Fountain

(fountain.) [Fr. fontaine; L. fons.] Abasin or jet for the supply of fresh running water. There are F. of every form and variety, from the simple spring with its natural basin, to the most elaborate and ornamental structure for the display or supply of water. Modern F. are, for the most part, entirely ornamental. This arises from the modern mode of distributing water in pipes through the houses, making the street-fountains to a great extent usele . It is found, however, that our town populations - both man and beast-require some public supplies of water, and these are now largely supplied by the numerous drinking-fountains Fourteenth, which are being constructed in all our principal cities. [s. 379]