CITY PARKS. 273 



slightly varied. Nature works on so large a scale that it is 

 rarely practicable to construct artificial eminences of suffi- 

 cient magnitude to be really impressive. It has been done 

 at the Pare du Chaumont, in Paris, quite effectively ; but 

 this is a rare example. 



" It may be remarked, in this connection, that the sense 

 of quiet repose ministered to by a large lawn surface is not 

 satisfied by picturesque ground, however vigorously it may 

 be planted ; and, as the need for quiet repose in this work- 

 a-day world is more constant than the need for vigorous 

 stimulus, a lack of pastoral, meadow-like stretches of lawn 

 in any large public park will always be felt by the habitual 

 visitor to be a serious disadvantage." 



Originally, a place for a large park was chosen along 

 the East River, on the site of what was known as Jones 

 Wood. This was not thought to be central enough, and, in 

 consequence, Central Park was located within its present 

 boundaries, with the exception that, for many years, its 

 extent to the north only reached the neighborhood of 106th 

 Street. 



In 1857, the work of constructing Central Park was 

 fairly undertaken, with Mr. Andrew H. Green the virtual 

 head of the commission of eleven members appointed by 

 the State, and not as a part of the Tweed charter of the 

 city. 



A topographical survey of the entire territory was first 

 made, and then competitive plans, about thirty in number, 

 were secured. The successful competitors were Messrs. 

 Olmsted & Vaux. From that time until the present, the 

 work of construction went steadily on, with some few ex- 



