THE NATIONAL PARKS SYSTEM 245 



"But what have the National Parks got to do 

 with it?" Tasked. 



"Everything. Or so at least my salesmen tell 

 me. They ought to know, for they're the boys who 

 travel the country and make the contacts. Why, 

 these women from all over the country meet each 

 other every summer in the National Parks and see 

 fashions. Then they go home and talk fashions. 

 That's what's done it." 



It is the democracy and sense of common owner- 

 ship in these parks that work this magic. They have 

 discovered to America the American people. Else- 

 where travellers divide among resorts and hotels ac- 

 cording to pay, and maintain their home attitude. 

 In the National Parks all are just Americans. It is 

 difficult to imagine an institution making more 

 powerfully for national solidarity than this annual 

 congregation from all states. 



How THE SYSTEM BEGAN AND DEVELOPED 



Most national policies originate in some individ- 

 ual Congressional action which serves as precedent 

 for repetitions when similar conditions recur. Con- 

 gress seldom plans. It deals in detached acts find- 

 ing guidance in its own precedents, seldom seeking 

 it in prevision. 



The National Parks System was no exception. 

 None of those concerned in the creation of Yellow- 

 stone in 1872 visioned the System to be created after 



