302 PUBLIC PARKS OF IOWA 



RURAL PARKS IN A PRAIRIE STATE. 

 By Thomas H. Macbride, President S>tate University of Iowa. 



My theme requires, it seems to me, but smallest introduction. If we 

 all are park enthusiasts, as we should be, to such extent that nothing 

 pertaining to the subject of outdoor art is foreign to our interest, then 

 surely the attempt to so widen our effort and influence that these shall 

 reach country people and rural communities will not fail of appreciation 

 and sympathy here. 



Parks the cities have, are sure to have, in increasing perfection as the 

 years go by; but our population is not all in cities by any means, and 

 there must ever remain a wide scope of our domain over which the alder- 

 man has no control. It is small credit to us if refinement and an intelli- 

 gent, sympathetic use of nature be confined to the city. This is a govern- 

 ment by the people, and in wisdom or unwisdom, good or evil fortune, we 

 share and share alike. 



City people are not as much interested in the proposition that the 

 country should be beautiful as are country people that cities should be 

 healthful and well managed; in fact, we are a nation of enthusiasts, of 

 optimists. We would have the whole land scientifically, artistically oc- 

 cupied and cultivated, the whole country one vast park into which ugli- 

 ness and misery resultant on an abuse of nature's gifts should never come. 

 Most of the evils that we attack in an assembly such as this are in- 

 cident to the fact that we are a new people, acting under popular govern- 

 ment. We are, as a people, anxious to do right, but have not yet learned 

 how. 



Properly managed parks and pleasure grounds are the product of well 

 directed purpose, active through a long course of years. In a democratic 

 form of government it is hard to develop such a purpose, and especially 

 is it hard to give it continuity of .action. Nevertheless, in America we 

 believe that these conditions can both be met will be met as the years 

 come and go. We are a proud people, proud of our achievements in every 

 direction, and once the movement toward the proper adornment of our 

 heritage begins, national, state, or neighborhood pride will carry our ef- 

 fort to most fortunate conclusion. 



Thus far, in the larger part of our national area, time has not allowed 

 for much aesthetic development out of doors. You cannot expect a man 

 to sod his dooryard or plant flowers until the chips are picked up and the 

 mortar on the walls is dry- We have been so busy hitherto building the 

 house that we have had no time to carve the lintel. However, the time 

 has now come for something better for ornamental work, and It be- 

 hooves every one Who can appreciate beauty in any of its myriad phases 

 to become, if not an artist, at least art's patron. That the time is ripe is 

 plain to the least observant. Attempts at outdoor art are everywhere, and 

 the necessity for outdoor life impresses itself moro and more upon our 

 people. There needs but intelligent direction and the ends we seek will 

 soon reach full accomplishment. 



The first step in any undertaking is the proper estimate of resources. 

 What capital have we at our disposal? What material with which to 



