SQUARES IN PARIS AND LONDON.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 100, 12 March 1862, Page 7

SQUARES IN PARIS AND LONDON.

Tho Constitutional contains the following r< marks on the new squares in Paris, as compare witli those in London :— The municipal authorities of Paris have estal lished squares in every place where large masse of people threatened to render tlie atmosphen heavy—in nil the quarters too far distant from tii Tuileries, Luxembourg, and Bois de Boulogne, fo the inhabitants to be able to tench them easily. Ii London, on the contrary, with some few exceptions there does not exist a square worthy of mention except in the rich and airy quarters, The fines and largest gardens are at tlie wcsUcnd, in Belgra via and Brompton-r-that is to say, at the gate o Hyde=-park. AVith us, trees have been plantct with a hygienic object j squares have been forcnec more partieulaily in quarters where the air stoo( most in need of being purified ; and for that purpose trees of a special kind, and especially ab sorbent, have been chosen. Fountains also have been erected, wliich impart that salutary freshness to the air which is so necessary for tlio workmar after he has been cooped up for the whole day ir the heavy atmosphere of the workshop. In London the principal object thought of appears to be the health of the trees ; and tliere has been ehosen for them a mild and wholesome climate and a clear air in tho neighborhood of the parks, in order that they might not suffer too much from nostalgia. AAre do not mean to say that the city and other parts of London are completely void of squares, hut only that they are so paltry that they might be said to have been blown tliere by the wind. But the general quarters of proverty—those masses of close and unhealthy houses, and the networks of dark and narrow alleys—in a word, every part which stands in need of pure air and of the light of day, have been forgotten, or rather neglected, in this partition of life and health. In Paris the squares are open to every one ; in London they are locked-up. surrounded with high iron palings, and planted wilh shrubs, which prevent any one from seeing what is going on in the inside. On payment of a sum, wliich generally amounts to Ll sterling, each occupier of the houses which form the four sides of the squaro is entitled to a key by which admission is obtained to tlie gar den. Por a poor person, therefore) to have the jibirpr (if talcing his family into one of those enplosures hp must, in the first place, inhabit one of the houses, of which the rent is exceedingly high, and then pay 25fr. a-year towards ihe expense of the garden. It will bq, perhaps, said that this excites emulation, and is an encouragement to the endeavour to become rich. In London the squares are private property, with wliich tlustate has no concern. In France, on the contrary, the initiative of these municipal improvements belongs to the Government, and it is to tlie city that we are indebted for their execution. The square of Saint Jacques-de-la-Bouchcric alone cost upwards of y,000,000f. Tbe Imperial conceptions have yet reached only the commencement of execution ; we have already tlie Bois de Boulogne, the Bois de Vincennes, and the transformed Champs-Elysees, and we sliall soon have public promenades in other parts. Before long Paris will be an immense garden. One need only walk in the middle of tlie day, in the neighbourhood ofthe squares of the capital, to see with what eagerness and delight the working classes avail themselves of them. To mention only one example, it is almost impossible to get into thc square of the Arts et Metiers after four o'clock, so great is the crowd of persons assembled there. An objection was formerly made that tlie establishment of a public garden is an idea very practicable in London, but not feasible in Paris, where turbulent and destructive people would soon break down the tree and tear up thc flowers and shrubs. Experience has shown how ill-founded was that opinion. On the inauguration of the park at Monccaux all the gates wore opened to tlie crowd, and no snrveillancc was exercised over the 50,000 persons who thronged the walks and alleys. At {fie 6nd of the day the c)nmngc amounted to only |§'f. for the turf trampled down along fhe edges. ff'Jie example appears to' us to be conclusive. The pqiiarcs have, moreover, been already for some time open to the public, and it has been found that the greatest rh cency and good order arc observed. This is because the people comprehend that they are athomc,and that the gardens have been formed for them. They feel that hy breaking a flower they injure their own property, and they besides feefa lespectful gratitude for the hand which has given it to fhem.