266 Architecture in the United States. 



remembrances of a native of New England are alvvaj's associated with 

 this interesting spot. Further South, where the great heat makes 

 such openings in a city still more desirable, they are seldom found : 

 in the Western states they are occasionally seen. In Europe they 

 are common ; but the practice there is difterent from ours, and I 

 think is the better of the two. Small breaks, sometimes regular, and 

 sometimes irregular, often planted with trees, and, oftener still, orna- 

 mented with a fountain or pillar, are very frequent throughout their 

 cities : but that which corresponds to our " green," is always 

 placed on the edge. This is its proper place. I have no objection 

 to retaining our ' public squares as they are, for they are certainly 

 a great advantage ; but we want something more, and in a different 

 situation. This may be ascertained by a single evening's observa- 

 tion in one of our cities. New Haven, for instance, has two hand- 

 some greens nearly in its centre, but the evening walks of its inhabit- 

 ants are never directed there : the most fashionable walk is to " the 

 avenue," on its edge, and to the wooded hill beyond, where, in the 

 latter case, they make public property of what is private. The wants 

 of the public, as I said in the case of streets, are best learned by at- 

 tending to the actions of the public. There should be, then annexed to 

 each city a spot of proper size, in a situation neither solitary nor pub- 

 lic, and so ornamented and shaded as to present in any of its parts a 

 pleasant walk. The trees should be planted now in avenues, now ir- 

 regularly, one while forming handsome glades, and at another, thick 

 but natural groups : it should have a carriage road winding through it, 

 for the accommodation of those who might wish to ride : it should 

 have plain but solid stone seats, single or in circles or straight lines, 

 for those who might wish to sit : it should in short be a spot where ev- 

 ery one could find something to his taste ; to which every one would 

 repair on a pleasant evening ; and I venture to affirm, that every one 

 would return from it improved in body, heart and mind. No one 

 works on such an evening : why sit listless at home ? Here is a so- 

 cial retirement provided, to which all may come, which all may en- 

 joy, where we may meet without parade, and from which we may re- 

 tire just when we please. Let me exhibit such a spot in another 

 country : it is the Prado or place for the evening promenade (in 

 Span. Paseo) of Madrid : the extract is from a highly interesting 

 book, just published, by one of our countrymen. " Thus I missed 

 the pleasure of passing a summer's evening on the Prado ; but I 

 heard much upon the subject. It appears, that in that season 



