84 SUBURBAN GARDENS 
den,” instead of, “ So-and-so’s garden is at- 
tractive with that statue — or pool or garden 
house — where it is,” be sure that the object in 
question is either illy chosen or illy placed. 
But further than now and then an arbor or 
summer house it seems difficult for us to pro- 
gress, in all except the great gardens designed 
and executed professionally — and wearing an 
air too often of professionalism. And of 
course an arbor or a summer house is some- 
thing of an achievement, in limited space; so 
more often than not we do without even these. 
Perhaps it is just as well that we do until we 
have learned to use them, for certainly they are 
senseless creations unless they are used. So, 
for that matter, is a garden, too; the remedy 
lies not in foregoing to make a garden, how- 
ever, but in learning to use it. 
The great American front porch habit is 
largely responsible for our neglect of the real 
outdoors, I believe, but a certain spirit of 
snatching at our idling rather than taking it 
deliberately may be at the bottom of this. And 
then of course our outdoor retreats have never 
been made with the intention of actually using 
them, hence they do not invite to occupancy — 
to breakfast on pleasant mornings and tea on 
summery afternoons, to steamer chair naps or 
