PARK AND CEMETERY. 
6 1 
When they are made into crosses, or anchors, or 
crescents, or suchlike Christian or heathen emblems 
for the decoration of detached graves, they come 
perilously near the absurd; and did not the care 
and cost spent on them so often reveal the tender 
memories of the living, they would seem something 
like a desecration of the resting-places of the dead. 
Why these devices should be reasonable enough in 
stone, and smug and trifling in alternantheras or 
sedums is not quite clear. Perhaps it is because 
after all, plants were never made to be clipped 
into patterns. 
Let those who have graveyards or single graves 
to plant get their attention ofif the short list of 
artiiicial bedding plants, and look with cleared eyes 
on the lengthy array of perennials, annuals and 
green flowering bushes in and out of the nursery- 
men’s catalogues. They are for whoever wishes to 
use them. They are beautiful and various, and as 
easy to use tastefully as bedding plants are difficult, 
and will give their own grace and charm and 
appropriateness to a place that coleus and fretwork 
patterns would only vulgarise. //. A. Caparn. 
MUNICIPAL ART.* 
Walter Crane, who has done so much to improve 
and beautify the City of London says; “The 
great want in modern cities is trees. I should 
plant trees wherever possible along the street. 
Frequent open places should be arranged with foun- 
tains and seats, and these again surrounded with 
trees. The streets should be made as interesting 
as possible by records of local historical events; by 
mural tablets and monuments.” 
With money we can build a house which is 
architecturally a gem of art, but after all it is not 
an ideal home unless situated on agreen lawn framed 
with shrubs and trees. Cottages with neat lawns, 
clumps of shrubbery and fine trees (which we see 
in many cities) attract more attention than houses 
which cost many thousands of dollars having none 
of these beautiful surroundings. The majority of 
people love trees and appreciate them. How 
strongly this was emphasized at the funeral of the 
late M. Alphand — “The greatest funeral since 
Victor Hugo’s”, was what all Paris said, when it 
followed the remains of him who had changed the 
narrow streets to grand boulevards, closed courts, 
which were the haunts of criminals, and turned 
them into open squares; made beautiful parks of 
deserted stone quarries and waste places, and play- 
grounds where once stood grim monuments of 
tyranny. He was called the “King of Paris,” and 
'Extracts from a lecture delivered m Topeka, Kans., by Mr. Charles 
M. Coring of Minneapolis. 
in his reign of thirty-seven years he made Paris the 
most beautiful city in the world, and he died its 
most beloved citizen. 
Alexander H. Shepard will always be remember- 
ed for having rescued Washington from the disgrace- 
ful condition in which it was when he began his 
work of making it what it is today, the most 
beautiful of our American cities. 
As a rule municipal improvements are instigated 
by a few public spirited citizens, who give their 
time and talents to creating a public sentiment 
favorable to expending money for beautifying the 
city, and for parks and needed breathing places. 
Sometimes years of disappointment meet them, but 
the people are being educated and are learning 
that parks and open squares are as necessary as st w- 
ers and other sanitary improvements. Then comes 
the organization of Improvement Associations, 
in w'hich the ladies as a rule are the active workers; 
an Actauthorizingthecreation of aPark Commission, 
with power to purchase land for parks is enacted; 
it is voted on by the people; passed by a small 
majority, and in a few years the public finds itself 
in possession of a system of parks which they w’ould 
not sell for ten times what it cost, and citizens wonder 
why they opposed an improvement which has proven 
such a blessing to the poor and a source of enjoy- 
ment to all. There is no municipal properly of 
which the masses are so proud, and which is so 
much enjoyed as the parks. Cities without a 
generous park system are so far behind those which 
have, that it is a wonder they have any increase in 
population. 
Neighborhood Improvement Associations do 
more for making a city or village uniformly beauti- 
ful than any other organization. One neighborhood 
stimulates another, and creates a spirit of emulation 
which results in a city or village with every section 
uniformly attractive. Improvement Associations 
are invaluable educa'.ors; they stimulate the 
residents of a neighborhood to learn, and by inter- 
changing views, and by united action, the people 
accomplish more in one year than by working singly 
for a life time. 
The City of Detroit, Michigan,* is one of the 
most attractive and cleanest cities in the country, 
and this is largely the result of work of neighbor- 
hood Improvememt Associations. They provide 
for keeping vacant lots from growing crops of wee ds, 
for mowing the grass borders next the walks, and 
for the removal of all objectionable matter from the 
streets. They have almost abolished the filthy 
practice of expectorating on the side walks and in 
the street cars. 
The money paid by a city for parks is a good 
