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A Collection of designs for rural retreats, as villas : principally in the gothic and castle styles of architecture : with their ichnography, or plans, laid down to scale; and other appendages / by James Malton
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PARTIAL RETIREMENT.

Vll

wholly to our own. Zimmerman observes, He, who withoutemployment, without having a plan of conduct previously di-gested and arranged, hopes for happiness in solitude, willyawn at his cottage or villa in the country, just as often as hedid at his mansion in town, and would do much better to em-ploy himself in hewing wood the whole day, than in loiteringabout in boots and spurs, irresolute what to do, or where to go.

« An idler is a watch that wants both hands,

As useless when it goes, as when it Hands.

What charms can there be in retirement to persons who areincapable of drawing on themselves for a single hours enjoymentor amusement; who yawn on reading three pages of a book,and shut it in perfect incapacity of proceeding any farther on thetermination of a fourth. The little knowledge most acquire, par-ticularly women, is relative to accomplishments and allurements;taking them therefore from the bustle of towns, would betaking them from all for which they live, from all for whichthey have made any provision of enjoyment, and they might aswell be deprived of being, as enclosed in solitude. In gayscenes of dissipation only do they enjoy existence, their homesneglected, their domestic duties despised ; for those who flyfrom solitude, dread, next to solitude, the domestic circle.

To be happy at home should be the ultimate end of all ourexertions, the end to which every enterprize and labour shouldtend. They who make the comfort of their homes their chiefcare, do most to ensure permanent happiness on earth. Theman who values not his home makes every acquaintance familiarwith his inner apartments; while he who knows its estimationwith caution permits a friend to taste those sweets his care hasgathered for his domestic enjoyment. Did women prize more,