House and Garden 
SUN BATH WINDOWS 
exactly adjusted to the place where it stands. 
It would not fit well anywhere else. But 
this is not true of most of our new country 
houses. I said to my architect, “See here! 
I do not care for architectural display. This 
house is not to he the central thought of my 
home. 1 intend to live out-of-doors—but 
need a house in had weather. It must not 
he more conspicuous than the trees, hedges 
and lawns. Then its walls must not shut 
out the landscape; on the contrary these 
walls must let the landscape in. You see 
those hills; that valley; that 
iron furnace down the valley; 
that maple grove; that farm¬ 
house and orchard in the 
nook; and, ]ust beyond, the 
mill. All of these things 
make part of my house. I 
will not live in a house that 
severs me from them. The 
balconies, verandas, windows 
must let me enjoy all of these 
just when I will Lawns 
also and shrubberies should 
be so planted as to brighten 
our rooms.” 
So I get at the two first 
principles of a country home; 
first, it should be natural, and 
not expensive in its layout; 
and the house also should be 
a natural development 
of the place, thorough¬ 
ly adjusted to every¬ 
thing around it—and 
half of it out-of-doors. 
Abroad veranda 
should not only front 
the house, but nearly 
surround it. This 
should he furnished as 
liberally and home- 
fully as the inside 
rooms; and everything 
should be provoking 
of rest. I he balconies 
should he large enough 
for easy chairs and for 
swinging hammocks. 
They should command 
all sides of the house, 
and one of them at 
least should he especially suited and fitted 
for a sewing balcony for the house-miother. 
The entrance to a country home is the 
next most important point. It is a sort of 
letter A, from which we catch the key to the 
whole. It should always be proportioned to 
the size of the place. A grandiose gateway 
and drive for a small cottage, or a picayune 
gateway and a narrow drive for an extensive 
place are equally out of order. Yet this 
blunder is so frequently found. If you have 
broad lawns fronting your homestead, let 
MY OUTDOOR STUDY 
194 
