On the north lies Paddington Green, which is small in extent, but close to the large graveyard turned into a public garden. In the centre of the Green a statue to Mrs. Siddons, by Chevaliand, was erected in 1897, as she lived in the neighbourhood when Paddington was still rural. There is nothing beautiful about the asphalt paths between high iron railings surrounding the small space of grass and trees. Some of the other greens are more of the ordinary public garden type. Islington Green has been planted with trees, and outside the railings stands a statue of Sir Hugh Myddelton, who died in 1631, representing him holding a plan of the New River. Stepney was once a very large green, and has still 3¼ acres of garden cut up into four sections. Some quaint old houses, wood with tiled roofs, and good seventeenth-century brick ones, still overlook the gardens. The gardens have been made exactly like every other, with a slightly serpentine path, a border running parallel in irregular curves not following the line of the path, and trees dotted about. One really fine, thick-stemmed laburnum shows how well that tree will do in smoke, and some curious old wooden water-pipes dug up in 1890, dating from 1570, are placed at intervals in the grass. Camberwell has one of the large village greens of South London, and has been made into a satisfactory garden. All the trams seem to meet there, but in spite of the din it is a pleasant garden in which to rest. The 2½ acres are well laid out, and the clipped lime-trees round the railings are a protection from the street which other places would do well to copy. When the trees are in leaf the garden is partially hidden even from those on the tops of omnibuses. These greens scattered round London help to connect the larger areas, thus forming links in the chain of open spaces which encircles London. These natural recreation grounds are the admiration of all foreigners, and a priceless boon to the citizens, ensuring the preservation of green grass and green trees to refresh their fog-dimmed eyes, at no great distance from the throng of city life. CHAPTER IX SQUARES _Fountains and Trees our wearied Pride do please, Even in the midst of Gilded Palaces; And in our Towns, that Prospect gives Delight, Which opens round the Country to our Sight._ --Lines in a Letter from SPRAT to SIR CHRISTOPHER WREN on the Translation of Horace.