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THE NATURE-STUDY REVIEW [i, 6, nov. 1905 



before he had come to the house asking what he should do with 

 the blank book he held in his hand. He could neither read nor 

 write, had never been to school, and was nine years old. He was 

 placed in the Children's Aid School, shorn of his unruly hair, 

 clothed, fed ; and now with a winning smile on the unmarred side 

 of his face he showed with great pride that he had learned to 

 count and read figures up to fifty. Here and there boys and girls 

 could be seen lying flat on the path near their plots that they might 

 get a closer view of their beloved plants while writing in their 

 diaries. At a signal from the teacher books and implements are 

 put away, and a sufficient number of little people (one for each 



DeWitl Clinton Park in New York City— a rubbish heap in 1902. 



garden path) are formed in line, and at a whistle signal, 

 they march rake over shoulder with a military air to the head of 

 their section, at a second signal they turn about face to rake the 

 paths, other little farmers following to gather up the piles of 

 stones or rubbish. When this is finished, again they form in line 

 and march to the pump where tliey wash their rakes and place 

 them clean and shining in the tool-house. This ceremony of rak- 

 ing seems to excite an esprit de corps, straightens backs and limbs, 

 and in quiet happy order the garden is emptied for the night. 



The garden, begun in the rubbish heap in 1902, has been in- 

 corporated in this beautiful new park ; and its westerly limit is 

 graced by a beautiful building 200 feet long containing demon- 



