175 
PARK AND CEMETERY. 
first time, the English holly in its wild state, in great 
abundance. And, though not for the first time, 
lots of Scotch heath, Calluna \mlgaris, and I am told 
that not far away inland the English Yew can also 
be seen in its primitive state. I saw this common 
and the parks spoken of twice during my stay in 
England, and on each occasion on every hand were 
to be seen the public enjoying themselves in them. 
Joseph A Ice h an. 
City Parks. 
The following paper on “City Parks” was re- 
cently read before the Municipal League, Topeka, 
Kansas, by Mr. E. Wilder, secretary and treasurer 
of the A. T. & S-F. R. R. Co. Although written 
for local purposes, there is very much of value on 
the general question, and beyond eliminating purely 
local matter, the paper is presented in full: 
Let me premise by a declaration that probably any thought 
I may utter on this subject, has already been expressed in better 
form in some of the numerous books or magazine articles of the 
last twenty years. 
Originality of thought or expression in these days of intense 
literary activity and special research, cannot be hoped for wiih 
any degree of confidence, even by those who are able to devote 
much time to a chosen line. 
The average busy man of today can only justify his appear- 
ance in print by a wholesome personal desire to broaden his own 
view, and compel his own thought into orderly channels, by sub- 
jecting them to the test of public criticism, encouraged in bis 
sacrificial progress by the hope that as all cannot read all the 
books, magazines and papers that are printed, perhaps he may 
innocently enjoy the pleasure of being to some a first or new 
acipiaintance. If I am fortunate enough to present any truth, 
in a new light, or lead to a new thought on an old truth, I shall 
feel satisfied. 
Truth is of Divine origin — it is infinite. It was, it is co ex- 
istent with God the Creator. It governs the expression of the 
infinite love in its infinite variety of manifestation toward his 
creatures. 
Should we not then, reverently put aside all gross material 
aims or ambitions in the contemplation of public improvements, 
which unfortunately are not always, but always should be, the 
highest possible expression of the highest and purest thought of 
the community, the embodiment of good-will to the neighbor, 
not for fcis present generation only, but for the longest possible 
future. Hasty, immature plans— cheap, inartistic work— jobbery 
and fraud, ought not to be the measure of our expression in pub- 
lic works. 
It is often said that public parks are the lungs of a great 
city, the breathing place of the multitude; and the enormous 
sums expended in New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, 
Chicago, St. Louis and many lesser cities, in the acquirement 
and adornment of public parks, indicates a confident belief in 
the efficacy and importance of the public lungs to the general 
health, which bids fair to far exceed the attention given by 
many individuals, until too late, to one of their most important 
organs. 
Is the breathing spot, however, the important feature? Is 
the mere physical openness the object of all this expenditure? 
Would a vacant block in the squalid portion of one of our great 
cities, littered with tin cans and healthy rubbish only, meet the 
essential needs of the poor? True, the fresher air thus obtain- 
able, would doubtless be a relief occasionally from the close- 
atmosphere of narrow streets anil crowded courts; but the bene- 
fit would be merely physical, and while sound healthy bodies are 
extremely desirable as a foundation, we ought to, indeed we 
must, recognize that the higher mental, moral and spiritual 
development of the community is the supreme object. Freshi 
air and good lungs are important aids, they are not ends. Why 
have millions of money been spent in Central Park, New York,, 
and the miles of boulevards and parks stretching out from Bos- 
ton, where the rich and poor may equally enjoy the beautiful 
roads and walks, the endless variety of tree and shrub, the 
exquisitely kept lawns, flowers of rarest hues, and unique archi- 
tectural effects? 
What is the effect upon the civic life and character? Dis- 
missing from our minds with some feeling of shame, the 
corruption and selfishness that have been incidents, certainly 
not ends, in some of these noble works, 1 think we may safely 
believe that even the luxurious, wealthy class, finds beneficent 
effects and impulses from this closer contact with nature, this 
contact with beautiful forms and colors, this change from even 
their supposedly agreeable dady surroundings and duties. 
How much more important, then, are these influences to 
the middle and poorer classes, whose limited means preclude 
the acquisition and enjoyment of personal surroundings of ele- 
gance, refinement and beauty, and whose daily lives are .so filled 
with toil and anxiety that they have no time or heart to plan for 
and accomplish the education ot their higher faculties, the uplift- 
ing of their natures above the merely physical plane. 
The weary progress through centuries, from a semi-barbarism 
which recognized only force or power as the measure of the 
respect of the individual for the property rights of his neighbor, 
to the Christian civilization of our day, need not discourage us 
m the effort to attain the still distant level of a willing respect 
for the rights of ownership of flowers and shrubs which others 
have planted, and we may even, in time, create a public senti- 
ment ag linst the unsightly cross-cut paths over our street-parks. 
One of the saddest features of our human experience is the 
ease with which we drop down in our standards or levels unless 
we are vigorously fighting fora perceptible advance. 
1 have alluded to the effect of parks upon the moral and 
mental tone of the community. The influence upon the artistic 
side of our nature is too evident to need mention. Let me ex- 
plain why I lay such stress upon the moral and mental influence. 
If a wallet with money is left in the house and is stolen by a 
tramp, we do not hesitate to name the crime and punish the 
offender. If the wallet is left out on the horse block or on the 
sidewalk and is picked up and kept by a stranger, we may still 
call it stealing, but the sin seems to be mitigated because of the 
money having been placed carelessly in an improper place. The 
stranger takes what does not belong to him and avoids any 
effort to find the owner by enquiring at the house in front of 
which it was found, or elsewhere. 
Barents would not fail to warn their children of the evils of 
house-robbing. They are not all careful to instil into the 
childish mind the honesty of trying to restore to the owner 
something he has lost. 
Now, let us suppose that instead of leaving money in a 
wallet in the house, it is expended on plants for the yard to 
furnish a charming bit of color, not only for the owner, but for 
all who pass; or the money is expended on a fine sod in the 
park outside of the walk. These are not actual money, but they 
have cost the money, and it will require the expenditure of more 
money to replace plants stolen from their beds, or sod worn out 
by youths and even by adults taking “a short cut,” as though 
their time was very valuable per minute. 
What is the difference morally between the last instance 
and the first? The contributory negligence of the second case 
