The Delights of Spending the Summer in the Country

The Delights of Spending the Summer in the Country

The illustration is a satire of country life from the perspective of a New York City Resident. In the 1850’s, New York City was growing rapidly. Manhattan was becoming more urban in a northward direction. Some chose to move away from the metropolitan lifestyle to the country. The rural lifestyle didn’t, and to this day still doesn’t, have all the conveniences of the city. Old Dimity settled his family in the country but didn’t think about the long walk from the Railway Station. The idea is that country life is not all so great and that city living is best.
In addition, the man pictured isn’t exactly a refined man. He has a scruffy beard and his clothes don’t appear to fit correctly. The setting isn’t beautiful either; it seems fairly bare. The path is full of rocks, the trees doesn’t look any bit lively, and poor Old Dimity looks like he’s going to pass out. As Harper’s Weekly was published mostly for the city resident, illustrations and cartoons satirizing other ways of life played nicely to reader’s ideals.

Harper's Weekly. Author Unknown.

"The Delights of Spending the Summer in the Country," Harper’s Weekly 7 Aug. 1858: page 512. Print.

Harper's Weekly

August 7, 1858

Nick D'Addario