282 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



beginning in the work of conservation. You have led the world in the 

 creation of national parks. 



"Now, a word about additional parks. Although you have done splen- 

 didly in creating some, there are still other places where national parks 

 are wanted. If the automobilist wants to be whirled along the roads, 

 let him have his way, but keep wide sylvan spaces where those who seek 

 quiet and the sense of communing with nature can go out in the early 

 morning from the city and spend a whole day enjoying one spot after 

 another where nature has provided her simple joys, mingled shade and 

 sunshine, the rustling of the leaves, and the songs of birds. Such things 

 in life the man of the cities can have, and when nature has provided it in 

 such bountiful measure would it not be a shame to lose the benefits she 

 offers? 



"I am sensible that I may be perhaps accused of treating this sub- 

 ject in a somewhat sentimental way. Well, I confess, I am not address- 

 ing my arguments to those who think that man lives by bread alone, or 

 who thinks there are no values except those measured by dollars and 

 cents. It is because I believe the members of this association are not 

 of that mind that I venture to address these considerations to you. 



"And let me try to give some logical quality to my statements by sub- 

 mitting some few propositions in order. 



"The world seems likely to last a long, long time, and we ought to 

 make provision for the future. 



"The population of the world goes on constantly increasing and no- 

 where increasing so fast as in North America. 



"A taste for natural beauty is increasing, and, as we hope, will go on 

 increasing. 



'The places of scenic beauty do not increase, but, on the contrary, 

 are in danger of being reduced in number and diminished in quantity, 

 and the danger is always increasing with the accumulation of wealth, ow- 

 ing to the desire of private persons to appropriate these places. There is 

 no better service we can render to the masses of the people than to 

 set about and preserve for them wide spaces of fine scenery for their 

 delight. 



"From these propositions I draw the conclusion that it is necessairy to 

 save what we have got, and to extend the policy which you have wisely 

 adopted, by acquiring and preserving still further areas for the perpetual 

 enjoyment of the people. 



"Let us think of the future. We are trustees of the future. We are 

 not here for ourselves alone. All these gifts were not given to us to be 

 used by one generation, or with the thought of one generation only before 

 our minds. We are the heirs of those who have gone before, and charged 

 with the duty we owe to those who come after, and there is no duty 

 which seems clearer than that of handing on to them undiminished facil- 

 ities for the enjoyment of some of the best gifts that the creator has be- 

 stowed upon his children." 



The Iowa Federation of Women's Clubs has a special division on 

 natural scenery, of which Mrs. Charles H. McNider, of Mason City, is 

 chairman. The commiittee is made nip of the following: Mrs. Joseph M. 

 Casey, Ft. Madison; Mass Lena Roach, Rock Rapids; Miss Lesley B. 



