State Parks of Wisconsin 



American Civic Association 

 For a Better and More Beautiful America. 



Office of the President, 

 Harrisburg, Pa., January 1 , 1 909. 



Dear Mr. Nolen: — Abraham Lincoln in certain recently found 

 notes for a lecture on Niagara Falls, prepared in July, 1 850, said : 

 "The mere physical fact of Niagara Falls is a very small part of the 

 world's wonder. Its power to excite reflection and emotion is its 

 great charm." The wise Lincoln struck the keynote in this state- 

 ment, and I believe that the state which can provide at any reasonable 

 expense locations which will serve "to excite reflection and emotion" 

 in its citizens is doing those citizens a greater service than in providing 

 institutions to take care of the disorders which follow when there is 

 not opportunity for the over-worked or over-wrought human being to 

 enjoy either reflection or proper emotion. 



States, too, can well set aside great areas for their influence on the 

 healthfulness of the community as a whole. The state of Pennsyl- 

 vania is wisely so treating large portions of its forest areas, and it is 

 recognized as a proper expenditure of state funds to provide a million 

 dollars for the creation of state sanatoria, to help in the treatment of 

 lung diseases. 



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