The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1878-08-08
VILLAGE IMPROVEMENTS.
Extracts from the Recent Address BY Prof.
Nerthrop, at Woodstcck, Conn.

There is a peculiar pleasure in the
culture OF trees--a pleasure that never
oloys, perfect, varying, growing with
their growth. We watch them with
pride, as year by year new beauties ap-
pear. Like grateful children, trees
bring rich returns and compensate d
thousandfold for all the cnre and pains
they cost; for q noble tree is one Of the
grandest and most beautiful products Of
Nature--airy and delicate in its youth,
luxuriant and majestic in its prime, ven-
erable and romantic in its old age.
There is nothing more ennobling than
the consciousness of doing something
for future generations which, 90 far
from its being ephemeral in its infiu-
ence, shall prove great benefaction in
distant years. Tree planting is very
delightful way of perpetuating ones
memory long after he has passed away.
Even the poorest can in this way pro-
vide himself with living monument
grander than the loftiest shaft of chisel-
ed stone and more beautiful than any
statue of storied marble or classic bronze
"a monument which will not only adorn
the walks of daily iife, but continually
suggest duty to the living, while It
happily commentaries the past. Such
associations grow in interest from year
to year and generation to generation.
1t is matter of congratulation that
more than fifty associations for village
Improvement have already been organ
lied, which have done great good in
cultivating public spirit, improving
social and intellectual life, and enhancing
the value of real estate. These associa-
tions promote improvements and en-
courage tree-planting in the streets,
sidewalks, roads, public parks and
buildings, the village green, the burial
ground, and, most and best of all, pri-
vate grounds and dwellings,; and, if only
private taste, public spirit, town pride
can be duly enlisted, in cooperation
with the certainty of pecuniary profit,
our streets and public roads, our ceme-
teries, and especially our homes,
beautiful, as they already are,
might become far more beautiful
and inviting. Now this work should go
o1 until not a single school-house,
dwelling or street is left without the
simple and grand adornment of shade
trees, and shrubbery of creeping vines,
flowers and lawn. A wise foresight is
shown in the results which have grown
from our village improvement associa-
tion; for in this way the public spirit Of
the people becomes organized, and efforts
for improvement are not merely stimu-
lated, but conformed to some intelligent
plan-knowledge of plans and details for
improvement, the cost of trees and
shrubs, adaptation to soil and position
may be secured, and wise concert of
action and symmetry of effect-and pre-
vent the helter-skelter planting and
various mistakes of which SO many illus
trations are to be found.
Our farmers and mechanics, our thrifty
and thoughtful wives, are beginning to
realize how easily and economically, and
even without any cost in money, they
can surround their homes with flowers
and trees, and thus increase the value
of the homestead and lift their home life
to higher plane. Every cottage is
made more healthy and inviting by
shrubs and shade trees, provided they
do not stand near enough to shut out
the sunlight; and you who have these
homes, adorned by this stately elm, or
maple, or tulip-you have all blessed
the memory OF those who planted them,
it may be century ago. In travelling
some thousands of miles every year, my
own experience has led me to look for
kindness and culture among those people
who cultivate the taste for arboriculture.
In Switzerland they have out of four
hundred and eighty-five households four
hundred and sixty-five householders.
You can't match that even in favored
America. The Swiss very early under
stood that principle of John Adams, of
Revolutionary fame, that the ownership
of land is essential to individual thrift
and dignity and national strength and
prosperity. 1 say: Let us encourage
our people to buy homes, to adorn their
grounds. These outward adornments
of the house are but examples of what
you find in the higher attractions of its
inner life, realizing the highest beauty
i'll the unwearied and delicate attentions
of each to all. Let the sunlight of
generous love illuminate our homes.
1t is a divine institution, the only
earthly paradise, the best school for the
Paradise of Hope above. The most
loved spot on earth is the holy ground,
consecrated by flowers, shrubs and trees,
each tenderly associated with a mothers
love and a fathers care. Let Thanks
giving gather the scattered family, and
light the Christmas-tree for the children.
Let the birthdays be duly observed and
the marriage anniversaries enjoyed. The
house should be the first and chief place
to produce the love of flowers, of cult
waiting them; and thus produce love
of the beautiful in Nature and art, and
still more in character. We need more
carefully to cultivate home affections
and courtesies and the observation of
the amenities of life. As flowers seem
little things, so are the morning and
evening salutations in the family. They
seem little in themselves; but when fitly
observed are mighty in their influence.
AS the sunbeam is composed of myriads
OF minute rays, so the home should be
illumined and frightened by winning
smiles, cordial greetings, loving looks,
gentle words, sweet laughter, and name
less little kindnesses. Such beauties Of
hand and heart. such amenities and af-
fections should be the sunshine of every
home. They refresh and purify the
social circle. Like the clinging vine,
they twine themselves around the heart,
calling forth its purest emotions. Such
home is worthy the name, ordinance
of God. Such a life is worthy future
life. Such home will help prepare us
for home hereafter.
Then let me say to the parents here:
Make the home-life beautiful, without
and within, and they will SOW the seeds
of gentleness, true kindness, honesty,
and fidelity in the hearts of their chill
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