The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
SOME CITY GASES.
Breathing Places for the POOr---Eng-
liSh Parks and Commons.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.

Special Correspondence National Tribune.
BRoADsTAIRs, ENG, August 3, 1888.
The English papers are giving much space
to descriptions of the Yellowstone Park aud
eulogiums on the liberal spirit of nation
which sets aside "a region containing some
$500 square miles as national possession.
The Times expresses its enthusiasm as follows:
''The dedication of district nearly half as
large as the State of Massachusetts to the bene-
fit and enjoyment of the people, its pFeseFya-
ton alike from the greed of private monopoly
and adventure and from the destructive van
dalisn OF thOughtiess or rapaciOus visitors, was
undoubtedly noble conception emInently
worthy of a people which mOulGs its institu-
tons and forecasts It's future on scale COM
mensurate with its magnificent opportunities"
This is certainly gratifying, aud we are doubt
| less all suitably glad that Congress has pre-
served forever the third wonder of America.
The English papers also contain so many an
n0uncements and comments concerning the
death of Capt. Webb as serve to keep Niagara
vividly before the mind and to think of Mag
ara is naturally to wonder why Congress does
not take measures for the preservation of
Niagara also, alike, from the greed of private
monopoly and adventure and from the de-
| structive vandalism of thoughtless or rapaci0us
| visitors Nothing in the Yellowstone Valley
| can possibly be more beautiful or more awe
| inspiring than the great waterfall, yet the
condition of this is d disgrace to both the coun-
| tries that are endowed by Heaven with its
! possession.
| Indeed, the rescue of Niagara is q measure OF
which the advantage would be felt far more
| promptly and more effectively than the adyan-
| tage of securing the Yellowstone Park for
| Niagara is accessible many times from many
States for many people, after comparatively
/ little effort; whereas, for the present genera
| ton at least, a single journey to the elbow
| stone Park must be the privilege of a few ex-
| ceptionaliy fortunate persons.
| The admiration OF the English press for the
action OF Congress in preserving the Yellow
stone Valley is all the more readily aroused
because the attention of the English people IS
at present directedsto the necessity OF parks IN
general more especially, of course, towards the
| preservation of old parks and the formation OF
new ones in and about the great cities. Eng
| land IS rich already III parks or commons IN
herited from the early times before the in
| closures of commons under Henry VIII and
Elizabeth. Thus Blaekheath. the continuation
| of Greenwich Park the great resource OF East
| London}, IS the Blackheath of Prince Hal and
| Falstaf and of many fOotpad not known tc
literature i. e., it IS an ancient common which
| belongs forever to the people, and it is wisely
| kept In a state in which 1t can be used IOl
| cricket and donkey riding and whatever pur
suits are conducive to the health and happines;
of the rising generation. The same use i
| made of Hampstead Heath and of a multitude
OF less famous commons scattered over the sur
| face of the country