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conditions with which he must contend. It is his right to protest 
again the destruction of the beauty which he enjoys, and it 
seems only right that man should be entitled to enjoy the beauty 
by which he may be naturally surrounded. Whatever tends to 
destroy this adds a degree of unattractiveness to the world in 
which he lives. There can be no doubt that the beauty of nature 
has its moral effect upon man’s life. It is uplifting and stimu- 
lating. Let us therefore strive by influence of word and example, 
to preach the gospel of the preservation of the beautiful, for its 
beneficial influence upon the lives and character of the people. 
The wild flower is decidedly out of place when taken from its 
natural home. It is accustomed to be among its neighbors, 
among the other flowers and trees and beneath the open sky. 
Picture the native wild flower in a wilted bouquet or used in the 
home as a decoration, and then picture it in its native haunts, 
surrounded by all the environments which go to make up its 
charming society. It is as out of place in the home, amid its 
alien surroundings, as the robin would be if pent up in a canary 
cage. 
One of the best ways to preserve some of our rare flowers, such 
as the trillium, the arbutus, the hepatica, the anemone, the gentian 
and other delicate flowers which are gathered in large quantities, 
notwithstanding the fact that they wilt very quickly after picking, 
is to establish for their preservation public and private parks. 
Such parks have already been established in Massachusetts and 
New York, and have helped greatly. The help given is worthy 
of great commendation, and much credit should be given to 
those who have taken up this valuable line of work. Their work 
should be brought before the public, which should extend its 
financial and moral support. There are many parks in and about 
greater New York which can be used for such purposes. Park 
commissioners should lay special stress upon the protection of 
the wild flowers and insist upon the arrest and punishment of 
persons who injure or destroy any of the plants or flowers over 
which their authority extends. More parks should be established 
also. Such property as is not of high value should be purchased 
by the state, and held as reservations. The state could also 
