PARK AND CEMETERY. 
63 
improved, and as a result there is a decrease of 
crime, less disease and happier lives. 
New England villages are as a rule, beautiful 
in their neat white houses, nicely kept lawns and 
grand irees, which form arches over their streets. 
There are in the West, villages with neatly graded 
and well shaded streets, and in such places will 
always be found people of culture and refinement, 
but the majority of our western villages are without 
a tree or shrub to screen the rows of untidy houses, 
or to shade the dusty streets. In such towns 
chikh en grow up with no conception of the beauties 
of nature. In some of our prairie towns trees are 
so scarce that children seldom see them, and they 
grow to manhood and womanhood with blunted 
sensib.lities and without know ledge of one of God’s 
greatest gifts to man. 
Strangely enough nearly everyone thinks he 
knows how to plant a tree, but in nothing so simple 
is so much ignorance exhibited, and disappointment 
follow.s the first tri.il of most am iteurs, but through 
Improvement Associations the people are being 
educated in this branch of horticulture, and there 
are sch )ols in which nature study is given a 
prominent place. Among the most noted of these 
are the public sch^iols of Carthage, Missouri. The 
children are given practical lessons in planting, and 
they are taken by their teachers to study the trees 
in the forest. If we educate the children and youth 
in this study the next generation will be saved from 
the dis ippointments resulting from ignorance that 
befell the present. More trees have died in our 
c'ties through lack of care than are now grow'ing. 
Over planting is nearly as injudicious as not plant- 
ing at all, as man must have sundrine and air. 
I'here are but few v.uieties of trees that should be 
planted nearer than forty feet apart. 
In closing, I wish to advi.-e you to encourage 
the Park Commissioners, or your Improvement 
Associations in their good work; give them authority 
to plant and care for the trees on your streets, and 
do nk permit the political demagogues to make 
you believe you cannot afford to pay an annual tax 
of from fifty cents to fifty dollars for the maintenance 
of breathing places for your children. 
In beautifying your homes and making them 
more attractive, your children will be healthier and 
happier, and their memories of home will be a joy 
through life. Plant trees on your streets, and your 
property will become more valuable and your ncigh- 
b rrs more refined ; beautify your city and thousands 
will visit it because of its attractiveness, many of 
whom will purchase homes, and remain with you. 
Mr. Coring used about 125 slides of view's, in- 
cluding scenes in many cities showing residence 
skeets, before and after planting; back yards in 
Minnesota towns; the same after coming under the 
influence of the improvements associations. Reasons 
for planting the wrong way, and the right way: 
Fences, some of them covered with objectionable 
advertisements, factory lawns, view's of small 
parks, and foreign views. 
THE FOURTH ANNUAL CONVENTION OF THE 
AMERICAN PARK AND OUT DOOR ART ASSO- 
CIATION, CHICAGO, JUNE 5 7. 
PRELIMI.XARV PROGRAMME. 
The annual convention of the American Park 
and Out-door Art Association is to assemble at the 
7 \rt Institute, Chicago, 111 ., on June 5, 6, 7, 1900. 
As a sufficient attendance cannot be guaranteed to 
secure special railroad rates, each member should 
make the best terms he can with local agents. The 
xMuditorium Annex hotel has been selected as the 
official head quarters of the association, where rates 
w'ill range from $1.50 to $4,00 per day. 
The program will provide for papers and dis- 
cussions at the morning sessions of Tuesday, Wed- 
nesday and Thursday, to whi-ch all interested are 
invited; stereo})ticon lectures will be given on certain . 
evenings to which the public will be specially in- 
vited; and visits to the park systems in the after- 
noons. On PTiday there will be an excursion to the 
drainage canal, or other places can be visited. A 
banquet will also be tendered to the association 
during its sessions. 
PAPERS -•VND DISCUSSIONS. 
Mrs. lidwin D. Mead of the Twentieth Century Club of 
Poston will prepare a paper upon “Municipal Iinproveinent.” 
and Mr. Albert Kelsey, President of the Architectural I.eague 
of .\nierica, will give an address upon the same subject. 
A paper prepared Iw Mrs. Cyrus H. McCormick of Lake 
P'orest, 111., upon “Landscape Gardens,’’ will he presented. 
Dr. Albert Shaw, editor of The American Review of 
Reviews, will present a paper upon some phase of outdoor art 
relating to our national growth. 
Mr. William R. Smith, Director of the Botanic Gardens at 
Washington, 1). C., will write upon a subject relating to the 
arrangement and grouping of plants about architectural 
structures. 
Mr. William M. R. French, Director of the Chicago Art 
Institute, will present an illustrated paper upon “Composition,” 
giving particular attention to the proper distribution of build- 
ings, of artificial structures and of foliage about such structures. 
Mr. J. H. Patterson and Mr. Edwin L. Shuey of Dayton. 
O., have consented to lead in the presentation of work that has 
been done in this and other countries toward making more at- 
tractive the surroundings of factory buildings and employes’ 
homes. To this meeting the general public will be specially 
invited. 
Mr. William Ordway Partridge of New York City will pre- 
sent a paper upon the proper setting of statuary in public places. 
Mr. J. Frank Foster, Superintendent of the South Park 
sj'stem in Chicago, will present a paper upon park roads, in 
which he will call particular attention to their maintenance and 
administration. 
The Rev. J. A. Rondthaler of Chicago will present a paper 
upon the influence of public parks upon the morality of a 
community. 
Mr. S. M. Millard of Highland Park, 111., will present a 
paper upon a subject connected with outdoor art. 
COMMITTEE REPORTS. 
Mr. Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., of Brookline, Mass., will 
present a committee report on “Advertising Bill Boards.” 
Prof. William J. Beal of IMichigan, a report upon “Prizes 
for Designs.” 
Dr. Wm. W. Folwell of Minneapolis, a report upon “Park 
Census,” and 
Mr. C. C. Laney will report for the committee aj pointed in 
connection with the work of the Pan-American Exposition. 
One of the most instructive and interesting fea- 
tures of the meeting is to be an exhibit of photo- 
graphs showing the good and bad treatment of vari- 
ous subjects connected with out-door art and the 
artist’s conception of beauty in various objects in 
landscaje. 
