Architecture in the United States. 267 
the walks are carefully sprinkled in anticipation, and if it be a feast 
day the fountains throw their waters higher. ‘ In the evening, thous- 
ands of chairs are placed in readiness, in which the ladies take their 
seats in circles, and hold their tertulias under the trees. Bare- 
headed boys circulate with lighted matches for the accommodation 
of the smokers. Aguadores are at hand with water that is fresh and 
sparkling. Half-naked Valencians offer oranges and pomegranates. 
Old women praise their dulces, or sweetmeats, for which the Medri- 
lenias have quite a passion, whilst the waiters of a neighboring bot- 
tilleria bring ices and sherbets to gratify the palates of the thirsty. 
Children are heard on every side, collected in noisy groups, at their 
pleasant games and pastimes, whilst the humbler crowd seat them- 
selves in circles under the trees, and scratch their guitars, and raise 
their voices, to make music for a light-heeled couple, who trip. it 
gaily in the midst. Meantime, the falling waters of the neighboring 
fountains impart a coolness to the air, which comes perfumed from 
the neighboring garden with the aromas of every clime, and burdened 
with the song of the ruisenior. 
“Who can say enough in praise of the Paseo? It furnishes an amuse- 
ment at once delightful and innocent, and from which, not even the 
poorest are excluded—a school where the public manners, and the 
public morals are beautified and refined by social intercourse, and by 
mutual observation ; where families meet families, and friends meet 
friends, as upon a neutral ground, inform themselves of each other’s 
affairs, unrestrained by ceremonial, and keep alive an intimacy, with- 
out the formalities of avisit. In these delightful associations, persons of 
every rank and of every calling forget their exclusive pretensions, whilst 
the softer sex to whom belong the attributes of modesty and grace, 
‘banish indecorum, and shed a charm over the whole assemblage.” * 
Whatever the public may think of the present importance of the 
subjects hitherto under discussion, all must feel the practical charac- 
ter of the one I now approach, which is burying grounds. Every 
city must have these, and I shall pass at once to consider their best 
_ position and plan, after which I shall depart somewhat from — course 
I have hitherto pursued, to say @ few words on monuments, v8 
umental inscriptions. ‘There seems to be so little probability that t 
custom of burying under churches, will become prevalent pyre 
that it seems scarcely necessary to spend time upon it here. | 
only one thing that can be said in favor of it, which is, that — 
* A year in Spain, by a young American, p- 153. 
