142 LANDSCAPE GARDENING. 



the nobility (even the king is often seen among them), the 

 wealthy citizens, the shopkeepers, and the artisans, &c. There they all 

 meet, sip their tea and coffee, ices, or other refreshments, from tables 

 in the open air, talk, walk about, and listen to bands of admirable 

 music, stationed here and there throughout the park. In short, these 

 great public grounds are the pleasant drawing-rooms of the whole 

 population ; where they gain health, good spirits, social enjoyment, 

 and a frank and cordial bearing towards their neighbors, that is 

 totally unknown either in England or America. 



Ed. There appears a disinclination in the Anglo-Saxon race to 

 any large social intercourse, or unrestrained public enjoyment. 



Trav. It is not difficult to account for such a feeling in Eng- 

 land. But in this country, it is quite unworthy of us and our insti- 

 tutions. With large professions of equality, I find my countrymen 

 more and more inclined to raise up barriers of class, wealth, and 

 fashion, which are almost as strong in our social usages, as the law 

 of caste is in England. It is quite unworthy of us, as it is the 

 meanest and most contemptible part of aristocracy ; and we owe it 

 to ourselves and our republican professions, to set about establishing 

 a larger and more fraternal spirit in our social life. 



Ed. Pray, how would you set about it ? 



Trav. Mainly by establishing refined public places of resort, 

 parks and gardens, galleries, libraries, museums, &c. By these 

 means, you would soften and humanize the rude, educate and en- 

 lighten the ignorant, and give continual enjoyment to the educated. 

 Nothing tends to beat down those artificial barriers, that false pride, 

 which is the besetting folly of our Anglo-Saxon nature, so much as 

 a community of rational enjoyments. Now there is absolutely no 

 class of persons in this country whose means allow them the luxury 

 of great parks, or fine concerts of instrumental music within their 

 own houses. But a trifling yearly contribution from all the inhab- 

 itants of even a small town, will enable all those inhabitants to have 

 an excellent band, performing every fair afternoon through the 

 whole summer. Make the public parks or pleasure-grounds attrac- 

 tive by their lawns, fine. trees, shady walks, and beautiful shrubs and 

 flowers, by fine music, and the certainty of " meeting every body," 

 and you draw the whole moving population of the town there daily. 



Kd. I am afraid the natural gew of our people would keep 



