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broad blue river on one side, the terrace on the other, and the 
sunshine over all. 
Each then selected a single flower to take home as a souvenir 
and we hurried to the train. The children were perfectly satis- 
fied with their one blossom ; the beautiful scene was left unmarred, 
and to this day those little folks can close their eyes and see 
their four River Forest pictures. Had they gathered the flowers, 
their interest would have centered on that, the picture remaining 
would have been confused, and the final memory that of the 
faded flowers in their little hot hands. But the flowers that they 
really brought home are, dare we say, immortal ? 
In contrast with this, let us for a moment consider the cruel 
of Colorado Springs. On certain days in the week, special trains 
which are largely patronized by tourists. 
They recklessly pull up and tear up the flowers, and return with 
great armfuls and basketfuls, and in their ungoverned enthusiasm, 
they often deck the cars and festoon the engine with them ! 
Beautiful places like these that are accessible to a great city 
should in some way be preserved. They might well become a 
part of the great park-system that in some states has become an 
important factor. Unfortunately in many of these reservations, 
no restrictions have been placed on the gathering of herbaceous 
plants, more than that the roots are not to be disturbed 
trees and shrubs are protected, and woe to him who breaks a 
twig! But he who plucks the last pink lady’s slipper, perchance 
the last of a thousand generations, goes unchided. This is a sad 
mistake, . ten thousand may look at a lady’s slipper, but only one 
can pluc. 
Asa sen of this negligence, many of the wild-flowers that 
were the glory of Middlesex Fells, one of the most beautiful of 
the reservations in the vicinity of Boston, have disappeared and 
their places know them no more. So long, however, as the 
policeman and eternal inne are necessary in order to insure * 
protection, the word “negligence ”’ is issperhaps too strong a term. 
The guards at the Botanical ae n New York may prevent the 
carrying away of flowers, but it is ane an impossibility to pre- 
