1894.] ESSAYS. 47 



Fainuouut Park of Philadelphia, containing nearly 3,000 acres, bor- 

 dering two rivers, has natural advantages which are rarely excelled ; 

 adding to these the development and beautifying of many years, to- 

 gether with the fact that the great exposition of 1876 was located here, 

 and Fairmount becomes national in its character. A writer says of 

 it, "I have seen almost all the European parks of the great cities and 

 there is not one that for original beauty can compare with Fairmount." 



But "Westward the course of empire takes its way," and beside 

 the beautiful waters of Lake Michigan stands the city that for a 

 quarter of a century has been the wonder of the nation, and now is 

 the wouder of the world. The years compassed by many of us have 

 witnessed its entire growth. Not the least among its wonders are its 

 parks, of which it has more than 2,000 acres. Jackson Park has 

 become identified with the history of the world. To blot out the 

 memory of it would efface from hundreds of thousands the one 

 greatest event of their lives. But of this time forbids me to speak, 

 and besides many of you saw it and the marvels it contained. 



Scarcely a mile west of Jackson Park is' Washington Park; in 

 some respects perhaps it is unrivalled in the world. Certainly, in a 

 somewhat extended trip through older countries, I saw nothing equal 

 to the artistic effects produced with flowers and foliage plants in this 

 park, and no hour spent at the Columbian Exposition was more 

 thoroughly enjoyed than the hour at Washington Park. These 

 artistic displays are said to be annually repeated with new designs 

 and new beauty, so that the visitor to Chicago in 1894 will see as 

 great beauty in this park, from June to October, as was seen in 180.3. 



Another notable park in Chicago is one named -in honor of our 

 martyred President, and situated in the northern part of the city, on 

 the lake front. Lincoln Park contains 250 acres, beautifully laid out 

 and ornamented, and is particularly noted for several fine works of 

 art, one of which, the statue of Lincoln by St.. Gaudens, is pro- 

 nounced by some to be one of the finest pieces of modern sculpture 

 in the world. 



In our eastern or western cities it is comparatively easy to pro- 

 duce trees, shrubs, aud flowers with the skill and labor money will 

 command, but to reclaim a sandy, barren waste, where absolutely 

 nothing grows, and where the winds of heaven drive hither and yon 

 great banks of sand, as the winter's snows are driven over our New 

 England hills, is quite another thing. Such, a few years since, was 

 the condition of a large tract lying between San Francisco and the 

 Pacific. This territory is some three or four miles in length and one- 



