The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1867-04-04
Communicated.
Public Parks Again.

contained nmunlCdtiOu uPon
Public Parks. IF you will allow me
space in your columns, l should ike
to thank the author, and follow IN
the line of thought he has opened.
The prosperity of city depends up
on two things. The first of these is
its natural advantages; and the sec
end is, the public spirit of its people.
It is, to state the latter more fully,
whether those in whose hands are the
wealth and sources of influence, the
guardianship of its interests, are con-
tracted or liberal in their tendencies.
"A person need but glance at our
principal commercial centers in the
West, und even our smaller ones, and
note their growth, to see the truth of
this: The influence of the presence
or absence of either Of these condi-
tions. 4
A city may thrive through its Ma
tural advantages, and will, itably,
in this money getting land of ours.
But how? Only through the sordid
instincts, and upon the lower level of
life. It is like merchant 1t WINS
customers only in proportion and Kind
to what it has to offer. Is its schools
) are poor; if it has but little social, in
tellectual or religious attractions, it
draws to itselfquite different popula-
ton from what it would otherwise.
1t is thus that a penny-wise and
pound foolish" policy is as poor econ
omy for community as an individual.
It is thus that whatever is invested
for the public good-all judicious
expenditures and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
back at length, as surely as the plant
gives back the elements. of its life in
yigor and beauty, in increased general
prosperity, the value of property and
material wealth, q better social state
and the character of the citizen. Thus
much in behalf of your correspond
ent's suggestions from purely sell
fish point of view.
But there are others than these,
and of equal weight A public park,
or parks, is almost Indispensable to
city with such future before it as
ours. The absence of such a feature
will be a misfortune that will be all
the more lamented and felt the larger
it becomes.
Its benefit might be variously set
forth, in its relation to health, morals,
enjoyment, and recreation; as resort
for festive occasions; a pleasure
ground for the sports of youth and
children. What an oasis is such
place in the desert of dust and heat,
and wearing excitements of city life
What soothing retreat from its,
Babel confusion and noisesl
Who that has ever been, in mid
Summer days, stranger in strange
city, travel-worn and fatigued with
novelties, that has not felt spirit of |
Thanksgiving for such a place of rest
and retirement? And especially do
we Americans need such provisions
for our relaxation, the qualification
and culture Of the sense of beauty.
There is no other people on the face
of the globe, so hard-worked, that !
gets SO little rational and healthful
enjoyment. In the countries of the |
Old World, as is well known, the en-
tertainment and amusement of the
people, which is not unfrequently of a
most elevating character, receives the
attention of the Government, to
large extent, as any department of
public interest. All of them have
distinctive national sports and pas
times. Can any one tell what is the
distinctive one of Americans? Let us
thank young Mr.. Bennett for what he
hes done for. our reputation in this
respect. If we are to have a 1
common or commons, or parks
cal them what We may-it is time
for US to think earnestly about it.
The time that is not used is lost.
and might have been converted the
easiest to account." The CITY is fullv
ripe for such a movement. II ;s cer.
tain, at least, that we should not suf.
fer desirable localities to slip throuob
our hands, as itappears has recentlv
been the case, for the sake Of saving
few hundred dollars. Let us not
delay until the city is so overgrown