PARK AND CE-ME-TERY 
351 
IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATIONS 
CONDUCTED BY 
FRANCES COPLEY SEAVEY, 
What the Societies are Doing. 
The Fairlawn Improvement Society, of Pawtucket, 
R. L, was organized in June, 1900, and is credited 
with a large amount of meritorious work. Its pri- 
mary reason for being was the furtherance of a plan 
for a much-desired trolley line connecting the Pam- 
lawn district with Providence. This was successfully 
carried out, despite strenuous opposition on the part of 
local merchants, which led to incorporation and the 
building of permanent quarters. This work was ac- 
complished by the sale of bonds. A site was bought 
and the finished building was dedicated at the anmud 
meeting, held in January last. Regular meeting.; a^'c 
held on Wednesday evenings, at which Fairlawn inter- 
ests are the topics considered. Signal success is said 
to have been secured from the municipal authorities in 
the matter of obtaining various highway improve- 
ments, car facilities, street lighting, and school accom- 
modations. The intellectual life of the communitv 
has also been quickened by debates upon questions of 
municipal policy, good government, national matters 
and kindred subjects. Contrary to prevailing cus- 
toms in such organizations, officers are elected semi- 
annually, and consist of president, vice-president, treas- 
urer, recording secretary, financial secretary, trustee, 
and sergeant-at-arms. 
The dedicatory ceremonies were two-fold in char- 
acter, comprising an entertainment and a banquet. 
The entertainment included a report from the “histo- 
rian of the society,” coon songs, and other vocal, as 
well as instrumental music, comedy monologue, graph- 
ophone selections, and club swinging. 
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One of the speakers at a special meeting of the Fair- 
haven (Mass.) Improvement Association made an e.x- 
cellent point when he said that there are many kinds 
of patriotism, but that “front and back yard” patriot- 
ism is needed and that their association should stand 
for that variety. “In times of strife it comes natural 
to be patriotic,” he reminded people, “but many who 
would eagerly pick up a gun at such times tremble at 
the sight of a lawn mower or a garden rake.” We 
certainly commend these ideas to all similar societies. 
The same speaker reminded his hearers of Ruskin’s 
line : “What a wonderful thought when God thought 
of a tree.” 
This organization (Fairhaven) has reclaimed at 
least two ancient and sadly neglected burial grounds 
within its limits, cleaned up and improved various 
streets, avenues and roads, and built a drinking foun- 
tain for horses. At its last annual meeting the treas- 
urer's report showed the receipts for the year to he 
$1,339.09, the expenditures $927.12, and the balance 
in the treasury $411.97. Its officers are Thomas A. 
Tripp, president; Edward G. Spooner, vice-presi- 
dent, and Lewis T. Shurtlefif, secretary. 
5}J ^ >|j 
The Improvement League of Pawtucket, R. L, was 
formed in February of this year for the purpose of 
beautifying that city and Central Falls. It is said that 
the promoters of the work are proceeding with excel- 
lent judgment and making broad and systematic plans 
to the end of continuous interest and effort on the 
part of its members, rather than endeavoring to mere- 
ly arouse a fleeting enthusiasm that will evaporate be- 
fore any far-reaching good is accomijlished. It would 
PI.ANTING ON THE GKOUNDS OF MRS. EMMA HOWARD SH AFTER 
OAKLAND, CAL. 
be well if all organizations would follow similar tac- 
tics. 
It is sometimes suggested that the ministers of a 
town are the ones.to interest residents in improvement 
work, and certainly they are likely to take a lively 
interest in it themselves and can undoubtedlv influence 
many in its favor. We have the example of the pas- 
tor who announced from the pulpit alon^ with other 
notices : “All those willing to aid in making the sur- 
roundings of the house of God pleasant and cornel}' 
are invited to go into the woods with me tomorrow 
and bring in the fir tree, the pine tree, and the box 
together, to beautify the place of God’s sanctuary.” 
The result was a pleasant social day on the hillsides, 
spent in gathering various kinds of trees, and nearl}' 
a hundred of them (some being shrubs) were planted 
around the church, where they stand as the adornment 
of the village, and as a monument to the memory of 
