ABSTRACT
Frederick O lm sted 's ideal l if e was a humane, calm, free, and steady existence with time apportioned for quiet leisure as well as hard, engrossing work. This was the way he wished to live. By designing decent settings for everyday work and play, he hoped to enable other people to live in this manner. Then a majority of the population might lead sane lives with an allowance for emotion and imagination as well as for rational and normally selfish activity. This was the life he advocated enthusiastically in letters to friends.
