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26
girt island are so frequently exposed, but that it often
enables persons to save their own lives, and those
of others, when accidently plunged in the water.
Whilst on the subject of public recreation, I
would call attention to the necessity there exists
for a population like that of St. James's, Westminster,
to secure exercise in the free open air,
away from the smoke of chimneys and the emanations
of sewers and drains. Recreation-grounds
exist undoubtedly in our neighbourhood, in St.
James's, the Green, and Hyde Parks; but, if we
except the objectionable Serpentine for a bath,
are there temptations enough to induce our tailors
and shoemakers, our clerks and shopmen, to visit
these parks I think not. There are no games
allowed, and no means of refreshment of any kind
exist. A walk in one of our parks is, after all, a
dull monotonous affair for a working man, and no
wonder that so few are found there. What I would
advocate is that certain portions of the parks should
be railed off, so as to allow of cricket and other
games,—and in these games we should find at once
the means of attraction and relaxation. In most of
the parks of continental cities the sale of refreshments
is allowed; and if this was done in our own
parks, confining the refreshments to tea, coffee, and
unfermented beverages, with bread and fruit, I am
sure it would be the means of drawing many from
the unhealthy atmosphere of the billiard-room and
ale-house. Our English notion of the use of a park