141 
PARK AND CEMETERY 
Societies of Cook County,” which was well attended 
and at which important papers and discussions were 
presented by competent authorities. The reform 
movement, in the direction of municipal improve- 
ment, was considered in connection with art, educa- 
tion, labor, charities, tax reform, public parks, baths, 
gymnasium and other related issues and the entire 
day was spent in deliberation on these theories 
through the medium of fifteen minute papers fol- 
lowed by discussions. The conference was divided 
into three sessions, the first discussing “Improve- 
ments by private initiative,” the second, “Improve- 
ment through citizenship,” and the evening session 
taking up “Public school extension.” This first con- 
ference was brought to a successful issue through the 
efforts of an energetic committee, Mrs. O. T. Bright, 
Englewood Women’s Club, Miss Margaret Haley, 
Teachers’ Federation, and Prof. Charles Zueblin, 
University of Chicago, School Extension Committee. 
The confidence of the meeting in the usefulness of 
such a conference, acting as it has been expressed 
as a reform and art clearing house, was illustrated 
by the reappointment of the committee for a contin- 
uation of the work. The results of the conference will 
be far-reaching in due time, from the high standing 
of those participating, and the importance of the pa- 
pers presented ; but it should also be of immediate 
practical benefit as suggesting similar meetings in 
other localities. Co-operation is not a figure of 
speech today, it stands for more rapid realization of 
hoped-for results, and is indeed a clearing house for 
the knowledge and experience of all the individual 
factors associating. Plans of operation can be more 
thoroughly consummated and carried into effect by 
the several local organizations under cooperative as- 
sociations, which while not destroying individuality, 
promotes more effective effort. 
AT TiESl It will be a source of relief to 
AT LcAST, the entire country to realize 
WE HOPE. that at last the remains of the 
great martyr-president, Abraliam Lincoln, are, after 
many changes and removals, securly deposited in 
what it is devoutly to be hoped is their final resting 
place, beneath the remodeled Lincoln monument at 
Springfield, 111. It must always be a reproach to the 
state claiming him, that the work of memorializing 
and caring for the remains of one of the greatest men 
the world has ever known, has been in a sense so 
perfunctorily performed, that over thirty-six years 
have elapsed between his death and final burial. 
However, if the vicissitudes which have attended the 
disposition of all that remains of the great Emanci- 
pator, shall have impressed the people with the ne- 
cessity of properly performing such a duty at the 
start, they will have served a great purpose, and one 
in keeping with the precepts the life of Lincoln so 
admirably sets forth. 
cHATURE it may not be recognized to 
STUDY IN any great extent how appro- 
THE SCHOOLS. priate to the present move- 
ment in the direction of the improvement of home 
surroundings, is the introduction of nature studyand 
practical botany into the curriculum of the common 
schools. Apart from its value in many directions in 
the development of the young understanding during 
the early years of education, it harmonizes thorough- 
ly with the educational efforts now extending 
throughout the country, looking to the development 
of a taste for outdoor art, and its practical adaptation 
to the beautifying of the homes of the people, as well 
as our public places. The permanency of such efforts 
will be greatly enhanced by some certain knowledge 
concerning trees, plants and flowers, and there is no 
surer way of imparting such knowledge to the older 
folks and fastening it upon their intelligence than 
through the practical enthusiasm of the children in 
their active participation in the work of beautifying 
the home. 
OCTOBER Spring has its charms when 
IN THE nature in her exuberance is 
CEMETERY. impatient to display her wealth 
of effort and summer follows with her fruition, but 
in her preparations for the winter’s rest, she dons her 
charming garb of wondrous colorings and compels 
us to pause and admire. And October is the month 
in our latitude in which the display is most entranc- 
ing. The wild landscape offers an infinite variety of 
examples to be used in landscape art in our ceme- 
teries, and in the larger grounds where the hand of 
the artist is to be seen, there is no more imposing 
month in the year than October, and landscape art 
has had no finer development anywhere than is ex- 
pressed in such grounds as those of Spring Grove, 
Cincinnati, Graceland, Chicago, and several other 
cemeteries. Such beautiful color schemes as are dis- 
played, however, are not hap-hazard effects, they 
are wrought out by much study and pains, and by 
men who are constantly studying nature and the 
material she offers for such work. Every superin- 
tendent of our smaller grounds should make it part of 
his life work to study and become master of the har- 
monies of color which nature so bountifully suggests 
to him, and with at- ever increasing knowledge of the 
materials offered for his use, devote himself to the work 
of creating landscape pictures in the grounds under 
his care. October in the cemetery might be made 
the most attractive month of the year and serve to 
secure in the minds of the people a practical and 
helpful respect for its association and an abiding in- 
terest in its care. 
