126 THE PARKS AND GARDENS OF PARIS. [Chap. VIII. 



to have, as far as possible, squares or open spaces arranged as 

 playgrounds alone. These should be planted with large trees, 

 which, while aftbrding ample shade, would not suffer from the 

 crowds beneath. The smaller class of square would do best as play- 

 grounds, and there are not unfrequcntly in large cities open spaces 

 which, at a trifling expense, might be made into useful recreation- 

 grounds of this kind. The only requirements are hardy trees, 

 gravelled spaces, and seats. In these cases the whole surface 

 should be gravelled over after thorough preparation has been 

 made for the trees. The reason of the superiority of trees alone 

 for such places is that the whole of the space beneath them is 

 free as a playground, while overhead their leaves and flowers and 

 forms may do as much to adorn the neighbourhood as an elaborate 

 garden. In several of the small spaces and squares opened of 

 late in London, an opposite plan has been adopted — that of flower- 

 beds and elaborate gardening ; hence their use as playgrounds is 

 interfered with. Of course garden-squares are needed as well as 

 playiug-squares ; but in most districts the playground is the 

 greater want. 



The recent improvements in Leicester Square invite a word 

 here. A garden of any kind, in lieu of the nuisance of Leicester 

 Square, with its decaying and not inodorous rubbish of various 

 kinds, is a boon to the district, and the most notorious eyesore in 

 London is now to be seen no more. But we have scores of 

 squares needing like changes ; and the manner in which this 

 transformation has been done being likely to influence future 

 work in the same direction, it is desirable that the points in 

 which the design of Leicester Square is deficient should be made 

 known to all interested in such improvements. The first and 

 chief defect in the plan is that it is too much " cut up." There 

 is a broad walk immediately encircling the fountain, and another 

 walk all round, between that and the enclosure, and then there 

 are four other walks, one from each of the four entrances, 

 intersecting the external walk, and leading directly to the one 

 round the fountain. This needless prevalence of gravel instead 

 of turf, is a radical mistake : it is a repetition of the tones of the 

 surrounding houses ; it wearies the eye, and destroys all repose. 

 The fountain is too big for the space, while the lesser pieces of 

 sculpture dotted about would be better away. There is far too 



