Immigration of Aliens 75 



shores for safety against the tyranny of the Revo- 

 lution. 



It will thus be seen that our population is composed 

 of people of all nationalities, and London is probably 

 the most cosmopolitan of capitals where all races, 

 religions, and languages are represented. It has been 

 said that the Londoner of to-day is either a recent 

 immigrant from the country or from abroad, or else 

 he is a hybrid of the most intricate ancestry. 



15. OUR WATER SUPPLY ITS SOURCES 

 AND DISTRIBUTION 



The water supply to a community, whether gathered 

 together in a small village or in a crowded town, is of 

 first-rate importance, for on its good quality and con- 

 stant supply depend largely the health and happiness 

 of the people. In old times kings and communities 

 made artificial channels and conduits to convey good 

 water in large quantities to important towns. The 

 aqueducts of the Romans were amongst the most 

 magnificent of their works, and the fine supply of water 

 which modern Rome has to-day is obtained through the 

 four aqueducts now in use, of which three are ancient. 



The sources of the water supply of any place are 

 springs, rivers, wells, and lakes. Springs may be 

 found near a town at sufficient height to supply that 

 town by gravitation, but if not sufficiently elevated 

 recourse must be had to pumping. Wells in almost 

 all cases demand the use of pumping power. The 

 spring and the river are natural supplies ; the lake may 



