181>4.] ESSAYS. 49 



walks, maguiliccnt flowers, its finely kept conservatories, music, and 

 other attractions, is almost worth a journey across the continent, 

 especially at the present time, as it is the seat of the California Mid- 

 AVinter Exposition. 



I am not unmindful of the parks of Baltimore and Washington, 

 with their wealth of beauty and art, nor many other American parks 

 which do honor to the cities where located and to our nation. To our 

 own city and the work done in beautifying it and educating our people 

 to become lovers of nature and co-workers with her in beautifying our 

 homes and our landscapes, I propose to refer later. 



Saturday, July 2, 1892, with others I landed at Queenstown and, 

 as the sun was sinking behind the western hills, we went by rail up 

 the valley of the Lee, eleven miles, to the city of Cork. Never was 

 scenery more beautiful. 



To us, just escaped from the restraints of a crowded vessel, old 

 Ireland seemed like one great park, and two days later, as we journeyed 

 137 miles by rail, to Dublin, with flag, horn, and fire-crackers, giving 

 the sons of P^rin, who stood with mouths gaping wide, a faint idea 

 of an American Fourth of July, we did not see much reason for 

 changing our opinion. We were on the Emerald Isle and nature had 

 done her part in making everything beautiful. I must add here, for 

 the benefit of this society, that in Ireland we found the finest and 

 sweetest strawberries we had ever seen. They were placed on the 

 table without having the hull removed, and were eaten without sugar 

 or cream; they were simply delicious. 



In Dublin we visited Pha3nix Park, which contains 1,750 acres, is 

 beautifully laid out in drives and walks, shaded by luxuriant trees, 

 and has several costly monumental piles, though the finest monuments 

 in Dublin are generally located in the public squares. Lord Caven- 

 dish, Chief Secretary of Ireland, was murdered in this park. May 6, 

 1882, the day of his arrival in Dublin. The spot where he was slain 

 is marked, and we felt an interest even in that, as a few days later we 

 were to visit the beautiful estate at Chatsworth owned by the Duke of 

 Devonshire, his brother, and the churchyard where his ashes were 

 deposited. 



Dr. Walsh, who travelled extensively in Europe, says of Phoenix 

 Park, — " Viewing all the particulars which should distinguish a 

 place set apart for public recreation, Pha'nis Park, on the whole, would 

 not suffer in comparison with any other in Europe." 



The Wellington testimonial, a huge monumental pile near the 

 entrance to the Park, the total height of which is 205 feet, with a 



