56 WORCESTER COUNTY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. [1894. 



pose also the city appropriated money, and latterly this has been done 

 annually ; this has been expended by our Parks-Commission, of which 

 the honored Secretary of this Society is chairman. Under his special 

 direction, this tract has been improved and beautified until in its land- 

 scape gardening and the annual floral displays, so many of our citizens 

 enjoy, we have a park of rare beauty and one that will not suffer in 

 comparison with many more pretentious, in our own country and 

 abroad. 



The names of Davis, Salisbury, Bigelow, and Dodge, will be for- 

 ever identified with our city on account of their munificent gifts of 

 land for park purposes. Lord Hobhouse of England says, " This is a 

 kind of charity that cannot demoralize, and cannot be abused or 

 jobbed" ; and we might add, it is a very fine way for one to build his 

 own monument. 



By wise action, our municipal government has secured for pres- 

 ent and future generations most desirable tracts that will forever 

 be held sacred for the public. Who, to-daj^, would deem it wise to 

 part with Newton Hill, even though the proceeds thereof would build 

 a fine city hall? The donors of Institute Park and Lake Park did 

 not stop with the gift of the laud, but Messrs. Salisbury and Davis 

 have spent handsome sums iu improving them. Without generous 

 gifts or bequests park improvements must necessarily be slow, as but 

 little can be expected annually from the appropriations, there are so 

 many wants seemingly more imperative iu a growing citj' like ours. 

 Could more men of large means realize that wealth is a trust and use 

 it more freely while living, generous sums might be placed in the 

 hands of the city to create a fund, the income thereof to be used 

 under the direction of our Parks-Commission, for park purposes. 

 Such a fund once established would be likely to receive additions, 

 from time to time, by bequests and otherwise, and the benefits derived 

 from it would be like the sun and rain from heaven, falling on both 

 the just and unjust, giving comfort, strength, and courage to the 

 former, and eucouragiug the latter to better and nobler living. Our 

 lives are largely formed by our surroundings. We know not the 

 secret influences that mould our habits and characters. No person 

 can associate with a noble character without becoming nobler him- 

 self. A love and appreciation of the beautiful grows as we come in 

 contact with the beautiful. As our tastes are improved our lives are 

 made better. 



" And this our life, exempt from public haunts, 

 Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, 

 Sermons in stones, and good in everything." 



