Evening star., 1901-08-14
PARKS OF THE WORLD.
Should BE No Distinction of Rank in
Public Breathing Places.

Should BE No Distinction of Rank in
Public Breathing Places.
From the Chicago Chronicle.
Delegates from the city Of Washington
have been studying the park systems of
Europe with view to betterfng the as
poets and conditions Of the national capital.
They are reported as especially charmed
with London parks. Before reaching hasty
conclusions certain fundamental differ
ences are to be taken into account. The
first is mode and means Of acquisition Of
park grounds.
Under ancient law land in Europe be-
longed to no private owner. Everybody
had the same right as everybody else to
raise food by tillage or to pasture his cat
tie upon the common estate. Hence came
the word common" which survives In a
limited way to preserve It's once vast his
tory. AS taste developed common not
needed for cultivation or cattle was orna-
mented in simple ways for recreation of all
the people. On the continent of Europe
private parks became means Of develop
ing artificial landscape gardening as soon
as wars and monarchies modified land ten
ure and instituted exclusive private owner
ship.
Inclosure Of commons into private es-
tates in England constitutes a long chap
ter in it's constitutional growth. The crown
appropriated confiscated lands or allotted
them to favorites and ariStocracy absorbed
limited patches remained urnclosed only
because rival claimants were unable to
force their pretensions to a conclusion.
The decorative treatment of inclosed areas
was copied from the continent The parks
of London are spacious and attractive.
''Rotton row." vulgarzation of route de
FOL-" the kings route. is a picturesque
spectacle daily while fashion throngs its
paths. Other public grounds are expen-
sively maintained, but In no part Of Lon
don is there park to which the masses of
the people go on equal terms. The Lon
don police would exclude squalor from
Hyde Park as unfiinchingiy as from the
sentried approach to Windsor Castle.
Continental parks are all more demo-
what the form OF government. The natural
ana charming park on the margin of Ber-
lin combines in the highest degree all the
best qualities Of public recreation
preserved in perfection. 1t is well watered
also 1t contains ample spaces for every
species of sport. 1t Is near enough the
city for many to walk to it's cooling re-
treats. For those who cannot walk trac
ton Is abundant and cheap. Paris comes
next in the advantages of the Bots de Bou-
logne. 1t Is beautiful by nature and has
been judiciously adorned. 1t is thoroughly
democratic and Is near admirable attrac-
tions. There is no city OF the continent of
Europe which lacks public grounds, ample,
beautiful and cheaply accessible
Chicagos experience as to parks is to
the credit of the city when taken in con-
nection with its municipal youth, Its un-
exampled growth and the duty imposed
upon its industry to provide annually for a
tide of immigration needing everything ma
teriaI and educational. The urban parks
are monotonousIy fiat and lack natures
establishment of waters and groves With
a cheaper traction fare. which wiH come In
time, the municipal park system would an
swer Its limited purpose fairly well. but a
rural park, largely designed by nature and
within cheap and easy access OF all the
people, would be more to their delight to
their health and to their ideas Of real
isteucs.