FORTIETH ANNUAL REPORT. 35 



zation of the water for commercial purposes. While we can recognize 

 tlie importance of the conservation of power in tlie great streams of 

 tliis country, it has seemed to the broader men and women of tliis coun- 

 try that Ave could afford to conserve this water in its gi'and demonstra- 

 tion of power for the hearts of the American j)eople rather than their 

 pocketbooks. 



The White Mountains — the lumberman has tried his level best 

 through the securing of rights in that marvelous piece of scenic beauty 

 to raze to the gTOund and thus destroy the distinctive characteristics 

 which make them really the most valuable thing New Hampshire owns. 

 All hail again to this spirit which has been sufficiently dominant in state 

 affairs in that commonwealth which asserted itself and said, ''We will 

 save the best for all the people and we will not turn this beautiful region 

 into a barren M^aste in the interest of a few men who seek riches.' The 

 conservation, it seems to me, that we must talk more about is the con- 

 servation of the natural playground of the world, and the conservation 

 that we should consider in our own State of Michigan is the saving of 

 the beautiful features of our North country that are ti*easures of in- 

 estimable value to so many people. If we must take the more sordid 

 view and measure values by material income, we will then preserve the 

 natural beauty of our Northern landscapes because of the large revenue 

 that accrues to the state from the people who do value the forests 

 and the waters and spend their monej' freely in the enjoyment of these 

 great natural playgrounds. So if we are not willing to save it for any 

 other purpose, do so on utilitarian grounds. 



What about the great plaj'gi'ound of the world, Switzerland? People 

 from all sections go there to enjoy the scenic beauties of the most im- 

 portant playground on earth. Vast numbers of people in crossing the 

 continent always take in this country as a part of their trip. The values 

 of this wonderfully gorgeous and most marvelous scenery in this moun- 

 tain republic have been sung by people for centuries. It is no wonder 

 that we find so very few Swiss scattered over all this earth. They are 

 in the midst of scenic splendor which makes so strong an appeal that 

 they cannot leave. When they do go away and remain for a time from 

 their native land the one cry that fills their hearts is, "Give me back 

 my Switzerland, my own, my dear, my native land." We love to think 

 of the sentiment that lies at the foundation of the patriotism of the 

 people in that Swiss republic which leads them to admire, utilize and 

 glorify the natural beauties of their country. 



And now will you let me pass for a moment to a few of the practical 

 things I desire to talk to you about? They are. things that touch me 

 most of all in connection with my everyday work and thought — the 

 things connected with the city playground. There is no question but 

 what in recent years there has been sweeping over our country a mighty 

 wave interest in this playground question. We think of it now in con- 

 nection with congested population. We also think of it in connection 

 with every home, because we recognize in our minds and hearts, in the 

 development of the highest type of American citizenship, the value of 

 play. There is a philosophy in play. There is a philosophy behind foot- 

 ball and baseball which really explains the relationship of those games 

 to the development of a well-rounded fighting character. We know this 

 world is a fighting ground against all the various forms of evil and we 



