PA.RK AND CEMETERY 
455 
certain cross street. Our idea, by this subdivision, was to 
assign to each committee an amount of territory that it 
could cover easily, exacting but a minimum of time. This 
chairman was empowered to form a sub-committee for his 
street of three to five members, as he thought necessary, for 
the complete surveillance of the same. These sub-commit- 
tees were to meet and talk over the situation as they found 
opportunity, to interest the dwellers on their respective streets 
in the work of the Improvement Club, to take note of the 
attractive features, as well as of the objectionable, to decide 
upon what their street needed most, etc. At the call of the 
Executive Committee, the chairmen of the various street 
committees met occasionally for the purpose of reporting 
progress, — whether mudholes had been filled or drained off, 
accumulation of manure removed, rubbish and piles of wood 
taken from the sidewalks. These meetings were productive 
of great good, and led to good-natured rivalry in getting the 
streets into line for the spring cleaning. The noxious weeds 
were also considered and best methods for eradication given. 
Newspapermen as a rule are interested in the advance- 
ment of their home towns, and ours proved the most en- 
thusiastic of the tribe. They worked shoulder to shoulder 
with the club, doing much gratuitous work. The state and 
city laws governing conditions of streets and home grounds 
were printed in both papers, and a few hundred reprints 
were made, to send to residents who might ignore gentle 
suggestions. I will say that this number of leaflets is intact, 
as we found no occasion to resort to severe measures. Our 
city council also were always ready to do what they could, 
when backed up by the public sentiment aroused. 
We felt that we must show “outsiders” that we could 
accomplish something, just for the sake of reputation and 
"influence,” and some one suggested the “future citizens” as 
being good material with which to . work. A news item in 
Park and Cemetery mentioned that successful work with the 
children had been carried on in a certain town in Massa- 
chusetts by an improvement association, giving the name of 
the secretary. A letter of inquiry brought a courteous, help- 
ful letter, clippings, etc., which told of results in general. 
Very little was given in the way of details ; all these we had 
to work out for ourselves ; and I purpose now giving the 
details of our methods, hoping they may aid others in taking 
up similar work. 
! The members of the school board were interviewed and 
found to be favorable to our project. Our superintendent of 
! schools was very enthusiastic, and rendered us signal service 
I by his influence with the teachers and children. 
I We selected for distribution among the children, six va- 
I rieties of seeds, chosen for three special qualifications, first, 
( ease of culture; second, good display about the home; third, 
‘ those that would stand a reasonable degree of abuse at the 
I hands of the children. The varieties were as follows: 
Morning glories, sweet alyssum, four o’clocks, nasturtiums, 
■calendula, and zinnias. We procured one hundred large Ma- 
nilla envelopes with patent fasteners, had them printed with 
a list of the seeds, and also left space for the name and 
street address and grade of the child, and name of teacher. 
These entries to be made by the teacher. A cross was to 
he made beside the varieties wanted by the child. A charge of 
>c per packet of seed was made. 
The children were taken in hand by the superintendent and 
teachers, the plan explained, and the envelopes distributed 
among those who signified a willingness to plant seeds. They 
were directed to take these home to obtain sanction of parents, 
and to get the money. When the returns were all in there 
were 244 children who had joined the flower band. A large 
number had taken all of the varieties, a very few taking but 
one. It was understood that if any were found too poor to 
buy, they were to be furnished the seed quietly. The money 
received for the seeds paid for the manilla envelopes and 
the printing, with between two and three dollars over, which 
was used in purchasing a few awards. A notice was put in 
the papers that a prize would be given for the first bouquet 
of all the flowers, and for the best bouquet. 
Our committee was a little late in getting the seeds to the 
children ; and although verbal instructions were given for the 
care of the seeds, these were forgotten by the majority, and 
many of the children planted as the spirit moved them. 
Nearly every week something was put in the papers regarding 
the children’s w'ork, and the first bouquet was an event ! 
There were about twenty of these. This left 224 children 
without any recognition and naturally these were the very 
ones that needed our efforts most. So we announced a 
"flow'd- carnival” for the second week in August, and asked 
the children to take good care of their flowers, so as to help 
make a grand show. A flower committee was sent to visit 
every child and to report on what had been done, and at the 
same time to visit every place where flowers were grown 
to ask for contributions for the same. The “carnival” was 
to cover the afternoons of two days. A large room (our city 
hall) was secured and the preceding day the children were 
told to bring the results of their labors. The flowers came 
in by the armful and basketful ; and it required about a 
dozen assistants to take the flowers, and to pin a ribbon 
badge with the words “Flower Carnival, 1905,” on each child. 
This badge entitled the child wearing it to free entrance 
during the daytime. All others were charged 5c. Each 
child's bouquet was carefully labelled and placed in a fruit 
jar, the different grades (school grades) being placed by 
themselves. The display exceeded our fondest expectations. 
Our hall was very beautiful. In addition to giving the chil- 
dren a good time, we were desirous of making some money 
to continue the work, so attractive booths were erected for 
selling candy, Russian tea, cake and ice-cream. A piano in 
the room gave an opportunity for frequent vocal and instru- 
mental numbers, and recitations were given by the children. 
Plenty of chairs in the room gave opportunity for resting and 
listening. On the evening of the last day, a fine musical 
program was rendered with an admittance fee of 25c. When 
the debris was cleared away, and all expenses paid, we had a 
surplus of about $80.00 on hand, together with a whole lot of 
enthusiasm and courage with which to take up the work for 
another year. 
To sum up the results of the season’s work: Every one 
was justly proud of the greatly improved lawns; the flowers 
of the 244 children had brightened up just so many yards. 
The townspeople have bought a corner lot adjoining their 
city hall, on which was a vei'y objectionable, rickety building. 
The building will be removed in the spring, the lot graded, 
and trees and shrubs planted. The park directly opposite 
will be put into shape and will be, also, surrounded with 
cement walks. A large portion of the lake front has been 
cleaned up and shanties removed. 
We have not allowed any ranting or sharp criticism to 
creep into our work in a way that would apply to individuals, 
or arouse the antagonism of anyone. As said before, much 
was made of the beautiful improvements and meritorious 
work, and we trusted to example for our results. Our school 
grounds are very attractive. Some there were who ob- 
jected to grassing over 01: beautifying it. for they said the 
children were entitled to a place to play. Now, there is so 
heavy a sod that the children’s feet make no more impression 
than what is obliterated by a summer's rest. The lawns sur- 
