Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1885-04-16
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LANCASTER. APRIL is. Isss.
The Literature Of "Arbor Day."

LANCASTEB, AFBlL ~ lboc.
The Literature Of ssArber Day."
The very general popular observance of
Arbor Day by the public schools of this
city shows what can be done by energy and
enthusiasm applied to good cause. The
actual number of trees planted in Lancas-
ter to-day will probably not materially
affect the rain fall or other meteorological
conditions Of this locality nor even increase
its fruit supply but the wholesome senti-
ments inspired by the occasion and the
pregnant thoughts evoked by the celebra-
tion cannot fail to popularize subject of
great moral and material interest.
In its economical aspect, forestry has
been forcibly presented by many writer's,
and what they have advanced in support
of its supreme utility has not been gain
said. In the Western states, where the
treeless prairies, with fruitful soil and
yielding rich harvest, have been exposed
to the fury of storms and the quick ex-
tremes of weather that all bare countries
are subject to, tree planting has received
scientific attention and the shelter of his
farm by the forest and hedge-rows is a
matter of concern to the Western
farmer scarcely secondary to his
house roof and stock shed. But in
this land of advanced agricultural methods
and of plenty the waste of the timber
lands, accompanied by greater extremes of
temperature and drought, by the drying
up Of our springs, the diminution of our
streams and the decay of our orchards, has
stolen upon us almost unobserved, but
with alarming pace. Our townsman, Simon
P. Eby, ESQ.,, pointed out these things very
forcibly in pamphlet printed some years
ago, which was noticed in the INTEfLr-
aENCER at the time, and his intelligent
observations have been Verified by the ex-
peEieAte ana ~ port of hundreds of our
most intelligent agriculturists.
Nevertheless, the repair of this waste, the
replenishment of the woods and orchards,
has been very tardy. 1t is such slight
job to fell the forest, and 30 tedious task
to grow its successor; and 80 many who
plant the tree and vine can scarcely hope
to eat Of their fruit that the selfishness and
impatience of man manifest themselves in
ruthless destruction without regard to the
future. For every consideration, there.
fore, the institution and celebration OF
Arbor Day make an event worthy of the
interest it has created here and the litera.
ture of the subject which Is presented in
our reports can hardly fail to make last.
ing impression on the public mind.
With the rare felicity of expression
which characterizes his addresses, State
Superintendent Higbee points out the good
uses of more frequent communings with
nature, who speaks a various language >
to him that seeks her secrets and
woos her In the hiding places OF
the hills and woods. In the conclud.
ing passages of his admirable address the
state superintendent let's fall some hints
that the twenty-five thousand teachers OF
the state should take into serious consider.
alton. The trouble with too many of
them is they do not find "tongues in trees
and books in the running BROOKS" and
thcc:5J nave neither the taste nor the ability
to take their scholars out among the spring
ing beauties of the yernal season and in
terpret the lessonsof the flowers and rocks,
and streams and trees, which have
more of wisdom and of truth
than patent prepared text works on
hygiene and physiology, with special ref
ersnce to the effects Of alcoholic drinks and
narcotics on the human stomach" The
heart of childhood, cultured with assOcia-
tions such as the superintendent directs at
tention to, will gain something that is not
given to the books to teach, and alas to
few taskmasters to impart but everything
that tends to lift popular education toward
that level is to be hailed by those who
would inspire the youthful mind with the
best aspirations.
In the parody upon Shak, speare's Seven
Ages, which DR.. Higbee quotes in his ad-
dress, will he recognized one of his own
compositions, which he wrote thirty years
ago for The Guardian and when he him.
self was teacher in the public schools OF
this city he will be remembered as one who
loved to follow the Conestoga in its wind.
r ing courses, who knew the places where
the wild flowers grew, who caught the first
glimpse of the arbutus peeping out from its
leafy blanket, and who in frequent com.
munings with nature "in her visible
forms learned, to the profit of his after
career, the lessons which he now SO forcibly
impresses upon others. .
THERE seems to be some dispute in
Philadelphia between the controller and
the county commissioners as to how the
signatures of the latter fnnctionaries shall
beappended to bills which need them, so
as to ocommand the official respect of the
controller and warrant sor their pay
ment. The commissioners, who think they
ought to get s5, 900 year for not attending
to their duties, want to let clerk sign