PARKS. The Common, a most characteristic feature of Boston, esteemed by the people as few other public parks are, because of its inti mate connection with the history of the city, was set ofT in 1634 as a training-field and com mon ground, and has since been carefully pre served for public use. Its 48 acres are crossed by paths shaded by grand old elms, while toward the centre, near where the 'Great Elm' stood until blown down in 1876, is the Soldiers' Monu ment, erected in memory of the men of Boston who "died for their country." Near the Tre mont Street Mall stands the Crispus Attueks Monument, commemorating the 'Boston Mas sacre of 1770."Fhe bronze figure represents Revolution breaking the chains, and the scene of the massacre is portrayed in bas-relief on the base; the names of the victims are on the shaft. Adjacent to the Common is the Public Garden. of 24 acres, the entrance to the Back Bay dis trict, tastefully laid out and in season a mass of brilliant flowers. It contains an artificial lake, spanned by a ponderous bridge, and an equestri an statue of Washington by Ball, statues of Edward Everett and Charles Sumner, a repre sentation of "Venus Rising from the Sea," and the group by J. Q. A. Ward, commemorating the discovery of ether, first successfully used in 1846 by Dr. Morton, in an operation at the Mas sachusetts General Hospital.
Among other noteworthy statues of the city are a bronze statue of Governor Winthrop in Scollay Square, one of Samuel Adams in Adams Square. another of Governor Andrew in the State House, the statues of Alexander Hamilton, John Glover, William Lloyd Garrison. and Leif Ericson in Commonwealth Avenue, the statue of Farragut in the Marine Park, of Beethoven in the Music Ilall, and of Columbus in front of the Boman Catholic Cathedral.
Owing to the natural beauty and accessibility of its suburbs, and the existence of the Common and the Public Garden in the heart of the city proper, Boston was late in initiating a system of parks. There are now two phases of park
development —the mnicipal, dating from the seventies, and the metropolitan, of more recent. inauguration and of vast extent. requiring years for its completion as planned. The municipal system, of over 2600 acres, includes, besides nu merous playgrounds and open-air gymnasia, and independent parks in various parts of the city, a chain of parks connected by fine parkways, and almost encireling the city from the Charles River Einhankinent to the Marine Park in South Bos ton. From its terminus at the Charles River, the boulevard extends through a narrow section. iharfexgan., to 'The Fens.' then by the narrow Iliverway to Leverett Park, approaching ,la maica Park with Jamaica Pond. passing the Arnold Arboretum. where may be found every tree and shrub that will grow in Boston's cli mate, reaching Franklin Park, of 520 acres, in West Roxbury, the central feature of the system, and ending with the Marine Park at City Point, South Boston. The Marine Park is connected by a pier with Castle Island, also a part of the park system. This locality is a popular head quarters for yachts, and affords facilities for boating and bathing (municipal bath-houses). The Metropolitan Parks District, in which are included a number of municipalities, is adminis tered by a commission of five members. appoint ed by the Governor. The scheme comprises such reservations as the Blue Hills(4000 acres), Mid dlesex Fells (3200 acres), Stony Brook Woods (400 acres). connecting the first-named with the Boston municipal system at the Arnold Ar boretum, Lynn Woods ( •000 acres), Beaver Brook Reservation, of greater interest than its small extent presupposes, Revere Beach, which is open to public use for several miles, and improve ments along the Charles, Mystic, and Neponset rivers.