The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
A PRIVATE BESEFAcTIoN.

Among private persons, perhaps, no one has
done so much for the maintenance of breath
ing spaces as the Duke of Bedford, whose
vast estate, covering the Bloomsbury region
and extending from Euston road to the
Strand, is dotted with squares-Russell Square
and Great Russell Square, Bedford Square,
Bloomsbury Square, Red Lion and FavIst0ek,
and a multitude of other squares. These make
this part of the city very desirable enc IN
which to bring up children, in spite OF the fact
that fashion has moved westward and Blooms
bury is mentioned with 4 smile. The squares
are arranged after peculiar fashion, worthy
of notice. They are fenced III with high iron
ratings and the gates are kept locked. For
their being always shut the gardener is made
responsible, and spring lock is placed upon
each gate A key IS then furnished TO each
holder of house fronting upon the square,
and the holder is assessed one. two, or three
glineas per annum for the maintenance of the
square in good order. In other words there is
a cooperative system Of possession OF q garden
aud play ground for families living in the
heart of the city. Children play ball and
grown people play tennis in these squares,
screened from the stare of paSsers-by by means
of welI-placed shrGbbery. Men of business
find the square a comfortable place for stroll
after dinner, and means of getting through
the weary season between the coming of warm
weather and the tardy summer holiday. Per
sous passing along the streets that bound the
square are refreshed by the sight of green trees
and bright flowers, and the whole neighbour
hood is purer and better for this breathing
place The example Of the Duke of Bedford
in the maintenance of these squares might
we'll be followed IN America, where, except In
few very exceptional places, land Is abund-
ant, aud where we are, nevertheless, building
our cities far too closely either for health OF
beauty.
In an admirable article published in the 1t
| laaiic Monthly during last summer, entitled.
| think, "Care of the People under the Repub-
| lic," Mr. rockingham discussed our American
| custom of obtaining vast park for each city,
| at the cost of the whole population, but so far
| removed from the center rs to be accessible only
| to comparatively few Taxpayers, and often
| wholly removed from the reach of the very
persons VINO need il mOst-the working people,
| who cannot set away from city life in the sum-
/ mer. The business of BIr. Frothingham's eriti-
| cism is attested by the fact that gifts of ear
/ tickets for mothers who cannot afford the price
| of repeated journeys to Paramount Park with
/ their puny babies who need air and sunshine
! form q regular part of the henetaction of the
| Children's Country Week Association in Phila-
! delphia. 1t is n good thing to have the park
| anu to help sick babies to get the good of 1t
| but there is vast mass of children who are
! not helped to Paramount Park, and who could
| without help enjoy open squares nearer home
and this is true of more cities besides Philadel
/ phia Although our summer is not so long as
| the European summer, il is So much more op-
pressiye that open spaces-tree planted-ars
even more needed with Us than in Europe
The love of trees and flowers is q marked and
/ beautiful characteristic of the English people
In some of the most wretched quarters of Lon
| don window may be seen here and there bright
with blossoming plants, and great success at
tended the recent flower show held in one o.
| the dullest and most melancholy streets Of the
| East End. Flower shows, indeed, are fayorits
| means of raising money for charitable purpose:
among sill classes of English people, and tbs
prices successfully charged for admission rang;