The Express.
London, England, 1851-02-08 00:00:00

THE. BLUE AND WHITE CRYSTAL PALACE

TO TB! EDITOR 07 TUE DAILY NEWS.
Stn,—As you gave insertion to my letter at the
dose of last autumn, suggesting that the finest vines (to.
gether with beautiful climbing plants, for flower yd odour)
should be profusely planted inside the Cryst.,,t palace, with
a view to shady foliage and graceful festoons, and, ulti-
nuttely, grapes, I take the liberty of offering a further
..uggestion, through your columns, as to the external orna-
ments of this immense edifice.
We are informed that it is in contemplation to ornament
the entire edifice externally in blue and white ; and fears
have already been expressed by the Times and in other
quarters that this combination will give, with so light a
structure, combining acres of calico no less than glass, the
appearance of a vast booth at a fair. There can be no doubt
of the matter. It will be a wore of Crown and Anchor
booths in one, or rather it will give the elf, et of an enor-
mous tent, or marquee, at a great cricket-match or race-
course. Possibly it may have the look of a gigantic Chinese
porcelain pavilion, or an endless elaboration of the " willow-
pattern" plate. Besides, what will all this amount of
white look like, after it has received the smoke and smut of
our metropolis during a few months ? It will become as
black as the Achilles.
Allow me to suggest that, instead of white and blue
for the ornamental colouring, grey and gold should be
adopted—the grey in broad maw*, the gold in narrow
bands, wreaths, columns, and serpentine belts or mouldings
round the columns. The effect of this, combined with the',
glass and white calico, would produce both a rich and aerial
effect—a palace of romance. The masses of grey would not
show the smoke of London by any means so soon as white ;
and when they did, they would only take the appearance of
a darker grey for some time, and the gold, being brightened,
would again give the whole a fresh appearance, only with a
darker slate grey for the masses of colour.
I do not know if it would be best that the gold should be
by means of gilding. It might be made of a metallic sub-
stance of the colour of gold and taking a high polish, yet
not likely to rust. When it got tarnished it might be
cleaned and brightened as at first. If real objections be
found which render this unavailable, then grey masses of
colour with bronze columns and other ornaments of bronze,
would look both light and noble in effect. At any rate,
something of this kind might he adopted at all the en-
trances. If it can be managed, however, I am clearly for grey
and gold; and would suggest, with every deference to
better judgments in all these matters, that the question
should be well considered.
I am, dte.,

R. H. HORNE.

PUBLIC URINALS.

The correspondence which we published some weeks bark
relative to the c.taliliAment of public urinal., and in which
the commiloiem r, intimated that they were het by diffi-
culties, has canal forth the following important suggcs-

lions
To E. H. Woolrych, Erg., Secretary to the Metropolitan
Commission of St.WCT.I.
Sir,—We avail ourselves of the invitation from the Me-
tropolitan Commissioners of Sewers that we should submit
any suggestions for removing the obstructions, which you
orm us the commissioners have felt, in establishing public
urinals, and for promoting the establishment of the public
water-closets and urinals.
It appears to us that public water-closets and urinals,
though admitted to he great public wants, can only be
effectually otablisheil by the good-will and co-operation of
the public ; and that any attempt to establish them as a
mem set of power would be likely to defeat the object in
view. We are, therefore, of opinion that the first thing to
be done in to invite general assistance and stimulate the

means of affording it.
Some useful experience may be derived from the state
of the existing arrangements, and the amount of the
convenience, imperfect as it is, which they certainly
afford. We think that the statement of the commis-
sioners of the difficulty they have found in obtaining
possession of suitable sites, must he admitted to he
a proof that the present public urinals arc not acceptable to
the immediate localities of them. Without undervaluing
them, they may he pronounced to be inferior to those
which the public arc accustomed to use in railway stations,
and are of no use at all to women—half the population. ,
We submit that the public would hardly welcome an ac-
commodation less eligible than it obtains from the rail-
ways ; and we are led to conclude that, to insure success,
any future public urinals should he of a decidedly superior
character to the few which already. exist, and should be
united with public water-closets ; in which case ar
ments might, perhaps, be made, whereby their imp7ee-
c-
tions might he remedied. If improved, WI they might be,
we apprehend that the commissioners would not experience
obstruction, and that neighbourhoods would be both recon-
ciled to the adoption of them, and even seek to have them
established. Probably the plans of Mr. Austin might fur-
nish some suggestions. It is assumed that some conve-
niencee uniting water-closets and urinals would he tato-
blished and managed directly by the eotnmimioners.
There appear to be four modes of obtaining sites for this
clam of conveniences:
1. Plots of public ground, it is thought, might be readily
obtained from the Commisaioners of Woods in the neigh-
bourhood of the public parka and buildings, as in Somerset

House, 4te.
2. Oround floors and the areas of houses belonging to the
Commissioners of Woods, as in Holborn, Regent-street, &c.
3. The commissions of sewers might themselves, perhaps,
be able to hire ground-floors in a few of the principal tho-
roughfares for the purpose ; and lastly, sites might be ob-
tained on the recommendation of parishes.
It seems desirable to consider all these modes of obtaining
sites at the outset, and if tw etre establishments wenr orga-
nised in different parts of the metropolis they would give
confidence to the public, and make them sensible of the ad-
vantages of the plan. If the commissioners should concur in
these views, we would suggest that a circular be issued, and
proper explanation given to certain parishes, expressing the
readiness of the commissioners to establish public water-
closets and urinals, if the parishes themselves will provide a
site which, in their judgment, would be most eligible. In
Issuing this circular, it would be obviously necessary to send
a plan of the general character of the arrangements pro-
pelled to be made. It might be expedient to ask the parish
to Pectinate the superintendent, even though the commis-
sioners should pay
But it is not from this direct action of the commissioners
OM the chief extension of these conveniences can be ex-
pected. At present it is notorious that the public seek
them in hotels, public-houses, pastry-cooks' shops, &c. ; and
it appears to us, that if the commissioners would foster this
ladarect provision by making it the interest of the public to
do its own work and make the conveniences known, a gene-
ral system of such conveniences might be established with
comparative ease and cheapness.
ithout entering at present into all the details, we sug-
gest the following outlines of a system, which will be found
to have some analogies to the location of post-offices, and
would probably, after a time, be self-supporting:—
lot. The commissioners to publish that they are desirous
to receive offers of the willingness of private parties to pro '
vide such conveniences in public streets, and in connexion
with shops, subject to the regulations and superintendence
of the commissioners. 2nd. Shops affording the con-
venience to indicate the same, as "A waiting-room for
Gentlemen." or " A waiting-room for Ladies." 3rd. Rooms
for men and women always to be in distinct shops. There
are certain kinds of shops which each class only frequent,
e.g.. Women--staymakers, bonnet makers, ladies' boot and
shoe shops. Yen—cigar shops, tailors, Ike. 4th, Such
parties should be atliberty to make a small charge. 6th.
The commissioners would register and advertise the exist-

ace of these authorised place's. and make them known.
Probably it would be found that parties were willing
themselves to fit up such places. If not, the commissioners
would assist to such an extent as they found necessary to
insure success. When there should be a prospect of com-
petition fur the sanction of the commissioners, the standard
of the kind of accommodation might be raised, and the
conditions made more stringent, but in the beginning they
should only be those necessary to insure propriety and
cleanliness.
We are, sirs. yours, Re.
Signed by almost all who signed the letter of the Bth
November, and by mans others, among whom are,—
Charles Dickens, Thomas *Carlyle, the Right Ron. the Earl
Granville, John F. Chorley, Professor E. SoUy, the Right
Ron. T. Milner Gibson, M.P.

~..:--

THE INITrzo INvAstos.—What, then, will be the
condition of Cheapaide, about twelve o'clock on the Bth day
of August one thousand eight hundred and fifty-one ?
The lowest estimate we have 1111011—(w e do not pledge
ourselves to put our trust in it)--computes that there will
be an extra million of people in the metropolis during
the most part of the time (hat the Great Exhibition remains
. would augment the passengers through the
open
y's centre to Afteen thousand; and, as the new comers
will have to be kd with food carried from place to
place on wheels, the passage of vehicles will be in-
creased in umber to upwards of fifteen hundred!
What they nal do when they try to push through the Pool-
Wail
it
se turd Mayor only knows ! Upon this, another con-
engervimes :—if there will be a dedrieney of
walking and iddime-Tooen for the welcome invaders, how they
are to be hewed? Although a great pressure otbuslner
being breed umbers astute, by personalising in more af-
Ihtentoolshbaorhasis, who hope to make harvests of profit
tematheininsteletiongss ; yet, each stranger a can afford
geed asesemeandon and high rants will, we apprehend,
fern hat • smil stissority. Me balk of visitor. will be
of the Minn INA humbler dares ; Tat, for such persons,
he +try arecoussodation been planned, op= a
stale Lowdown in these own rank are
not am eizinstmlasoed as to be aide to tarn ant et their
homes to Wirt, even to their own the cooing strew
iatiebriYmlMe " aaPtai
; se few of the we advert too will
to remain twitist the laaltitudinosta Cos-
igeessollgkeipesnstrneted would aellice. These
r =7lll. eat abold withrat of ti eeerDialsona's
Wipe. -