Today
Most of the fountains still present in the city still work, and distribute, contrary to popular belief, perfectly potable water. They are the rare points of free water in the city to the great relief of the homeless for whom they are a life-source and the thirst of passers-by which the fountains often quench. Sir Richard Wallace has achieved his goal and probably fulfilled his hopes.
The fountains work from 15 March to 15 November (the risk of freezing during the months of winter would imperil the internal plumbing), are regularly maintained, and repainted every two years.
They are an integral part of the Parisian landscape, typical and picturesque, of the same importance as the Eiffel Tower or the street urchins of Montmartre, as their creators would have wished. In Amélie, the cinegraphic piece about the glory of Parisian folklore, Jean-Pierre Jeunet baptised a personality Madeleine Wallace (she cried like a madeleine, or like a Wallace fountain), although the English subtitled version renamed the character of Madeleine, to Madeleine Wells for cultural understanding.
For more than a century they have been in place, and these monuments have never had to suffer criticism. They were always respected. However, curiously, they are not classified as "historic monuments".
Read more about this topic: Wallace Fountain
Famous quotes containing the word today:
“Let us not be deceivedwe are today in the midst of a cold war.”
—Bernard Baruch (18701965)
“I remember a very important lesson that my father gave me when I was twelve or thirteen. He said, You know, today I welded a perfect seam and I signed my name to it. And I said, But, Daddy, no ones going to see it! And he said, Yeah, but I know its there. So when I was working in kitchens, I did good work.”
—Toni Morrison (b. 1931)
“Even today . . . experts, usually male, tell women how to be mothers and warn them that they should not have children if they have any intention of leaving their side in their early years. . . . Children dont need parents full-time attendance or attention at any stage of their development. Many people will help take care of their needs, depending on who their parents are and how they chose to fulfill their roles.”
—Stella Chess (20th century)