NEW YORK'S GREAT PARK.
An Englishman was showing his friend, an American, through the houses of Parliament, in London, the meanwhile commenting in a somewhat arrogant manner upon what he was pleased to term the superiority of the English public buildings and parks.
"There," he exclaimed, "is our magnificent Thames Embankment, a delightful spot! Why, you have nothing in your country to compare with it, especially in that great New York city; then again, every gentleman owns an estate, and, let me assure you, sir, such estates are no small bits of property."
This went on for a considerable time, until the American, growing tired, said, "But, Lord de T., you have travelled in our country, have you not?"
"Oh, yes, my dear sir; right across it."
"Well, then, you should have a fair idea of its size."
"Very big place, sir, very big."
"And you know New-York city quite well, eh?"
"Oh, yes—yes indeed."
"Well, then, you see, we didn't want anything in the line of parks in New York, with, of course, the exception of a few squares; but outside of the city we wanted a park, and so we decided to use the United States as a park for New York city."