SOUTH LONDON PARKS 163 



Thames at Vauxhall, has, like most of the other streams 

 of London, become a sewer, and the pond is no more. 

 In one of these houses (51 South Lambeth Road) Mr. 

 Henry Fawcett resided, and when the houses were pulled 

 down to form the Park his was left, the intention being 

 to make it into some memorial of him. It was found to 

 be too much out of repair to retain, and had to be pulled 

 down. With the sum which the sale of materials from 

 the old house realised, it was proposed to erect a memorial 

 drinking-fountain. This idea bore fruit, as Sir Henry 

 Doulton sold one to the vestry for less than one-third of 

 its value, and moreover gave a further memorial to the 

 courageous blind Postmaster-General of a portrait statue 

 by Tinworth, with appropriate allegorical figures. 

 This fine group recording the connection of Henry 

 Fawcett with the place is the most conspicuous feature 

 of the Park. The trees are growing up, and an abund- 

 ance of seats and dry walks made it an enjoyable if not 

 beautiful garden. The swings and gymnasiums are 

 numerous and large, but what gives most pleasure is 

 the sand-garden for little children. For hours and hours 

 these small mites are happily occupied digging and making 

 clean mud pies, while their elders sit by and work. It is 

 touching to see the miniature castles and carefully patted 

 puddings at the close of a busy baby's day. In the 

 summer, when the sand is too dry to bind, some of the 

 infants bring small bottles, which they manage to get 

 filled at the drinking-fountain, and water their little hand- 

 fuls of sand. These children's sand-gardens, common in 

 parks in the United States, are a delightful invention for 

 the safe amusement of these small folk, and the delight 

 caused by this one, which was only made in 1905, shows 

 how greatly they are appreciated. Many of the parks 



