EDITOR'S TABLE. 



costly latitude has there been any effort to form a Park. It is a truth which is sadly proved 

 by looking over our sister cities. Brooklyn is not enumerated, because that is so soon to be a 

 section of New York as to be included in it ; and even Brooklyn, or its latest annexation, Williams- 

 burgh, has but scanty thought of furnishing the future. There was commotion enough made 

 concerning Washington Park, in its inception, to frighten from further effort for a century. The 

 dead in Brooklyn offer amid their marble record the scenes that sooth even while they sadden. 



Albany took a clay hill, tough, dark, blue clay, and by coaxing the State, which in those days 

 was as penurious as upon similar requests it would now be princely, and by teazing the owners 

 of adjacent lots, who were incredulous as to future value — by all this, by bringing soil thither, 

 sand and loam, even as the earth was brought to the vineyards of Mettermcu, in panniers on 

 the backs of men and women, — in this way, what are called the Capitol Park and the Academy 

 Park have been formed. 



Admirable success has attended the effort at foliage, and in mid-summer even the Capitol itself 

 is secluded behind the luxuriant trees. No Park work has been done under greater disadvan- 

 tages, for a more bleak plain of clay than was this in the commencement, could not be found. 

 It was the favorite place for the summary hangings of Collonial and Revolutionary days. Politi- 

 cal strangulation now takes place within the walls of the Capitol. 



But in truth, Albany has no Park, for the whole area of its open grounds would not be thought 

 excessive for the lawn of a gentleman's country house ; nor is its energetic neighbor, Troy, more 

 favored. 



And as for Schenectady, unless the domain of Dr. Nott be so designated, it has nothing but its 

 streets — one or two of them rural and quiet enough for a meditative man's musings. There is, 

 it is true, a noble promenade near the College, and beneath the grove adjacent I have heard, 

 while a superb sunset was kindling the western sky with peculiar splendor, the words of elo- 

 quence from Wright, and Doane, and Potter, and Spencer, such as Oxford might have aroused 

 itself to hear. 



Has Utica a Park? It has fine broad avenues, and there is space and verge enough for the 

 pure rushing of the life-breathing winds ; but since the day of Fort Schuyler even until now, 

 when so many prosperous thousands gather around the old Fort's site, I cannot find that there 

 have been spared from the builder any extent of pleasure grounds. 



And it is even thus of Auburn — more excusable here, however, as so much of pleasant gar- 

 dens surround these pleasant homes, so that in visiting the elegant dwellings of Governor Sew- 

 ard, and Mr. Christopher Morgan, and others, the transition is easy from the ornament of the 

 house to the luxuriance of the field. 



Rochester has near to it its Cemetery with such admirable judgment placed in such ease of 

 approach as that it may find the step of the wanderer easy of access, even from the town's busy 

 centre — and here there is beauty of rural form, and space abundant; but yet it is among the 

 tombs. In and about its dwellings of the living, Rochester has reserved but little, if any, of 

 open area. 



That City of Inland Seas — Buffalo— most like New York in all its commercial movements, 

 has been so accustomed to consider every foot of ground precious, that it has forgotten that 

 there is a time to breath and rest, as well as to labor. It has noble opportunity for ])leasure 

 ground and Park upon the water side, so that the whole panorama of the lake and its commerce 

 would be in view. Nor is it yet too late for such good work to be done, and taste and opulence 

 and enterprise are finding permanent home in this great Western City. 



London has held its great Parks since the days of that termagant old king — Harry the YIH 

 — a monarch who scolded out more good tlian other sovereigns now by persuasion. When Hyde 

 belonged to the Abbot of St. Peter, it may have rejoiced the demure dwellers of his monastery 

 at Westminster, but it did not promise much for the people. It was fortunate for the citizens 

 of the World's Metropolis that this Eighth Harry was not so intently occupied with brief love 



