A TALK ABOUT PUBLIC PARKS AND GARDENS. 141 



hundred acres, originally laid out by the celebrated Count Rumford, 

 with five miles of roads and walks, and a collection of all the trees 

 and shrubs that will thrive in that country. It combines the beauty 

 of a park and a garden. 



Ed. And Frankfort ? 



Trav. Yes, I was coming to that, for it is quite a model of this 

 kind of civilization. The public garden of Frankfort is, to my mind, 

 one of the most delightful sights in the world. Frankfort deserves, 

 indeed, in this respect, to be called a " free town ; " for I doubt if we 

 are yet ready to evince the same capacity for self-government and 

 non-imposition of restraint as is shown daily by the good citizens 

 of that place, in the enjoyment of this beautiful public garden. 

 Think of a broad belt, about two miles long, surrounding the city 

 on all sides but one (being built upon the site of the old ramparts), 

 converted into the most lovely pleasure-grounds, intersected with all 

 manner of shady walks and picturesque glades, planted not only 

 with all manner of fine trees and shrubs, but. beds of the choicest 

 flowers, roses, carnations, dahlias, verbenas, tuberoses, violets, <kc., &c. 



Ed. And well guarded, I suppose, by gen-d'armcs, or the po- 

 lice ! 



Trav. By no means. On the contrary, it is open to every 

 man, woman, and child in the city ; there are even no gates at the 

 various entrances. Only at these entrances are put up notices, 

 stating that as the garden was made for the public, and is kept up 

 at its expense, the town authorities commit it to the protection of all 

 good citizens. Fifty thousand souls have the right to enter and en- 

 joy these beautiful grounds ; and yet, though they are most tho- 

 roughly enjoyed, you will no more see a bed trampled upon, or a 

 tree injured, than in your own private garden here at home ! 



Ed. There is truly a democracy in that, worth imitating in our 

 more professedly democratic country. 



Trav. Well, out of this common enjoyment of public grounds, 

 by all classes, grows also a social freedom, and an easy and agreea- 

 ble intercourse of all classes, that strikes an American with surprise 

 and delight. Every afternoon, in the public grounds of the German 

 towns, you will meet thousands of neatly-dressed men, women, and 

 children. All classes assemble under the shade of the same trees, 



