14 BTBDS IN LONDON 



periods of refreshment whicli others consider so 

 necessary to their health and contentment, the 

 change from the close, adulterated atmosphere 

 of the workshop and the living-room, and stone- 

 paved noisy street, to the open, green, compara- 

 tively quiet park, is indeed great, and its benefit 

 to body and mind incalculable. The sight of 

 the sun ; of the sky, no longer a narrow strip, 

 but wide, infinite over all ; the freshness of the 

 unconfined air which the lungs drink in ; the 

 green expanse of earth, and large trees standing 

 apart, away from houses — all this produces a 

 shock of strange pleasure and quickens the tired 

 pulse with sudden access of life. In a small 

 way^ — sad it is to think in how small a way ! — 

 it is a return to nature, an escape for the 

 moment from the prison and sick-room of un- 

 natural conditions ; and the larger and less 

 artificial the park or open space, and the more 

 abounding in wild, especially bird, life, the more 

 restorative is the effect. 



It is indeed invariably the animal life which 

 exercises the greatest attraction and is most 

 exhilarating. It is really pathetic to see how 

 many persons of the working class come every 

 day, all the year round, but especially in the 



