The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-05-19
RURAL a,fPRovEMENrs
What Observing Yankee Saw in Indiana
and Illinois.


widely through the country. DIR. Curry,
agent of the Peabody Educational Fund,
finds that most pressing need OF the South
is the Improvement of the homes and home
life of the industrial classes, both white and
black. He is now maturing plans to meet
this urgent want The homes of any people
tell their character and condition, their thrift
and foresight, or sloth and improvidence.
Neglecting our homes degrades their occu-
pants, while pride in home fosters self-re-
speet and ambition.
The best product OF Christian culture is a
refined and kindly home.
The greatest progress IN rural adornment
is now observed in the West. A recent lee
ture trip in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Missouri, and Kansas furnishes
many proofs of this fact, few of which may
be named as illustrations of receptivity,
push, and enterprise of the places visited.
A large proportion of these were UNIVERSITY
towns" where the college has manifestly
been the center of moral and 9sthestical as
well as intellectual culture. 0livet College
in Michigan for example, has educated and
elevated the whole community as we'll as its
graduates. Few towns of its size can furnish
more intelligent and appreciative audience
One of the college professors, an influential
member of the Clown Council" as
well as of their Rural Improvement Asso-
cation," is already recognized as a bene-
factor of the place, from his efforts to
improve the homes of citizens and the gener-
al aspect of the town. This case illustrates
what may be done in any town where sim
gle person of taste puts his heart in the
work. The fine college campus, with its
stately native trees, is silent advocate of
rural adornment.
Mishawaka, Ind, four miles from South
Bend, and in its business Interests intimate
ly connected with that city, shows the re-
sponsiveness of a choice and ambitious West
ern town. A drive through all parts of it
disclosed the lay of the land, and facilitated
the adaptation of my lecture to local exigen-
cies. Such an opportunity of observing ex-
listing defects aud learning the.needs and pos
sibilities of place is always desirable and
suggestive Much better than the size and
favor of my audience was the enthusiasm
with which the people set about doing the
things recommended. a rural improvement
association was promptly organized. Trees
were planted on both sides of a single street
for over mile, and many more on other
streets The Enterprise, the local paper,
which in its name and spirit fifty represents
the public spirit and energy of its citizens,
in a late Issue says 80 many Improvements
in the way of tree-plantirg, curbing park
lIlS, TGIldlTlnS, ClcdTlUS I'D, 6IC., are III pro-
greSs about town that it is next to impossible
to enumerate them. All deserve credit and
we hope the entire community will become
infected with the praiseworthy mania now
raging" Hon. Robbins Battell, of Connec-
ticut has recently given this town a fine
park of some thirty acres, well situated on
high bluff along the banks of the st. Joseph
river, which, with its choice variety of trees
and shrubs, winding walks, flower pots, and
rustic bridges, is an excellent specimen OF
landscape gardening
Lincoln, ILL.,. the seat of Lincoln Univers-
ity, by its manifold signs of taste and cul-
ture furnishes another illustration of the
local influence of such an institution No
town of its size in this part of Illinois was so
generally and beautifully adorned with fine
shade trees in all its streets. But found
the citizens in deep mourning over the desc
lations made in February last by severe ice
storm, 1.-THE worst ever known in that State"
The limbs OF all the deciduous trees were
broken of, usually quite to the trunk. The
conifers all escaped, though these eVergreens
were more heavily laden, for their laterais
more numerous shorter and smaller, were
flexible enough to droop under the burden,
and thus in part support each other, while
the suffer elms and NAPLES broke like pipe
stems. Many fine photographs now show
how strangely beautiful were these weird
winter scenes of desolation. Nothing
daunted, the people were carefully trimming
the splintered branches and planting new
trees. A rural improvement association was
formed, which. under the lead of Professor
Harris, promises we'll for the growth and
prosperity of the town. Its eligible location
and prospective advantages are likely to at
tract still larger Numbers of desirable resi-
dents from the surrounding country. Tine
Chicago d Alton Railway Company have
presented some three acres directly fronting
the depot for park. which will soon be so
laid out and adorned as to add another at
traction to the place.
The Illinois State Normal University,
located at Normal. two miles from Bloom
ington. also shows the good influence of such
a seminary upon the people, their homes and
surroundings. The large campus has choice
variety of trees, planted soon after the uni
versity was organized, some twenty-five years
ago, which SHOWS thrifty growth. Through
the influence OF publicspirited citizen,
Jesse Fell, the streets and parks were then
amply supplied with shade trees. 1t was
privilege to meet this now venerable arbor-
list, who is gratefully recognized as a benefac-
tor of the town. and TO hear him say, when
thanked by a stranger for the varied adorn-
ments he had originated, "Whatever pleasure
they have given to others, they have given
far more to me. and paid me over and over
for all the pains they cost"
Much is doing to beautify the suburban
towns around Chicago, where a growing
number of the most intelligent citizens are
realizing the superior advantages OF rural
homes for their children, if not for them
selves To meet this rapidly increasing de-
mand many suburban villages. especially
those along the shore of Lake Michigan for
twenty or thirty miles north of the city have
been laid out with great taste, and large
numbers of business men have been attracted
to them. Rural adornments are here the
order Of the day. These villages are learn
ing that public improvements and growth
stand related as cause and effect. There is a
generous rivalry among them. Plans are
adopted which will invite wealthy and de-
sirable residents in still larger numbers.
These plans include the sanitary conditions
of the homes and their surroundings, the Or
ganization of libraries, and the improvement
of schools, as we'll as OF the streets, sidewalks,
parks, and all those adornments which en-
hance the value of real estate. Intensity