PARK AND CEMETERY. 
ii7 
some cases the superintendent is also the designer, and 
then he should know that the general plan of the park 
is of more importance than any single feature. If a 
building is to be erected it should not be placed where 
it will cut off an important view; if a tree is to be 
planted it should stand where it will improve the land- 
scape rather than where it will compete with other 
trees; if a road is to be made the superintendent should 
kn w, first, where to place it, and then how to construct 
it. If he cannot have both kinds of knowledge he 
should have the first and get some one else to build the 
road, since there are a dozen who can answer the ques- 
tion “how?” to one that can answer the question 
“where?” If there is grading to do he should undertake 
it with the feeling of an artist rather than an engineer 
since the shaping of park surfaces is more nearly allied 
to sculpture than to the building of railroads. If people 
give a monument, a fountain or a relic of any kind and 
it must be accepted he should know how to subordinate 
it to the general effect desired. 
But in most cases the superintendent will be re- 
quired to carry out tire design furnished by some one 
else. Even then it is important that he should know 
something of the principles of design, and should have 
a knowledge of trees, shrubs and flowers with their va- 
rious requirements; he should appreciate the value of 
large open spaces and varied outlines; he should know 
what constitutes a good road — when it has good lines 
and proper construction; he should know how to make 
the border of a lake appear natural and interesting. To 
put the whole matter briefly, a park superintendent, in 
order to fulfill his duties in a satisfactory manner, should 
have some knowledge of landscape gardening. This is 
just as important as it is for a man who conducts an or- 
chestra to have some knowledge of music. The con- 
ductor may not be able to compose an opera, but he 
should be able to appreciate a good composition, and 
putting a man in charge of work required to maintain 
and create beautiful scenery who has no special 
knowledge of landscape art would be like asking a man 
who cannot beat time or tell one tune from another to 
act as leader for an orchestra. 
It is, to be sure, an advantage for a park superin- 
tendent to have some knowledge of engineering. He 
should know how to put in drains, water pipes, build 
roads, walks and do all the various kinds of engineering 
work usually needed in the construction of a park. lie 
should also know how to prepare the various plats and 
records of such work that may be needed for reference. 
I believe that this knowledge can be gained by the per- 
son who has also the desired acquaintance with land- 
scape gardening, but if the superintendent is to be defi- 
cient in either line the deficiency can be most easily 
supplied from other sources if it is lack of knowledge of 
engineering. 
The ideal park superintendent should be thoroughly in 
love w'ith his work. I have known a number of such men. 
One had charge of a very large tract of land, which was 
really a public park, although it was not called such and 
was not managed by a City Council or by Park Com- 
missioners. I remember visiting him many years ago; 
he would call my attention to bits of scenery, the border 
of a lake, an undula'ing lawn, a distant group of red 
pines, by reflecting them in a mirror which he carried 
for the purpose and which framed in and separated the 
view in question or the picture being examined. He showed 
these views with as much pleasure as a mother would ex- 
hibit in showing her baby. Again, on going to see him 
early one morning I found him greatly interested in a ra- 
vine drive. lie had actually been laying an important drain 
with his own hands. On another occasion at his office 
he took great pleasure in showing his various books, 
which treated of landscape gardening and birds. I know 
another superintendent, who is still livinsr, who for many 
years was in the employ of the late Henry Shaw of St. 
Louis, and who still looks after Tower Grove Park, who 
shows as much interest and affection for his lawns, 
trees, shrubs and lilies as a parent would show for a 
child, but this deep interest, which is so essential for 
producing the best results, cannot be expected from a 
man whose position is insecure; from a man who may 
be discharged when the other party gets in power. The 
ideal superintendent should expect to spend his life 
with the park he cares for. The park is to continue for 
generations. Many of the effects desired will require 
years of growth for their production. It takes time 
for a man to become acquainted with the various 
features of even a small park, so the one in charge 
should have no fear whatever of being re- 
placed by another man; his whole thought 
should be given to the park, and, moreover, since he 
is responsible in a large measure for the manner in 
which the park is conducted, he should have absolute 
control of all the employes in the park, the laborers, 
gardeners, policemen, etc. He is called upon to make 
estimates of what certain work will cost, and then is re- 
quired to execute the work. It is unfair to him to re- 
quire him to use men hired and controlled by some one 
else. In the selection of employes he will satisfy him- 
self in regard to an applicant’s ability to do a needed 
wor-, but will not inquire as to his nationality, his re- 
ligion or his politics. The fact that the man is a Bud- 
dhist, Presbyterian or Agnostic would probably not in- 
terfere with his doing a good day’s work at mowing grass. 
The superintendent should have authority to discharge 
at once any man who showed no interest in his work; 
who worked rapidly when some one was looking at him, 
but rested the most of the time when he thought him- 
self alone; who talked too much with his fellow-em- 
ployes or attempted in any way to make them discon- 
tented. The ideal superintendent would in time become 
acquainted with all the workers in the park and take 
some interest in them aside from securing the greatest 
amount of work for money expended. A word of ex- 
planation now and then, calling the attention of a mere 
laborer to the beauty of a tree or shrub; the statement 
ment of an interesting fact in natural history; or possi- 
bly a bit of political economy, would give the workman 
food for thought and help to deprive his labor of a little 
of its drudgery. On the other hand, the superintendent 
can often help to educate the park commissioners, or if 
fortunately one of the commissioners should be a man 
