MUNICIPAL PARKS 147 



of multitudes of babies, it is necessary to protect them 

 from the water's edge by substantial railings, but most 

 of the Park is singularly free from these unsightly but 

 often necessary safeguards. The trees all through the 

 grounds are unusually fine. Four hickories are par- 

 ticularly worthy of note. They are indeed grand and 

 graceful trees, and it is astonishing they should be so 

 little planted. These are noble specimens, and look 

 extremely healthy. 



The most characteristic feature in the Park is the 

 house it contains and the garden immediately round it. 

 This was built for Lauderdale, the " L" in the Cabal of 

 Charles II., probably about 1660. When this unattrac- 

 tive character was not living there himself, he not un- 

 frequently lent it to Nell Gwynn. The ground floor of 

 the house is open to the public as refreshment rooms, 

 and one empty parlour with seats has much good old 

 carving, of the date of the house, over the mantelpiece, 

 also in a recess which encloses a marble bath known as 

 *' Nell Gwynn's bath." It is said to have been from a 

 window in Lauderdale House that she held out her son 

 when Charles was walking below, threatening to let him 

 drop if the King did not promise to confer some title 

 upon him. In response Charles exclaimed, " Save the 

 Earl of Burford," which title (and later, that of Duke 

 of St. Albans) was formally conferred upon him. 



The terrace along which the King was walking is still 

 there. A little inscription has been inserted on a sun-dial 

 near the wall, to record the fact that the dial-plate is level 

 with the top of St. Paul's Cathedral. A flight of steps 

 leads to a lower terrace. This is planted in a formal 

 design consisting of three circles, the centre one having 

 a fountain. Two more flights of steps descend, in a line 



