PARK AND CEMETERY 
185 
Character and Horticulture. 
In an address before the summer meeting of the 
Michigan State Horticultural Society, the Hon. 
Charles W. Garfield, of Grand Rapids, made an elo- 
quent plea for the subordination of commercialism 
in horticulture. The strong tendency to measure 
success on all lines of work by the money standard 
cannot but be detrimental to the development of 
higher character in man ; and students of sociology in 
all the centers of learning are also earnestly plead- 
ing against the undoubted results of this tendency in 
its deteriorating effects on the American people. In 
the evolution of character there is perhaps no broad- 
er field of influence than is offered by horticulture, 
and all the great names associated with its develop- 
ment have been men of marked humanity in its high 
and broad meaning. Notwithstanding these facts, 
however, it is to be noted that commercialism per- 
meates the discussions in horticultural meetings to a 
serious extent, but it is a matter of congratulation to 
realize that the pursuit of horticulture as a calling 
compels the subordination of human intelligence to 
that higher intelligence which dominates all things, 
in a greater degree perhaps than any other line of 
activity, and so tends to develop the better manhood. 
* * * 
Agriculture in the Public Schools. 
The addition of the school garden and some instruc- 
tion in the elements of agriculture to our public school 
courses is now an issue in the national educational 
problem. The eagerness with which the subjects have 
been received certainly indicates a public appreciation 
to say nothing of need, and the unlimited importance 
of agriculture in the economy of nations prompts a vig- 
orous campaign in a cause which has been too long 
neglected already. The state of Missouri has already 
taken a decided step in this direction. 
STREET PARKS FOR TOWNS 
Perhaps few of our country towns and villages, 
or even the smaller cities, feel the necessity for pub- 
lic parks, and though desiring some such improve- 
ment are possibly unable to secure them. Generally 
speaking, in such cases, although the lands are not 
very valuable, it would be a fitting practice to re- 
quire that in every subdivision of property the streets 
should be platted of sufficient width to allow of their 
conversion into modest parks or driveways, or even 
play grounds, for the population is not so dense as to 
prevent such a conversion or cause inconvenience by 
so doing. 
Such an idea as the Chicago boulevard system 
might readily be adopted in a minor way. 
For instance : Lay the streets out, say, eight to 
twelve rods wide, with narrow drives and sidewalks 
along the property lines ; or even one drive passing 
by long, easy curves through the central park space, 
affording little play grounds, flower gardens, or 
shrubbery plantings, on one side or the other of the 
road as its: meandering might permit. 
The finest thing yet suggested for residence dis- 
tricts is to lay out short branch streets from the main 
thoroughfares, following the topography of the tract 
into little parks in which are set residences facing 
on the parks or built into them. Such residences thus 
become in a sense secluded, which lends a great 
charm to the home. A true home is one for the fam- 
ily alone, when they desire to have it so. Herein is 
a strong suggestion for local improvement societies. . 
ADVERTISING ON TOMBSTONES. 
We in America have the somewhat egotistical idea 
that we are so progressive that we have used all the 
ideas possible in the advertising line, yet I was very 
much amused on a recent visit to the Alloway Kirk- 
yard, Ayr, writes D. M. Lord, of Chicago, in Judicious 
Advertising. This is the church (now in ruins) that 
was made famous by Burns’ poem of “Tam O’Shan- 
ter.” It was here that Tam, after tarrying too long at 
the wine cup, on his way home saw the de’il and the 
witches having a dance in the church. In wandering 
through this old churchyard I discovered a new me- 
dium of advertising, which, so far as my knowledge 
goes, has never been used in America, at least. It was 
advertising on tombstones. Reading the inscriptions 
on some of the old tombstones, I was very much 
amused at apparently a peculiar name — “James Bartlie 
Molecatcher,” the “Molecatcher” being in the same 
letters as the name. Upon calling the attention of some 
of the party to the peculiar name, I discovered that this 
tombstone was erected by James Bartlie, molecatcher, 
to the memory of some of his family and relatives. 
Upon investigation I found that in this same burying 
ground it was quite the general method adopted. This 
molecatcher, for instance, erected this tombstone and 
made it sacred to four members of his family. 
Within a few feet I found where John Boyd, black- 
smith, had erected a tombstone to the memory of some 
of his numerous family, and not very far distant I 
found some man who differed in the traditional respect 
that a man is supposed to hold for his wife’s mother, 
for Charlie Hutchinson had erected quite a pretentious 
monument to the memory of his mother-in-law. Then 
I found a monument had been erected by Mr. Walham, 
a merchant of Wallace street, Ayr. It seems that Mr. 
Walham did not wish some other merchant in Ayr to 
have the benefit of this advertisement, so he designated 
in it his place of businss. In looking over the church- 
yard I found a house-painter had also erected a monu- 
ment to the memory of some of his friends, and among 
the numerous trades represented in the same manner 
were seedsmen, weavers, senior farmers, farmers, build- 
ers, hardware merchants, etc. 
