One should Build a House as one Builds a Reputation, Gradually, Allowing Ideals and Execution to Expand and Develop Together. Then the House and Grounds will Appear at Their Best
But nature is no designer. The landscape gardener and the amateur must, by their united efforts, bring an artistic plan to bear upon nature's offerings, using her trees and flowers and the contour of the ground, and create an environment which pleases. The result should not only be fine of itself, but should furnish a proper and rich background for the house which is the centre. There are in existence numerous periodicals devoted to country living, farming, gardening, animals, sports, and the special suburban problem, and also a very distinguished library dealing with similar types. These have a surprisingly wide circulation, probably because they are as a class guiding the public taste in such matters instead of following it. This literature has in a few short years uncovered a new public interest in matters allied to nature, notably in home architecture and surroundings, and there is distinct evidence at the present time of improvement in architectural style. Domestic buildings are more appropriate in material and design than ever before, and are such as seem to be in tune with the somewhat informal suburban or village surroundings. Formerly architectural style was imported from abroad, and with it came a certain few odd fragments of landscape gardening, full of patterns, floral arabesques and geometric arrangements, imitation Renaissance, urns and alert iron dogs to guard the dooryard. One can still find houses with ugly mansard roofs, stiff, forbidding doorways, and gloomy windows, the whole perched high on a hill, or at least elevated above the street, suggesting in every feature the barrenness of the artificial. It is art at its worst. The effort was further emphasized by the consistent designers through formal, wax-like landscape accessories, tender budding plants, cast-iron benches and garden ornaments, which must surely be blood kin to the modern steam radiator and art cook stove. There was nothing human about such a place: it always suggested the hereafter. But the new, healthy, public interests in outdoors, in a joyous life, have banished those artificial shells and substituted a type of dwelling which is planned for living. And the outside aspect of the house gives one the impression that it belongs to that particular spot, for those people for home purposes. Of course all houses are not so successful, but one finds a good many nowadays. It was bound to come, because when people began to study nature, to live closer to their flowers and animals, to want green lawns and pleasant hills, they soon sought a type of shelter which would nestle close to the ground and look hospitable and inviting. Architecture and gardening are more closely related than one would first imagine, and it is questionable whether one can deal successfully with one and ignore the other.
Trees, Shrubbery and Lawn form the Frame of the Picture, and a Bad Frame will Spoil the Finest Picture
There was a Time Not Long Since, when People Built Houses According to Style. They Now Build for Pleasure and Comfort, Producing the Finest Style of All
In previous chapters the discussion of children and their training has touched lightly upon certain points which may well be elaborated a bit here. Most of the child's waking hours would virtually be spent out of doors; no house is large enough. And it was urged that these intense outside activities would be excellent foci for most profitable study. No yard, however restricted, is too small to accommodate some hobby which will absorb the child's energy and aid in generating constructive skill and judgment. The matter of pocket money is also very important and becomes a powerful motive when properly used. But there is another and more mature point of view concerning the home as a whole, which should not be discarded. Every child should learn to so respect and value his own personal property and affairs that he will respect those of others, neighbors for instance. He will not do this unless his own efforts and experiments are taken seriously, or unless his home grounds and living are maintained at top condition, or unless he grows to appreciate a beautiful physical environment. The lawn, the garden, poultry house and stable ought to be in perfect trim all the time. It is better taste to have them so, and it is good business. One cannot succeed with raising pets or animals in unsanitary quarters, or inadequate shelter. It will not be difficult to develop proper ideas of taste and charm in the grounds about the house if one begins with the boy's and girl's own business and steers that to a decent working basis. Ragged grounds, unkempt lawns, weeds, littered porches and hopeless, tired-looking flowers—all persistent manifestations of neglect—leave on the youthful mind ineradicable impressions which undermine good taste.
Most boys and girls dislike any kind of work which is mere drudgery, and most children in these days shy at work for ends other than their own, because they have found that they can have privileges and amusements without responsibility or other return to their parents. The solution lies in the restoration to the boy of a feeling of personal responsibility and pride, restoring to him and his sister the rights of ownership to things and privileges earned, and make the children something other than social puppets. Make their youthful occupations count. Among those occupations one finds a number which are equally fascinating to both children and adults.