266 Architecture in the United States. 
remembrances of a native of New England are always associated with 
this interesting spot. Further South, where the great heat makes 
such openings in a city still more desirable, they are seldom found: 
in the Western states they are occasionally seen. In Europe they 
are common; but the practice there is different from ours, and I 
think is the better of the two. Small breaks, sometimes regular, and 
sometimes irregular, often planted with trees, and, oftener still, orna- 
mented with a fountain or pillar, are very frequent throughout their 
cities: -but that which corresponds to our “green,” is always 
placed on the edge. This is its proper place. 1 have no objection 
to retaining our public squares as they are, for they are certainly 
a. great advantage ; but we want something more, and in a different 
situation. This may be ascertained by a single evening’s observa- 
tion in one of our cities. New Haven, for instance, has two hand- 
some greens nearly in its centre, but the evening walks of its inhabit- 
ants are never directed there: the most fashionable walk is to “ the 
avenue,” on its edge, and to the wooded hill beyond, where, in the 
latter case, they make public property of what is private. ‘The wants 
of the public, as-I said in the case of streets, are best learned by at- 
tending to the actions of the public. There should be, then annexed to 
each city a spot of proper size, in a situation neither solitary nor pub- 
lic, and so ornamented and shaded as to present in any of its parts @ 
pleasant walk. The trees should be planted now in avenues, now II 
regularly, one while forming handsome glades, and at another, thick 
but natural groups: it should have a carriage road winding through it 
for the accommodation of those who might wish to ride: it s 
have plain but solid stone seats, single or in circles or straight lines, 
for those who might wish to sit : it should in short be a spot where ev 
ery one could find something to his taste ; to which every one would © 
repair on a pleasant evening ; and I venture to affirm, that every on 
would return from it improved in body, heart and mind. No one 
works on such an evening: why sit listless at home? Here is 2 $0 
