7 6 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
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PARK NOTES. 
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Mr. F. G. Carter, of Lebanon, N. H., will donate a foun- 
tain and erect it in the grassy triangle at the street intersection 
in front of his residence, provided the precinct will furnish free 
water. This is in line with the Art out-of doors movement, and 
undoubtedly there should be no question as to water supply, for 
the credit of the town. 
fourteen years of age who shall annually plant and protect a tree 
under the direction of the Executive committee, or pay the 
amount of 25 cents annually, in money or labor, shall be a mem- 
ber of the association. The payment of four dollars annually 
for three years, or of ten dollars in one sum, shall constitute a 
person a life member. The success of village improvement so- 
cieties in Massachusetts augurs well for the new ones. There is 
ample suggestiveness in the above to justify eftort anywhere to 
organize such beneficent associations. 
* * * 
* * * 
The park system of Indianapolis notwithstanding the vicissi- 
tudes so far experienced is making as rapid development as 
might be expected, and considering that a real system was not 
considered until 1894, great strides have been made. The aver- 
age at present is in the neighborhood of 800, and there are ten 
parks and squares under the care of the park commissioners. 
Last year there was expended on the system $47,439.50, but 
there is a great need of shelter and other buildings. The plant 
department is supplied by greenhouses, located in Garfield Park, 
but until recently most of the decorative material has comprised 
foliage plants, from which however many attractive displays were 
created, and the result is that public interest in such matters 
is growing apace. 
* * * 
It is very gratifying to note that village improvement socie- 
ties are being organized everywhere, indeed this spring has wit- 
nessed more effort in this direction than we have ever before no- 
ticed. Prosperity, notwithstanding the war fever, is apparently 
looming up, and with it the intelligence of the people awakens 
to a contemplation of its surroundings. Comfort and happiness 
actually need constantly improving conditions in this growing 
era, and there is nothing more conducive to such a state than 
that the proverbial vine and fig-tree should be in a healthy con- 
dition. This may be interpreted to mean that the village and 
dooryard both should display intelligent care in their improve- 
ment, and that- this improvement should be carried on on lines, 
which, while conveying the restful influences of beauty, also up- 
lift and invigorate the intelligence of the community. 
* * * 
Battery Park, Burlington, Vt., has at last been the sub- 
ject of attention which will accentuate its historic associations. 
It also commands beautiful lake and mountain scenery. At each 
entrance to the park masonry pillars have been erected sur- 
mounted by a pyramid of cannon balls, which were donated by 
the government, to carry out the military idea. The main en- 
trance has been widened and will be improved by the city, and 
all the entrances will be flanked by shrubbery arranged by a 
competent landscape gardener. The grounds will be carefully 
looked over, old trees removed, new ones cared for, and a general 
clearing up perfected. It is the intention of the Society of the 
Sons of the Revolution to erect a handsome flag-pole, and the 
Green Mountain Chapter of the Daughters ol the Revolution to 
place a bronze tablet to set forth the various facts of historic in- 
terest regarding the Battery. There appears to be a very active 
interest in promoting the improvement of this very interest- 
ing spot. 
* * * 
Among many Village Improvement societies lately organ- 
ized is that of Hyannis, Mass. It is called the Hyannis Village 
Improvement Association and has for its objects: “To improve 
and ornament the streets, ways and public grounds of Hyannis 
and vicinity, by planting and caring for trees, cleaning and re- 
pairing sidewalks, and doing such other acts as shall tend to 
beautify and adorn said streets, ways and grounds, and encour- 
age conditions favorable to the public health.” Any person over 
The fountains of Paris are among the most interesting fea- 
tures of that beautiful city, and the authorities are careful to in- 
crease their attractiveness whenever an opportunity arises. An 
experiment has been tried by which the waters will become lum- 
inous. It was not contemplated to have the variety of colors 
which are displayed from time to time by fountains in the 
grounds of international exhibitions, and which are manipulated 
by the aid of apparatus placed at a height. In Paris a sort of 
golden yellow will alone be employed; but the waters will assume 
the appearance of cascades of diamonds and topazes. Accord- 
ing to the architect, the effect will be attained by means of elec- 
tric lights and colored glasses placed around the basin in such a 
way that the beauty of the fountain will not be diminished when 
seen by daylight. The fountains which were selected for trials 
were those in the Place Theatre Francaisand the Place de la 
Concorde, and up to the present the anticipations of the munici- 
pal engineers are satisfactorily realized. 
* * * 
The 30th annual report of the Commissioners of Lincoln 
Park, Chicago, for year ending March 31, 1898, is practically but 
a record of maintenance as funds were inadequate for extensions 
or improvements, or even for important repairs, notwithstanding 
an expenditure of $140,180.04. There was expended on park 
improvement $7,062,03. The boulevards consumed for main- 
tenance $9,721.14 and for construction $67,248.97. According 
to the commissioners report, three important matters are urg- 
ently demanding expenditures: Buildings for increasing zoo- 
logical collection, repairs of main drives and renewal of lawns. 
The latter is an exceptional case. The Lincoln Park lawns so 
justly celebrated were really artificial productions, a thin stratum 
of earth being laid over the original sand surface. This stratum 
through use and continual watering has largely disappeared 
through the sand rendering it exceedingly difficult to maintain 
the grass sod. Nothing but a renewal of the earth stratum over 
the sand will put the lawns in substantial condition. This is 
a work of considerable cost. 
* * * 
In speaking of the death of Mr. B. G. Northrop, ex-secre- 
tary of the Boards of Education of both Massachusetts and Con- 
necticut, the Universalist Leader of Boston says: Many people 
in all parts of the country are acquainted with “Arbor Day,” but 
very few are aware that we owe that day to the knowledge and 
practical genius of a man who has j ust passed away, full of years and 
honors. Mr. Northrop was a successor of Horace Mann, in office 
and in ideas. He looked out on the world immediately around 
him and saw not only that it needed improvement, but how the 
improvement could be effected. Many devices for town and 
city and neighborhood betterment were conceived and set in 
operation by Mr. Northrop. He was the originator of “The 
Village Improvement Society,” which has accomplished the 
transformation of so many places in New England and beyond. 
Libraries, reading rooms, parks, drinking fountains, sprang up at 
his suggestion. He was the apostle of refinement and beauty, 
whose mission was to apply knowledge and taste to the modes 
of life of rural communities. Few statesmen or soldiers achieve 
so much for the world. 
