shops, and factories, before it thought of leaving a goodly breathing and recreating space for the people. In this respect it followed the habit of many New England towns, whose first settlers cut down all the trees, both great and small, to make a proper "clearing" for their houses, without thinking how much their children would prize the shade and ornament of some of the majestic and primeval oaks thus brought low by the axe. This mistake they discovered by the time those children were born, and tried to rectify it by planting little scions by the decaying stumps of the monarchs of the forest which they had levelled. Thus Birmingham had a population of 250,000 before it had a public park, or a single green acre which they could call their own as a community. The first, comprising a space of twelve acres, was the generous and opportune gift of the Hon. C. B. Adderley, at Saltley: it was opened in 1856, and made one of the munificent benefactions to which the town is indebted to his philanthropy. A second was opened the following year, containing thirty acres, presented by Lord Calthorpe, and bearing his name. But, as in the case of the Free Library, the people resolved to have a Drinking Fountain of Air of their own, purchased by their own money, and not the gift of one aristocratic and wealthy patron. Aston Hall—a stately, baronial-like mansion, just in the greenest outskirt of the town—came into
