Everydaylifeaffordsmanycuriousillustrationsofthewayinwhichthecodeofpecuniarybeautyinarticlesofusevariesfromclasstoclass，aswellasofthewayinwhichtheconventionalsenseofbeautydepartsinitsdeliverancesfromthesenseuntutoredbytherequirementsofpecuniaryrepute。Suchafactisthelawn，ortheclose-croppedyardorpark，whichappealssounaffectedlytothetasteoftheWesternpeoples。Itappearsespeciallytoappealtothetastesofthewell-to-doclassesinthosecommunitiesinwhichthedolicho-blondelementpredominatesinanappreciabledegree。Thelawnunquestionablyhasanelementofsensuousbeauty，simplyasanobjectofapperception，andassuchnodoubtitappealsprettydirectlytotheeyeofnearlyallracesandallclasses；butitis，perhaps，moreunquestionablybeautifultotheeyeofthedolicho-blondthantomostothervarietiesofmen。Thishigherappreciationofastretchofgreenswardinthisethnicelementthanintheotherelementsofthepopulation，goesalongwithcertainotherfeaturesofthedolicho-blondtemperamentthatindicatethatthisracialelementhadoncebeenforalongtimeapastoralpeopleinhabitingaregionwithahumidclimate。Theclose-croppedlawnisbeautifulintheeyesofapeoplewhoseinheritedbentitistoreadilyfindpleasureincontemplatingawell-preservedpastureorgrazingland。
　　Fortheaestheticpurposethelawnisacowpasture；andinsomecasestoday——wheretheexpensivenessoftheattendantcircumstancesbarsoutanyimputationofthrift——theidylofthedolicho-blondisrehabilitatedintheintroductionofacowintoalawnorprivateground。Insuchcasesthecowmadeuseofiscommonlyofanexpensivebreed。Thevulgarsuggestionofthrift，whichisnearlyinseparablefromthecow，isastandingobjectiontothedecorativeuseofthisanimal。Sothatinallcases，exceptwhereluxurioussurroundingsnegatethissuggestion，theuseofthecowasanobjectoftastemustbeavoided。Wherethepredilectionforsomegrazinganimaltofilloutthesuggestionofthepastureistoostrongtobesuppressed，thecow’splaceisoftengiventosomemoreorlessinadequatesubstitute，suchasdeer，antelopes，orsomesuchexoticbeast。
　　Thesesubstitutes，althoughlessbeautifultothepastoraleyeofWesternmanthanthecow，areinsuchcasespreferredbecauseoftheirsuperiorexpensivenessorfutility，andtheirconsequentrepute。Theyarenotvulgarlylucrativeeitherinfactorinsuggestion。
　　Publicparksofcoursefallinthesamecategorywiththelawn；theytoo，attheirbest，areimitationsofthepasture。
　　Suchaparkisofcoursebestkeptbygrazing，andthecattleonthegrassarethemselvesnomeanadditiontothebeautyofthething，asneedscarcelybeinsistedonwithanyonewhohasonceseenawell-keptpasture。Butitisworthnoting，asanexpressionofthepecuniaryelementinpopulartaste，thatsuchamethodofkeepingpublicgroundsisseldomresortedto。Thebestthatisdonebyskilledworkmenunderthesupervisionofatrainedkeeperisamoreorlesscloseimitationofapasture，buttheresultinvariablyfallssomewhatshortoftheartisticeffectofgrazing。Buttotheaveragepopularapprehensionaherdofcattlesopointedlysuggeststhriftandusefulnessthattheirpresenceinthepublicpleasuregroundwouldbeintolerablycheap。Thismethodofkeepinggroundsiscomparativelyinexpensive，thereforeitisindecorous。
　　Ofthesamegeneralbearingisanotherfeatureofpublicgrounds。Thereisastudiousexhibitionofexpensivenesscoupledwithamake-believeofsimplicityandcrudeserviceability。
　　Privategroundsalsoshowthesamephysiognomywherevertheyareinthemanagementorownershipofpersonswhosetasteshavebeenformedundermiddle-classhabitsoflifeorundertheupper-classtraditionsofnolateradatethanthechildhoodofthegenerationthatisnowpassing。Groundswhichconformtotheinstructedtastesofthelatter-dayupperclassdonotshowthesefeaturesinsomarkedadegree。Thereasonforthisdifferenceintastesbetweenthepastandtheincominggenerationofthewell-bredliesinthechangingeconomicsituation。Asimilardifferenceisperceptibleinotherrespects，aswellasintheacceptedidealsofpleasuregrounds。Inthiscountryasinmostothers，untilthelasthalfcenturybutaverysmallproportionofthepopulationwerepossessedofsuchwealthaswouldexemptthemfromthrift。Owingtoimperfectmeansofcommunication，thissmallfractionwerescatteredandoutofeffectivetouchwithoneanother。Therewasthereforenobasisforagrowthoftasteindisregardofexpensiveness。Therevoltofthewell-bredtasteagainstvulgarthriftwasunchecked。Wherevertheunsophisticatedsenseofbeautymightshowitselfsporadicallyinanapprovalofinexpensiveorthriftysurroundings，itwouldlackthe“socialconfirmation“whichnothingbutaconsiderablebodyoflike-mindedpeoplecangive。Therewas，therefore，noeffectiveupper-classopinionthatwouldoverlookevidencesofpossibleinexpensivenessinthemanagementofgrounds；andtherewasconsequentlynoappreciabledivergencebetweentheleisure-classandthelowermiddle-classidealinthephysiognomyofpleasuregrounds。Bothclassesequallyconstructedtheiridealswiththefearofpecuniarydisreputebeforetheireyes。
　　Todayadivergenceinidealsisbeginningtobeapparent。
　　Theportionoftheleisureclassthathasbeenconsistentlyexemptfromworkandfrompecuniarycaresforagenerationormoreisnowlargeenoughtoformandsustainopinioninmattersoftaste。increasedmobilityofthemembershasalsoaddedtothefacilitywithwhicha“socialconfirmation“canbeattainedwithintheclass。Withinthisselectclasstheexemptionfromthriftisamattersocommonplaceastohavelostmuchofitsutilityasabasisofpecuniarydecency。Thereforethelatter-dayupper-classcanonsoftastedonotsoconsistentlyinsistonanunremittingdemonstrationofexpensivenessandastrictexclusionoftheappearanceofthrift。So，apredilectionfortherusticandthe“natural“inparksandgroundsmakesitsappearanceonthesehighersocialandintellectuallevels。Thispredilectionisinlargepartanoutcroppingoftheinstinctofworkmanship；anditworksoutitsresultswithvaryingdegreesofconsistency。Itisseldomaltogetherunaffected，andattimesitshadesoffintosomethingnotwidelydifferentfromthatmake-believeofrusticitywhichhasbeenreferredtoabove。
　　Aweaknessforcrudelyserviceablecontrivancesthatpointedlysuggestimmediateandwastelessuseispresenteveninthemiddle-classtastes；butitistherekeptwellinhandundertheunbrokendominanceofthecanonofreputablefutility。
　　Consequentlyitworksoutinavarietyofwaysandmeansforshammingserviceability——insuchcontrivancesasrusticfences，bridges，bowers，pavilions，andthelikedecorativefeatures。Anexpressionofthisaffectationofserviceability，atwhatisperhapsitswidestdivergencefromthefirstpromptingsofthesenseofeconomicbeauty，isaffordedbythecast-ironrusticfenceandtrellisorbyacircuitousdrivelaidacrosslevelground。
　　Theselectleisureclasshasoutgrowntheuseofthesepseudo-serviceablevariantsofpecuniarybeauty，atleastatsomepoints。Butthetasteofthemorerecentaccessionstotheleisureclassproperandofthemiddleandlowerclassesstillrequiresapecuniarybeautytosupplementtheaestheticbeauty，eveninthoseobjectswhichareprimarilyadmiredforthebeautythatbelongstothemasnaturalgrowths。
　　Thepopulartasteinthesemattersistobeseenintheprevalenthighappreciationoftopiaryworkandoftheconventionalflower-bedsofpublicgrounds。Perhapsashappyanillustrationasmaybehadofthisdominanceofpecuniarybeautyoveraestheticbeautyinmiddle-classtastesisseeninthereconstructionofthegroundslatelyoccupiedbytheColumbianExposition。Theevidencegoestoshowthattherequirementofreputableexpensivenessisstillpresentingoodvigorevenwhereallostensiblylavishdisplayisavoided。Theartisticeffectsactuallywroughtinthisworkofreconstructiondivergesomewhatwidelyfromtheeffecttowhichthesamegroundwouldhavelentitselfinhandsnotguidedbypecuniarycanonsoftaste。Andeventhebetterclassofthecity’spopulationviewtheprogressoftheworkwithanunreservedapprovalwhichsuggeststhatthereisinthiscaselittleifanydiscrepancybetweenthetastesoftheupperandthelowerormiddleclassesofthecity。Thesenseofbeautyinthepopulationofthisrepresentativecityoftheadvancedpecuniarycultureisverycharyofanydeparturefromitsgreatculturalprincipleofconspicuouswaste。
　　Theloveofnature，perhapsitselfborrowedfromahigher-classcodeoftaste，sometimesexpressesitselfinunexpectedwaysundertheguidanceofthiscanonofpecuniarybeauty，andleadstoresultsthatmayseemincongruoustoanunreflectingbeholder。Thewell-acceptedpracticeofplantingtreesinthetreelessareasofthiscountry，forinstance，hasbeencarriedoverasanitemofhonorificexpenditureintotheheavilywoodedareas；sothatitisbynomeansunusualforavillageorafarmerinthewoodedcountrytoclearthelandofitsnativetreesandimmediatelyreplantsaplingsofcertainintroducedvarietiesaboutthefarmyardoralongthestreets。Inthiswayaforestgrowthofoak，elm，beech，butternut，hemlock，basswood，andbirchisclearedofftogiveroomforsaplingsofsoftmaple，cottonwood，andbrittlewillow。Itisfeltthattheinexpensivenessofleavingtheforesttreesstandingwouldderogatefromthedignitythatshouldinvestanarticlewhichisintendedtoserveadecorativeandhonorificend。
　　Thelikepervadingguidanceoftastebypecuniaryreputeistraceableintheprevalentstandardsofbeautyinanimals。Thepartplayedbythiscanonoftasteinassigningherplaceinthepopularaestheticscaletothecowhasalreadybeenspokesof。
　　Somethingtothesameeffectistrueoftheotherdomesticanimals，sofarastheyareinanappreciabledegreeindustriallyusefultothecommunity——as，forinstance，barnyardfowl，hogs，cattle，sheep，goats，draught-horses。Theyareofthenatureofproductivegoods，andserveauseful，oftenalucrativeend；
　　thereforebeautyisnotreadilyimputedtothem。Thecaseisdifferentwiththosedomesticanimalswhichordinarilyservenoindustrialend；suchaspigeons，parrotsandothercage-birds，cats，dogs，andfasthorses。Thesecommonlyareitemsofconspicuousconsumption，andarethereforehonorificintheirnatureandmaylegitimatelybeaccountedbeautiful。Thisclassofanimalsareconventionallyadmiredbythebodyoftheupperclasses，whilethepecuniarilylowerclasses——andthatselectminorityoftheleisureclassamongwhomtherigorouscanonthatabjuresthriftisinameasureobsolescent——findbeautyinoneclassofanimalsasinanother，withoutdrawingahardandfastlineofpecuniarydemarcationbetweenthebeautifulandtheugly。
　　Inthecaseofthosedomesticanimalswhicharehonorificandarereputedbeautiful，thereisasubsidiarybasisofmeritthatshouldbespokesof。Apartfromthebirdswhichbelonginthehonorificclassofdomesticanimals，andwhichowetheirplaceinthisclasstotheirnon-lucrativecharacteralone，theanimalswhichmeritparticularattentionarecats，dogs，andfasthorses。Thecatislessreputablethantheothertwojustnamed，becausesheislesswasteful；shemayevesserveausefulend。Atthesametimethecat’stemperamentdoesnotfitherforthehonorificpurpose。Sheliveswithmanontermsofequality，knowsnothingofthatrelationofstatuswhichistheancientbasisofalldistinctionsofworth，honor，andrepute，andshedoesnotlendherselfwithfacilitytoaninvidiouscomparisonbetweenherownerandhisneighbors。TheexceptiontothislastruleoccursinthecaseofsuchscarceandfancifulproductsastheAngoracat，whichhavesomeslighthonorificvalueonthegroundofexpensiveness，andhave，therefore，somespecialclaimtobeautyonpecuniarygrounds。
　　Thedoghasadvantagesinthewayofuselessnessaswellasinspecialgiftsoftemperament。Heisoftenspokenof，inaneminentsense，asthefriendofman，andhisintelligenceandfidelityarepraised。Themeaningofthisisthatthedogisman’sservantandthathehasthegiftofanunquestioningsubservienceandaslave’squicknessinguessinghismaster’smood。Coupledwiththesetraits，whichfithimwellfortherelationofstatus——andwhichmustforthepresentpurposebesetdownasserviceabletraits——thedoghassomecharacteristicswhichareofamoreequivocalaestheticvalue。Heisthefilthiestofthedomesticanimalsinhispersonandthenastiestinhishabits。Forthishemakesupisaservile，fawningattitudetowardshismaster，andareadinesstoinflictdamageanddiscomfortonallelse。Thedog，then，commendshimselftoourfavorbyaffordingplaytoourpropensityformastery，andasheisalsoanitemofexpense，andcommonlyservesnoindustrialpurpose，heholdsawell-assuredplaceinmen’sregardasathingofgoodrepute。Thedogisatthesametimeassociatedinourimaginationwiththechase——ameritoriousemploymentandanexpressionofthehonorablepredatoryimpulse。Standingonthisvantageground，whateverbeautyofformandmotionandwhatevercommendablementaltraitshemaypossessareconventionallyacknowledgedandmagnified。Andeventhosevarietiesofthedogwhichhavebeenbredintogrotesquedeformitybythedog-fancierareingoodfaithaccountedbeautifulbymany。Thesevarietiesofdogs——andthelikeistrueofotherfancy-bredanimals——areratedandgradedinaestheticvaluesomewhatinproportiontothedegreeofgrotesquenessandinstabilityoftheparticularfashionwhichthedeformitytakesinthegivencase。Forthepurposeinhand，thisdifferentialutilityonthegroundofgrotesquenessandinstabilityofstructureisreducibletotermsofagreaterscarcityandconsequentexpense。Thecommercialvalueofcaninemonstrosities，suchastheprevailingstylesofpetdogsbothformen’sandwomen’suse，restsontheirhighcostofproduction，andtheirvaluetotheirownerslieschieflyintheirutilityasitemsofconspicuousconsumption。Indirectly，throughreflectionUpontheirhonorificexpensiveness，asocialworthisimputedtothem；andso，byaneasysubstitutionofwordsandideas，theycometobeadmiredandreputedbeautiful。Sinceanyattentionbestowedupontheseanimalsisinnosensegainfuloruseful，itisalsoreputable；andsincethehabitofgivingthemattentionisconsequentlynotdeprecated，itmaygrowintoanhabitualattachmentofgreattenacityandofamostbenevolentcharacter。