PARK AND CEMETERY 
132 
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS 
CONDUCTED BY 
FRANCES COPLEY SEAVEY, 
THE WORK OF FOREIGN ORGANIZATIONS, 
Improvement workers may derive great benefit from 
a careful survey of the undertakings of various foreign 
organizations. Consideration of the means they have 
used and of the work they have accomplished should 
be suggestive and helpful here, for, while the condi- 
tions are essentially different in various countries, and 
in hand, but its advanced stage is due to the vigor 
rather than to the length of duration of the work, for 
one is rather surprised to find that the most of it has 
been accomplished within a generation. Indeed, most 
of the founders of present active foreign organizations 
are said to be still in the enjoyment of the results >'>f 
their foresight. Regulations regarding the pollution 
of streams and unsightly dumping on their banks have 
only been in force in England for about twenty-five 
years, yet the changes wrought are manifest to even 
the casual visitor, and no measure has done more for 
the health of the people or added so materially to the 
appearance of the country. 
ST. BTASIEN, black FOREST, GERMANY. 
A typical German Cur,” .showing- hotel, church and cotton mills. This is quite a fashionable resort and also a factory and lumber town. It is 
surrounded by almost pure spruce forests, all of the younger growth ha-i-ing been planted, as tha region is under control of the 
admirable forestry laws in force throughout the Black Forest and other parts of the country. 
the means employed must vary, the results desired are 
practically the same over all the world. 
These, in a large sense, are first, wholesome sur- 
roundings ; second, accessibility ; third, the opportunity 
for healthful rest and recreation ; fourth, neatness of 
aspect; and fifth, the preservation and creation of 
beauty. 
Abroad, the share taken by such organizations in 
work involved in the first proposition includes (a) at- 
tention to the disposition of garbage, (b) the control 
of dumping, and (c) the protection of running streams. 
In most foreign countries work of this sort is well 
In England and in Germany clean streets, good 
roads, neat fences, the absence of unsightly and un- 
savory rubbish heaps, attractive bridges, and charm- 
ingly treated river banks are the rule. They are so 
universal that travelers get the impression that the ex- 
cellent condition is wholly due to the “government,” 
but American improvement organizations should find 
much encouragement in the fact that investigation 
shows the advanced state of foreign civics to be in 
most cases originally due to the efforts of public spir- 
ited citizens through very much the same channels now 
in vogue in this country. It is really inspiring to know 
