PARK AND CEMETE-RY 
398 
r 
roundings and called in the aggregate for a more dig- 
nified treatment. The walks under this bridge were 
introduced in order to afiford access from this im- 
portant entrance near a large population in which 
children abound, to the important shore path. This 
would not only lessen the danger and feeling of danger 
of women and children but would do away with the 
unpleasant alertness which drivers and riders have to 
exercise at a grade crossing and would, especially, en- 
able equestrians to “let out” their horses freely from 
the Agassiz Road, crossing to the Parker Hill en- 
trance. A foot subway was even contemplated at this 
latter crossing. It is always exceedingly desirable to 
have bridle paths with long stretches free from grade 
crossings- so cantering can be safely indulged in. 
The Fenway Bridge and the facing of the Culvert 
are modest pieces of boulder masonry intended to be 
almost concealed by vines. It is usually suggestive of 
a quiet picturesqueness to use the characteristic ma- 
terials and mechanics of the locality in which a struc- 
ture is built. The country about here is covered with 
a network of stone walls put up by the farmers with the 
boulders which encumbered their fields ; hence here- 
abouts a lowly structure of no great size or import- 
ance may well be built of boulders. The Fens proper 
end at the Fen Bridge, hence its name. The water- 
way from Fen Bridge to the culvert at Brookline Ave- 
nue, although supplied, like the Fens, with salt water at 
every tide, is intended to take on more of the character 
of a river than of fens, or salt marshes. This section 
was originally called the Longwood Entrance. As the 
design developed its name was changed to River way 
to better express its designed character and also it had 
to be considerably widened. 
The Parker Hill Entrance at the time the land was 
taken, and before the final designer was employed, 
was intended as the start of a broad parkway to the 
top of Parker Hill and down the opposite side and 
thence to Jamaica Pond; but it would have been very 
steep and the comparatively level Riverway affords a 
far more convenient and pleasurable drive. After- 
wards a plan for a branch Parkway to the top of 
Parker Hill was actually studied. It was desirable to 
provide a pleasure drive to this fine view point, but the 
expense for land and construction was considered pro- 
hibitive. {To be Continued.) 
ParK Improvements in San Francisco. 
Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, is the largest west 
of the Rocky Mountains, and ranks in beauty — natural 
and artificial — with many of the great city parks of the 
East. One of the most attractive of its recent improve- 
ments is a genuine Japanese Villa. Surrounded by 
gardens of Japanese shrubs, flowers, and small trees, 
are grouped several buildings, all construct- 
ed and furnished according to Japanese 
styles of architecture. Floors, walls, roofs, 
doors and windows are all thoroughly Jap- 
anese in every detail. The atmosphere of 
the Orient is seen even in the service of the 
dainty Japanese waitresses who dispense 
tea, almond cake and sweet meats. In the 
gardens are two stone idols recently brought 
from Japan that are said to be many hun- 
dreds of years old, and show evidence of 
great antiquity. They represent small fig- 
ures of the Japanese god Buddha. On thq 
grounds is a chain of little lakes of different 
levels, the overflow being carried by wind- 
ing rocky channels, from one to the other. 
A puddle bottom 6 inches thick, and 4 
inches Jn the sides, with 4 inches of concrete 
on the puddle forms a water-tight pond, 
which can be easily cleaned and kept in 
order. The margins of these lakes are ornamented 
with natural lichen covered rock placed so as to form 
overhanging ledges and rocky out-croppings, and 
planted with many kinds of dwarfed twisted pines and 
other appropriate Japanese shrubs. The planting of 
groves of Japanese plums, quinces and cherries, as 
flowering effects in portions of the gardens are a fea- 
ture together with bamboo walks, arbors of Wistaria, 
knolls covered with Azaleas, maples, etc. The lower 
lake or pond is planted along its margins with a fine 
collection of Japanese Iris. In addition, there are 
many specimens of northern pines. Eucalyptus, cedars, 
Cyprus, palms, southern cane, arrow-wood, century 
plants, creeping vines, locust, mulberry, etc. A fence 
in harmony with the character of the villa, surrounds 
the grounds. There are also two cjuaint gateways, a 
JAPANESE VILLA IN GOLDEN GATE PARK. SAN FRANCISCO. 
