PARK AND CEMETERY, 
it 04 
Fig. 23 — Showing how Beautiful Street Borders 
might be in Winter 
present time, I believe that one’s pleasure in walk- 
ing and driving might be fully doubled, A man’s 
daily journey, going to his office and returning to 
his home, might be among surroundings that an 
artist would like to paint. 0 . C. Simonds. 
OUT DOOR ART AND WORKINGMEN’S HOMES.* 
It is not the purpose at this time to give instruction 
in landscape gardening for those who are past masters 
in the art in this country. It is not our intention to 
treat from a professional stand-point the proper adorn- 
ment of grounds whether large or small Our object is 
simply to emphasize, principally by illustration, the 
economic value of a simple knowlege of gardening in 
workingmen’s homes, and an enthusiasm for the beauti- 
fying of the neighborhood. It is proposed to show how 
in one city, through the interest and intelligent efforts 
of the residents of the large section, under the leader- 
ship of an enthusiastic and energetic business man, nui- 
sances had been abated, streets and alleys cleaned, 
homes beautified and the lives of hundreds made 
happier, all through the practical application of the 
principles at the foundation of this Out-door Art Asso- 
ciation. It is hoped that by this illustration others may 
be led to make similar efforts, and that not only those 
present, but many more may be influenced to continue 
the experiment. 
The organization of this Park and Out-door Art Asso- 
ciation is most conclusive evidence that tnere is a wide 
spread public sentiment making itself felt in favor of the 
improvement of home surroundings, streets, school 
grounds and parks. The cultivation of good taste in 
‘Paper read at the Minneapolis Convention of the American Park 
and Outdoor Art Association. By Edwin L, Shuey, National Cash 
Register Co., Dayton, O. 
flowers not only brings pleasure to men but changes 
their character and habit of thought and action. 
Bleak surroundings, filth and lack of interest make the 
home life unhappy and dwarf all good ambitions. Such 
an organization as this has for its purpose not only 
the cultivation among its members of greater pleasure 
in their grounds and surroundings, but the instruction 
of the masses of men in the simple principles of land- 
scape gardening. 
The great problems of our day are those of city life 
with its crowding and herding in dark places. Tene- 
ment houses with all their attendant evils give the seri- 
ous turn to every city. Whatever assists in brightening 
the lives of working people whether in large cities or 
small, has a distinct value to the world in which we 
live. The encouragement of working men to live away 
from the crowded districts is one of the duties of our 
time. Cities of perhaps 100,000 or less furnish the best 
opportunity for efforts of the kind to be described at 
this time; because here most people live in single houses 
with larger or smaller yards attached to each. If these 
residents can be encouraged to an active interest in 
beautifying the immediate surroundings of themselves 
and their neighbors, a distinct step has been taken toward 
the attainment of one accomplishment. 
It is no reflection upon the value of parks or public 
gardens to say that the best and surest method for 
improving the condition of the masses is to encourage 
home planting and cultivation of vines and flowers, 
even in the small door yards of the crowded streets. 
That it is impossible to interest entire communities, old 
and young, has been demonstrated. That wise en- 
couragement of home care with definite instruction in 
the best methods of planting will completely revolu- 
tionize a neighborhood or even an entire section of a 
city, has been fully proved in the experience of the 
community to be used as an illustration. 
The reflex influence of instruction in flower cultiva- 
tion and home making is seen not only in improved 
health condition^, but in purer morals, a higher plane of 
living, nor is this confined to men and women alone. 
Children may be interested, and when they are aroused 
A CORNER OF THE LAWN OF THE NATIONAL CASH 
REGISTER CO., DAYTON, OHIO. 
