THE MODERN CEMETERY. 
ing our great disappointment at the Horticultural 
department. We went with a good-sized book ex- 
pecting to fill the pages with useful notes, but, it is 
as empty now as when we started, not that there 
was a lack of good things, but that those of real 
merit, better than we in eastern Massachusetts are 
accustomed to see, were not to be found, such as 
the elegant collection of trees, deciduous and ever- 
green, shrubs and rare plants of H. H. Hunnewell 
at Wellesley, the fine grounds and splendid collec- 
tions of trees, shrubs, and plants at the elegant 
estate of C. S. Sargent and J. S. Gardner, Brookline. 
The superb collection of trees and shrubs at the Ar- 
nold Arboretum, which cannot be equalled in this 
country, or any other, make us quite content with our 
home institutions. Yes, and we think justly proud 
of them, anxl perhaps having access to these at all 
times, we were looking for too much at the White 
City, but we have no doubt that many others 
enjoyed what we did not appreciate. It would 
please us to speak definitely of the park system of 
Chicago, but we can not. A few facts, however, 
will be of interest. There are nine parks covering 
nearly 2,6oo acres, and boulevards which afford a 
drive of about 95 miles. It was our pleasure to 
visit two of these parks. Lincoln so ably managed 
by Mr. Pettigrew, has improved greatly since our 
last visit there two years ago. It was especially 
gratifying to see such a large collection of hardy 
plants well established, which always add to the 
permanent beauty of any place, and are now a 
marked feature of all public grounds of any note. 
The summer bedding was very fine, and the lily 
ponds by far the best we have seen, and were very 
interesting, and evidently much appreciated by the 
large number of people constantly there giving the 
greatest evidence of their appreciation. The new 
greenhouses are a splendid addition, the plants are 
getting well established, and in a short time will be 
splendid specimens. A great attraction is the ele- 
gant Grant monument, and at night the electric 
fountain. There are other features no less attract- 
ive, with the superb lake front and fine drives, -we 
are inclined to think Lincoln park is at the head of 
the system. Washington park, located nearer the 
fairgrounds, was visited on a Sunday afternoon, at 
which time we had a good opportunity to see how 
the people appreciated the elaborate floral display. 
There were thousands of people admiring these ob- 
jects, beautiful or otherwise, as each one determ- 
ined for themselves, a brief mention of a few of 
them will perhaps convey a slight idea of what they 
are. The most attractive or rather striking feature 
was undoubtedly “Sol’s Clock.” It is a fine time- 
keeper, and is at one end of a huge mound that is a 
perfect panorama of floral wonders. It is said that 
119 
there is nearly a mile of sweet alyssum in ribbon 
borders containing over 97,000 heads of bloom. 
The first words and bars of “Hail Columbia” are 
written in red and yellow foliage plants, in so large 
a hand, that truly he who runs may read. There 
is also a terrestrial globe, on which the continents 
are quite clearly defined. Then there is a gorgeous 
butterfly, but to define the species is beyond our 
capacity. There are other wonders which elicit the 
warmest and most outspoken admiration of the vis- 
itors, but the charm of the place seemed to be cen- 
tered in the daily calendar, which is complete to 
the very day. This is a specialty at this park only, 
and is a wonder to many how it is done. We were 
informed that the necessary letters and figures were 
kept growing in boxes, and each day, early in the 
morning, the needed ones were set in place. There 
are many attractive raised designs, the shield and 
flag being quite conspicuous. The aquatics were 
also a feature of great interest. Very much more 
might be said of this elaborate display, the vast 
number of plants, care required, and skill shown in 
their arrangement, gives to the visitor another evi- 
dence that Chicago is not to be beat. A brief visit 
to Humboldt park, many attractive beds were seen, 
and a very pretty point is the view of the boulevard 
which leads to Garfield park. We would have been 
glad to stop days, where hours had to suffice, and 
have taken our leisure to see all the attractions, but 
the next time we go there may not be a World’s 
Fair to prevent us. A hasty glance at Graceland 
cemetery would have been the subject of a few 
notes, but it is done better by a writer in the Oc- 
tober number of Modern Cemetery, we can how- 
ever, heartily endorse all the writer has said, and 
will add that to meet Mr. Simonds is always a great 
pleasure, and we are heartily glad of his success as 
a leading landscape artist. Long may it continue. 
And now we bid farewell to Chicago, our vacation 
is ended, and we shall not be home any too soon. 
A pleasant trip by the Grand Trunk R. R. to Mon- 
treal, where a brief stop was made, from thence 
through the beautiful Green mountains of Ver- 
mont, the scenery of which was so delightful, 
tended to shorten the otherwise tedious ride. We 
arrived home amid happy greetings, and soon found 
ourselves in our accustomed place with our duties 
cheerfully resumed, refreshed by the change. Glad 
that we went to Minneapolis, rejoiced that there is 
one Association of American Cemetery Superin- 
tendents, and that we have had the privilege of giv- 
ing those who could not, and also those who would 
not go with us, through the columns of MODERN 
Cemetery what we have seen and enjoyed, and the 
only way for such to have a part with us is to be- 
come a member of the association, and subscribe 
for the “Modern Cemetery.’’ B. 
