THE SQUARE VINTIMILLE. 



103 



amiss to say tliat they are always greatly enhanced by being 

 surrounded with the simplest kind of garden. Ivy^ grass^ 

 and a few hardy trees and shrubs are sufficient to change 

 their as23ect from grimness^ hardness^ and decay to living 

 interest. A few shillings' worth of the seeds of alpine plants 

 shaken in the tufts of moss or cracks of mortar would 

 give rise to a dwarf vegetation interesting in itself^ but 

 doubly so from so markedly illustrating the ceaseless sx3ring 

 of life even in the most unlikely places. For the additional 

 embellishment of gardens round old buildings^ abbeys^, &c.j 

 there are usually disjecta membra, not of importance enough 

 to be preserved indoors^ in sufficient abundance,, and if 

 arranged somewhat as they are here^ the result will prove 

 satisfactory. The grounds of the museum at York afford 

 an admirable example of good taste in this kind of garden. 



The Square Vintimille. — This square, situated in the 

 centre of the place of that name, is but of small extent^ its 

 area being only 650 square yards. The cost of construc- 

 tion and restoration amounted to less than 600/. It shows 

 that the smallest spots in dusty cities may readily be con- 

 yerted into oases of verdure and sweetness. 



It would be useless to enumerate all the small squares 

 and places that, like the last, are little more than mere 

 specks in the city. Enough has been said to show that 

 there is life and merit in the Parisian system of keeping- 

 squares. It may not be perfect, and fault may easily be 

 found with the best of them, but considering how short a time 

 the municipality has had such works in hand, nobody can 

 doubt that they are a credit to it, and well worthy of imita- 

 tion by other people interested in the improvement of cities. 

 Some may say. Look at the expense — it must be given up 

 some day. Not so ; intelligent Britons and others of 

 means have such a keen appreciation of a well-ordered city, 

 and go to Paris in such numbers to enjoy it, that they pay 

 a very considerable portion of the expense. I trust, how- 

 ever, that the day is coming when all hindrances to making 

 London a clean, airy, and noble city will be cleared away, 

 and when it will be made habitable for those who must 

 live in it at all times, as well as suited to the wants of men 



