The Evolution of the Fountain.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 19 (Supplement)

The Evolution of the Fountain.

It Had Its Birth in the Straggle for Existence.

(Written for the “ Star ” by

DR. CHARLES CHILTON.)

(Written for the “Star” by DR CHARLES CHILTON). In Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary a fountain is defined as:— “1. A spring of water issuing from the earth, 2. An artificial jet or stream of water; also, the structure in which such a jet c-r stream rises dr flows.” THIS definition is really a very brief history of the changes in the meaning of the word that have occurred during the progress of civilisation and explains why it is so necessary to insist to-day that a “fountain ” does not necessarily mean the same thing as a jet or spray of water. Let us follow out the history a litlie more fully. In the earliest stages of his development from savage conditions man thought of water only as a means of quenching his thirst or as a source from which ‘he might obtain fish for food. Hence when he -came to settle down and have a fixed place of abode he naturally selected a spot on the banks of some river or lake or a place where a spring arose from the earth; an evidence of this is the fact that the word "spring” or its equivalent in some other language occurs in the names of so many towns and villages, e.g., Springfield, Schonbrunn, Builth Wells, etc. Later on, when he began to wear clothes and to realise that these, as well as his own person, were more comfortable when they were kept clean, he began to use water for wash ing. The operation was at first carried out under natural conditions on the shore of a stream or lake as it still is in some places. At Nice, in the south of France, on a fine day in 1912, many women were seen washing their clothes on the banks of the river, and later on the same operation was performed in a -small stream at Banyuls-sur-mei. near the eastern end of the Pyrenees. As population increased and the struggles between the different trills became more severe, the possession of ft source of water was a matter of great importance, and the inhabitants tended to congregate around the spring or stream lor mutual safety. The numbers increased to such an that it was no longer possible for all to live near enough to the water’s source to supply their own needs, and the water

had to be taken to them by some sijnple aqueduct or other similar means. Hence drinking fountains or troughs were erected at suitable places where they could most easily supply man and the domestic animals he had now learnt to keep for his protection or pleasure. These drinking fountains were naturally placed at some central spot in the village, and, as it was con* venient to obtain food and drink at the same spot, fountains are very frequently found in the market places, as in many towns and villages in Europe. For a long time the struggle for existence was so keen that only the utilitarian aspect of the fountain was considered. Doubtless the structures gradually became more elaborate in order better to supply those wanting water, and numerous contrivances were devised to supply the people as rapidly as possible so that the waiting should be reduced to the minimum—an important point during a fight with invaders if the garrison was sufficient only to man the walls protecting the town', and none could be held as reBut man does not live by bread alone—nor on water and fish alone—and as he became more civilised and there was mutual co-operation among the members of the tribe or nation, he found his time was not wholly taken up with watching his enemy or in procuring food for himself and family He had leisure in which to ornament or beautify his weapons, his house or his own person. As the fountain from which he obtained his supplies of water was so important to the community he naturally reverenced it almost As he did his church, and lavished on it all his skill in the attempt to make it as grand id beautiful as he could. Hence we find in towns of Europe and mother old countries the fountains are frequently works of art, adorned with statuary, symbolical figures .or forms of animals or fish. An interesting example was seen at Banyuls-sur-mer. Here the water for the inhabitants was obtained by means of ordinary suction pumps, but the chief one. in the central place o£ square, was distinguished from the others by having the upper part of the cylinder fashioned into the form of a female head and bust, so as to resemble a statue. In larger towns and cities the fountains were much more elaborate and more richly adorned with sculpture or carved iron or i stone work. In some cases these orna-

me.nts had some relation to the water j flowing from the fountain so that we find figures of river gods, mermaids or fish, swans, and so on. Some of these structures were graceful enough, like ' the swans or pelicans so often intro- ! duced into the stock patterns of foun : tains manufactured later on. Others I were as grotesque as the gargoyles and griffins on the buildings of the time; thus we have absurd figures of impossible dolphins or sea-monsters or the fountain in an Italian town which takes the form of a wild boar with the water flowing from the mouth as though it, were an overflow of saliva.

In many of these fountains the water is not abundant, or where abundant has been obtained at great expense, in the case of Montpellier, in the south of Franerf, which is supplied by a massive stone viaduct some thirty mil£s long—even this is surpassed by the huge pipe or viaduct supplying the modern city of Los Angeles, in. Cali fornia. U.S.A.. which is two hundred and fiftv miles in length and passes over hills in its course. Hence the flow of water was usually restricted, and it issued in small jets, and means sometimes were devised whereby the water flowed only when required to quench the thirst ol the passer-by. The jets were made to flow from some appropriate opening or orifice in the figures forming the fountain. Thus in the Goose-Boy fountain, in Nuremberg, it flows from the mouth of the goose held under the boy’s arm; in other cases it squirts out of the mouths of fish, or even from the eyes, or from the breasts of mermaids, or there may be a still closer approach to nature as in the well-known Mannikin, in Brussels. In desert places or where water was difficult to obtain, the quantity of water used would be still more carefully restricted, and this added to the veneration bestowed on the fountain and the desire to express this in its ornamentation. Hence the structure grew in size and beauty, while the water flowing therefrom was inconspicuous in comparison, as in the Wittelbacbenhrunuen in Munich, the Donnerbrunnen in the New Market in Vienna, the fountain in the Hagen Market in Brunswick, or the Schoner brunnen in the market place in Ntir emberg, which rises high above the base, where alone ater is to he got, like the much-carved and statue-adorn-ed spire of a cathedral. Gradually the structure erected and

its adornment came to be the chief thing about the fountain and its supply of water to be overlooked. This was especially the case in more modern times, when the individual houses were supplied with water from the general city supply. Still, fountains of the same kind were erected long after they had ceased to be required for their original function of supplying water to thirsty individuals. Stock fountains of several patterns were manufactured by the hundred —not lovingly worked by the hands of artists as in the middle ages—and Were sold to adorn gardens and parks well supplied with water by other means, and where no one ever thought of quenching his thirst. These are the erections, fountains that do not fount, that have V>een referred to as Obtrusive Unveracities in a previous article.

But water has a great charm, especially moving water as it flows down in cascades or falls in l>eautiful curves alter having been forced directly into the air. A waterfall, ever changing and yet always the same, is a most fascinating sight, and can be long watched with enjoyment: water falling over a dam or weir has a similar effect. One of the most beautiful sights I ever saw was produced by thin layer of water flowing over a wide dam at th*e Wainui-o-mata reservoir supplying the city of Wellington. It was late in the afternoon and the setting sun shone on the falling water as it flowed down the side of the dam like a constantly moving and brilliantly illuminated sheet of the most delicate, filmy lace with pattern ever changing. Perhaps it was a natural geyser or it may have been a spout rising high into the air from an accidental leak in a water pipe under pressure that first showed how beautiful water may be if forced into the air and allowed to fall naturally and without check. However it was first ’j*covered. the lesson has l>een well u u.iro by many who have been entrusted \ ,I}. the formation ot ornamental gardens, and jets and water sprays ot\th r kind indicated have been largely used’in the gardens at Versailles. Potsdam, b. .isvev « zingen. near Heidelberg, and elsewhere. Perhaps the best effect is obtained when these jets arise from a pond or * small lake, with one tall jet in the centre surrounded by a number of small ones. Fine jets falling in delicate spray are beautiful, but if a large

body of water can be used a grander effect is giyen, as in one of the larger fountains at Versailles, where a huge volume of water is forced high into the air, resembling an inverted cascade But these large fountains require much water and cost much money, and smaller ones give the same charming effect if properly arranged. In the Drake Reservoir, at Plymouth, England, there are three or four small sprays of several iets each; they are so arranged for the purpose of aerating the water to be supplied to the consumers without any intention of forming a fountain, but, being easily seen and near the centre of the city, they form a most attractive feature

Tn these cases the pressure has to be given by artificial means. Few towns are so fortunate as Christchurch, where the artesian system offers us copious

supplies of water under pressure ready to be used as water displays. From the first,- or shallow, stratum at less than 100 feet below the surface, the i water used to rise three or four feet, , and would have given us many small sprays if we had not been foolish enough to let it be w’asted. It will still rise high enorigh to give an effective , spray in places below the general surface. In a previous article I stated that the little fountain on the river bank, near the Magistrate’s Court, came from a deeper stratum, but I find it is only from this shallow stratum, but, being low down on the bank of the river, the water rises from the mouth of the pipe to a height of about two feet, that is, till it is on a level

with the top of the bank. In some parts of Christchurch there is a water bearing stratum between 200 and 300 feet below the surface, and water from these would rise about six or seven feet, giving larger and finer displays From the still deeper stratum, at about 400 feet, abundant supplies could be got rising direct into the air from a suitable nozzle to a height of ten to fifteen feet or more, according to the height above sea-level of the surface of the ground at the place where the well is sunk. There are several wells from this source that are not being used , which would give magnicent spouts of water like the one shown, in the illustration. If these were illuminated at night by coloured electric lights we might have a display that would be the envy of all other places. And the cost would be insignificant-in comparison with the effect produced

• The illustration of the finely divided spray in the Ngaere Gardens at Hawera gives some idea of what may be done with a small quantity of w;ater, and should give us dreams of what might be done in Christchurch. But this article must not close without a note of solemn warning. By allowing bores to be sunk without control or restriction by all who wished we have spoilt our shallow stratum- - probably for ever. If we allow the same foolish course to be followed with our deeper strata we may spoil them too, and our beautiful dream of a city of water displays will have van ished, and we shall be left with nothing but remorse at having squandered our glorious heritage.