THOUGHTS BY AN AMATEUR ON OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS. 99 



sacrifice to bedeck a beauty less perfect than its own. So much, by 

 way of protest. 



Now, a few words of admission. In a suitable climate, certain 

 species of palms lend themselves cheerfully to the decoration of 

 business thoroughfares, reaching great perfection with little space 

 or care, and giving a most distinguished appearance to the section 

 adorned by their presence. Again, in more northern climes, care- 

 fully selected indigenous shrubs would accommodate themselves to 

 similar conditions. And, moreover, my objections cannot apply to 

 village streets, where it is always possible to have the more thickly 

 populated portion of such towns ennobled by large and beautiful 

 trees; nor to the residence portion of a city, nor the suburbs of a 

 large metropolis, as in all these instances there can be no differ- 

 ence of opinion. I cannot refrain from adding my grateful tribute to 

 the influence wrought in our own city by men like Col. John H. 

 Stevens, Capt. Ed. Murphy and the late Hon. W. S. King. These 

 men wrought by example as well as precept, planting trees with 

 their own hands, making various improvements and giving land; 

 and when one's speech has a basis of deeds upon which to rely the 

 listener is never wholly indifferent, while the most finished oratory 

 has no lasting influence when unaccompanied by personal worth or 

 earnest work. 



"Who never doubted, never half believed: Where doubt, there 

 truth is — 'tis her shadow," yielding opportunity for any one to de- 

 cide the matter according to individual preference, and such is the 

 present situation among landscape architects regarding enclosed 

 areas for homes. An authority recently wrote thus: "Border plan- 

 tations along the street property lines tend to enclose an estate and 

 secure a degree of privacy and seclusion, and it is probable that 

 in the future these plantations will be more common. The open- 

 ness of front yards and lawns, now so prevalent, is possibly due to 

 the national spirit of democracy ; but if so, it is paradoxical when 

 found in a country whose people are also noted for their love of 

 home." In my judgment the last few words stand at the parting of 

 the ways in this discussion. Shall the town or city gain in beauty, 

 with corresponding loss to the individual owner, or shall the gen- 

 eral whole yield some of its present advantages, as years pass by, 

 to the natural requirements of the home-maker? England an- 

 swered this question generations ago; but the exaggeration of her 

 reply makes few converts to division lines in our land, where in- 

 accessible stone walls and lofty hedges find no advocates. But it is 

 my belief that many who embrace the park system eagerly when 



