack of them. 
Of course there are restrictions imposed 
upon the purchaser of improved suburban 
property, for his protection as well as his 
