THIRD ANNUAL TEAR BOOK — PART X. 



581 



on a bench by your provision placed, and smokes the pipe of rest as the 

 sun goes down above the river, the field, the city. 



The physician, the philanthropist, the officers of your city, all those 

 who in any way have care of the public weal, are with us in our efforts 

 to establish shade gardens and drives and roads for the people, for all, 

 for their constant use and comfort and health. But we may go further yet. 

 The people themselves ought to be with us, for it is largely their cause 

 that we today are pleading; but thousands of them do not understand 

 it yet; have not been brought to think about it. Bound by the interests 

 of today, the cares and responsibilities of the present, men have no time to 

 consider the future, even the near future, or to realize the wonderful 

 possibilities of a state like ours. When you talk parks and trees and streets 







Hucfs'f"" 1 "^ 



Railroad improvement along the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad at Ames. 

 Hydrangea in foreground. 



many men are indifferent; they are too busy. But the park builder has an 

 argument which will catch the very busiest man in the community: park 

 building pays — pays in profit — in increased value — in good money. Show 

 people that, and the Iowa Park and Forestry association becomes at 

 once a lodge of promoters, and may begin to issue literature and send out 

 agents. 



Now we, as here organized, are ready to deal with all these classes 

 of people. We are sure of the help of the esthetic, poetic soul who loves 

 nature for her own sake — he will applaud us, quote poetry for us, write 

 to the newspapers, but is apt to be rather impractical when it comes to 

 the down-right hard work that in every community remains yet to be 

 done. But we need especially the aid of the physicians of the state, the 



