Art Out-of-Doors 



thing of trees, without hstening to lamenta- 

 tions that the axe had not been much more 

 freely used. 



There are literally thousands of trees in 

 Central Park which ought to come down. 

 If they do not, the beauty of the park fifty 

 or even ten years from now will be far less 

 than it is to-day. But when a single one is 

 condennied the chopper is wise who gets him 

 up very early in the morning ; a little later 

 he may come almost into personal conflict 

 with some foolish enthusiast who loves 

 trees." Xo such enthusiast, I am sure, has 

 any idea hov\" many thousands of trees have 

 already been cut in Central Park without 

 his knowledge. He has never missed them 

 although, probably, he has recognized the 

 increased beauty of the spoi where they once 

 stood. If he could be told about them and 

 made to remember just how their sites used 

 to look, perhaps he might understand a lit- 

 tle of the meaning of good art and good 

 tree-culture — ^just enough to make him stop 

 a moment, when next he sees a sharpened 

 axe, and question whether its wielding may 

 not do a great deal more good than harm. 



304 



