^84 ORNAMEKTAL GARDEKIXO. 



boundaries of Paris inclosed an old city that was a dis- 

 grace to our civilization ; streets or rather fissures, with- 

 out ventilation, and unhealthy districts where an entire 

 population of poor people were languishing and dying. 

 Now, however, thanks to the useful and important works 

 that have lately been carried out, the sun shines every- 

 where, streets have been enlarged, and every one has 

 sufficient air to breathe. 



** Before the establishment of the Paris squares, the 

 existence of a great number of children was passed in 

 confined and unwholesome districts. The fresh air for 

 them was only the threshold of a vitiated atmosjihere. 

 Tliey were obliged to walk far before they could find a 

 patch of vendure, or a bit of country. The children 

 went out but little, it was thought useless to dress them 

 or make them clean. How many times have we not 

 noticed with painful emotions these little, ragged, pale 

 creatures who never apparently thought of the filth in 

 which they were obliged to live. 



'^Now, thank God, this dark picture has become 

 bright, within a couple of steps of even the poor man's 

 house, there are trees, flowers, and gravel walks where 

 the children can run about, and seats where their parents 

 may sit together and talk." 



Great as has been the work of cutting the Paris boule- 

 vards, the making of scores, perhaps hundreds of miles 

 of others is yet contemplated. Possessed of such a spirit 

 of improvement, the present beauty of this famous 

 capital, by the help of the gardening and other arts, is 

 easily accounted for. But Paris will go on increasing in 

 attractiveness, and must continue for time indefinite to 

 stand as a marked example of what may be done to make 

 beautiful and healthful cities, even under circumstances 

 that would appear on their face most adverse, and far 

 more so than anything known in America. 



There is another aspect of the matter that ought to 



