Chap. IX.] AVENUES AND BOULEVARDS. 141 



slightly thrown back and concealed by vegetation. These might 

 be well utilised in the winter as a working-place for the park- 

 men or other labourers. In all places where a number of work- 

 men are employed in winter, there is generally a difficulty in 

 providing them with work unless there are large sheds to shelter 

 them. They might also be advantageously used as winter store- 

 houses for seats, boats, and the like. But their chief use would 

 be in making it possible for people to bathe at all times. How 

 many summer, spring, and autumn days are there on which 

 bathing would be pleasant, but when showers of rain prevent it in 

 the open air ! Those sheds would afford a place where clothes 

 could be kept dry, and then rain, light or heavy, would not 

 make any difference — a swim being as enjoyable in the heaviest 

 of rains as at any other time. Partial bathing, such as that 

 practised in the Serpentine during the mornings and evenings, 

 goes a very short way towards meeting the public wants. There- 

 fore it is in the public interest to be desired that some of the 

 means so liberally granted to the parks should be devoted to the 

 formation of proper bathing-places, judiciously veiled with trees 

 and open throughout the day. 



Street Pavements. 



The subject of street-pavements is one of such vital importance 

 for health as well as convenience, that municipal authorities 

 ought to be extremely careful in deciding questions as to the 

 material to be adopted. 



The number of streets recently laid down with wood-pavement in 

 London, make it desirable to state, as an opinion carefully derived 

 from observation, that wood is the very worst material for such. 



The requirements of a city or town thoroughfare are, that the 

 surface shall be (1) firm; (2) noiseless, clean, and dry ; (3) smooth; 

 (4) permanent, yet easily removed ; (5) durable, producing a 

 minimum amount of wear and tear; (6) cheap; and (7) non- 

 combustible. In the very first of these requirements wood is 

 found to fail, the vibration experienced in passing over a. wood- 

 pavement in a vehicle being to many persons more unpleasant 

 than the rougher jarring of the stones. 



