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It is one of the signs of social advancement that many of our 

 associations are thus practically saying " Let there be light." 



9. Increased attention is given to parks, the village green, 

 the cemetery, church grounds, school lots and other public 

 grounds. I hope hereafter to give a brief sketch of the public 

 parks of Connecticut, some of which are already exceedingly 

 beautiful. Others are now planned which will contribute 

 greatly to the beauty and adornment of our State. 



Two fine parks, recently provided by private munificence 

 deserve a special mention. On the thirty -first day of October, 

 1878, Hon. David Dudley Field, Stephen J. Field of the 

 United States Supreme Court, Cyrus W. Field, and Henry 

 M. Field, D.D., surviving sons of Kev. David Dudley Field, 

 D.D., appropriately celebrated the seventy-fifth anniversary of 

 their father's marriage by presenting to the town of Haddam 

 two tracts of land for a public park. These grounds, finely 

 laid out with drives and walks by Mr. Olmsted of New York, 

 the landscape gardener, and adorned with the choicest orna- 

 mental trees, indigenous and imported, is a grand contribution 

 to the taste, sociality, good fellowship, education, growth and 

 prosperity of the town. Isinglass Hill, a high bluff on the 

 eastern border of these grounds commands for many miles a 

 magnificent view of the Connecticut river and its valley, with 

 the long range of hills beyond. In behalf of the friends of 

 rural adornment and of education, so far as I may represent 

 them, I desire to express to the eminent Field brothers, a high 

 appreciation of their grand gift to Haddam and thus to Con- 

 necticut, for our State takes a lively interest in the growth and 

 prosperity of each of her towns. This worthy example ought 

 to make many others, opportune as it is, in view of the grow- 

 ing interest in rural improvement throughout our State. 

 There is hardly one of our towns, that has not at home or 

 abroad, some favored sons who by forming parks or founding 

 schools or libraries, could easily render this most fitting tribute 

 to their mother soil, and thus be gratefully recognized as the 

 benefactors of their fellow citizens and of future generations. 

 The ambition to beautify and benefit one's native town is 

 worthy of the best and noblest characters. There is a rare 

 luxury in witnessing the fruits of one's benefactions, giving 



