PARKS AND PARKWAYS 223 



parks, we will find that we will, in that way, shut out all 

 bizarre masses of imperfectly related, inharmonious 

 beds of plants, all detached and unmasked flower-gar- 

 dens, and bar out, successfully, all advertising schemes, 

 side-shows, race-courses, military displays, and betting 

 resorts, to the end that all people may absorb, undis- 

 turbed, the peace and rest and healthful enjoyment that 

 these park suggestions of country life afford. 



Amid such scenes child-life expands like a flower, and 

 its innocent games and happiness go on unrestrained by 

 the fear and unrest and constraint that must necessarily 

 exist in all town and city streets, which make the usual 

 play-grounds for many children. Every device in the way 

 of summer-houses, arbors, and seats, and, above all, of 

 police guardianship, should be secured, in order to make 

 the seeming country landscape readily and comfortably 

 available for all. Each person, young and old, should 

 have the greatest liberty to enjoy himself in a park that 

 is compatible with the enjoyment of neighbors. This 

 somewhat trite aphorism does undoubtedly apply with 

 force to the life and actions of all citizens, but to none 

 does it apply with greater force than to those who oc- 

 cupy our parks. 



In building a park, as in building a country place, the 

 truly sympathetic and artistic designer will seek to enter 

 into the spirit of the natural advantages of the region, 

 and to loyally stand by them, never faltering in his de- 

 termination to resist, as far as lies in his power, all 

 mistaken attempts to make improvements that are really 

 injuries to its characteristic and native charm. 



This will mean to retain, in fact, as far as can be 

 made to appear reasonable, all masses of woodlands, 

 valleys and hills, and pools, and streams of water, so 



