The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1873-06-09

scared fugitves, with their hearts duttering
with terror, gathered up by the ruthle,, in.
vaderS. BY that time Il crowd Of men were
drawn to the Square, and the hawks, al.
| though not seeing a gun in the multitude,
conceived 1t time to be of, and disappeared.
They have not returned, though we think it
| would not be amiss for at least one Of the
| guards of the place to keep double-har-
| teile! shotgun loaded near at hand.
The birds add Immensely to the pleasure
of the Square and destroy the worms that in
former days summer after summer robbed
the trees OF every leaf, leaving them without
shelter from the sun and the visitor to the
Square without shade. &c.
/ The Governor has some deer in his private
garden, but he dare not send them to the
Square, for the railing is So open that the
dogs creep through, and would give the
gentle, graceful animals no peace of their
| lives.
Some squirrels have been put in the
Square, but the many dogs that disport
themselves there keep poor "bunnie" in
constant fear. and he is seldom seen at all.
He should have his house and his food too.
and if he were not terrified he would appear
and cut great many wiusoule capers for the
qualification Of men and the joy Of children.
But how are deer and squirrels to be kept
on the Square so long as the dogs are
allowed TO congregate there? Indeed,
hoy is the grass to he kept clean
and ullsoilrd 30 long as the place is
the % Paradise CT dog>T' In well-known
aud delightful parks Of large cite, no dog
is allowed to appear. The railing is close
enough to keep them out, and when man
with dog appears at gate TO that square
he is informed that he cannot enter
Nth has dog. If he loves his dog
enough to forego The pleasure of Il
seat or ramble in the square he shares the
dogs exclusion thercfrdin and walks around
the square. This is right. Many people d"
not keep dogs, and shall they, because OF
dogs, he deprived Of the pleasures Of a pub
liz square its shades, its seats, and the sight
of the birds and animals, that for blici
while may recall their minds to the sweet joys
Of nature in the midst Of the busy haunts of
commerce and the hard usage OF liuulce?
Oh, no; lei the dogs go. To the coun-
try-to heaven 1he dogs he,yen) or any
wl,ere-let them 80. Give us our public
squares and orr bird'se view OF nature and
rural life. How should we be denied these be-
cause OF dogs! Rather let there be WIRE
fence around the Square, and let policeman
stand ut every gate to exclude dogs and their
owners from pleasures which, TO the inhabi-
tnnt> of Il city, are more precious than gold.
They revive the natural feelings and make
gentle the hearts that are too much hardened
by the stern discipline of trade and its grant,
tive conscience. .... ,.:.. ... ... .
But to return to the Startins-pOint: Rich
mond has little else for public enjoyment be-
silc9 the. Sqllare-only one small park
(Mom0e) for place OF retreat to breathe
the fresh air-lor her people. Shade
there is none ), for that park is yet without
trees. 1t is planted With snail switches that
will give to our grandchildren a bit OF
shade, but will have none for us. There
fore we have really MO place in hot weather
but the Square, which belongs to the State
and is kept up by the means of the State.
We have in fact no other resource for re-
lief from the close confinement of business
but a dffre IN Hollywood! Think of it.
We are so circumscribed in our means of re-
taxation amongst the walks of life that we
are driven to take orr guests and to go our
selves to find it amongst the resting
places Of the dead! What a commentary
upon city which Is more blessed by nature
with resources for pleasure-delightiu
shades, fair scenes, and places for grateful
retreats than any city we ever saw.
- Now, Then. let Us consider: First, that
our, own people want. the blessings of
those iungs-those breathing-places- which
every city in the Union that is worthy of tue
name city, has to an extent that may give it
something to boast off, And secondly, we
want these breathing places for our country
customers, and for guests and strangers.
People now make pleasure a serious collside-
ration when choosing. the place at which
they will buy their goods. The grand
parks of New York and Philadelphia and
the spacious and steadily-improying parks of
Baltimore, are, all considered in forming
business plans. Here we have ONLY a grave
yardl 1t is true we have fair landscapes
and lovely river scenes ; but these are not
the result OF our enterprise, and will not off,
set the liberality and taste displayed for plea
sure and recreation by our more sagacious
and wealthy NORTHERN feliow-citizens. 49, +,
No other place has; such grand natural adj
iuncts for the. making Of parks and the con-
str,acting Of charming drives as Richmond.
Our river constitutes a feature Of unsur-
passed beauty. a grand park, embracing
hu.ldreds Of acres, amongst the hills of
the Dorthside beyond Hollywood, with d
,iridgcE'resting upon Belle Isle and rcucb.s
Ing 10 the southern shore, and 4 hand
some road returning pia the present free
bridge to. Richmond, Ewe venture to saw
would embrace nh amount of beauty aud
grace Oh scenery not 10 be excelIed in any
diiier city Of The Union. Such an auxiliary