PUBLIC PARKS AKD PLEASURE GrOUKDS. 283 



direct communications between the center and extremi- 

 ties. Then the cross boulevards are of a generally cir- 

 cular arrangement, an outer one running along the wall, 

 around the entire city, and thus every part within the 

 wall is in direct communication with every other part. 



The plan of our national capital, a city which is gain- 

 ing a wide reputation for town beauty, in many respects 

 resembles that of Paris, and singularly enough the plan 

 originated with a Frenchman, Major L'Enfant, of tlie 

 French army, who assisted in Revolutionary times. 

 General Washington approved of his plan and it was 

 adopted, the wisdom of which course has since been fully 

 confirmed, notwithstanding that for many years the plan 

 of wide avenues, circles and squares was unappreciated. 

 Because the City of Washington, thus in infancy, secured 

 a plan of arrangement adapted to future growth, and 

 then in time grew to fit it, she is destined to surpass 

 many other cities in general attractiveness, because 

 others, in time past, were never led into similar steps. 

 In such facts as these may be found lessons well to be 

 heeded by aspiring American towns at the present time. 



PARIS, PAST, PRESENT, AN^D FUTURE. 



So far as details are concerned, no doubt the plan of 

 Paris would be susceptible of many improvements. It 

 must be remembered, however, that this city, unlikis our 

 own cities, is one of great age, and that no farther back 

 than the time of Napoleon III had but few attractions in 

 the way of town gardens. The present admirable system 

 of boulevards was secured only by piercing broad and 

 clear through the solidly built and meanest parts of the 

 old city, bringing in air, light, and trees, and working 

 general improvement. 



"^^It is not many years," says M. Robert Mitchell, of 

 Paris, in speaking of these improvements, *^ since the 



