Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1891-04-09
ArbOr Day-Aprll 10th, 1891.

ArbOr Day-Aprll 10th, 1891.
Among the many axe-marks left by
my predecessor, the Hon. w. E. Cole
man, none will sink deeper into the
educational tree than the instit- ton
Of Aibor Day. TO him belongs the
credit of instituting this day Missouri
and having it legalized. The Thirty
Fifth General Assembly enacted Sec
ton SOLO of the school law as follows:
"The first Friday after the first Tues
day in April of each year is hereby set
apart as Arbor Day for this State, and
all teachers, pupils, and patrons are
requested to observe the same in their
respective school districts by encour
aging the planting of trees, shrubbery,
and flowers upon and around the
school grounds of their districts, that
said grounds may be rendered pleas
ant and attractive-a part of said day
to be devoted to literary exercises
having special reference to the work
in hand, as the teacher or the commit
tee in charge may direct, and the af-
ternoon TO be devoted to the improve
ment and ornamentation of the school
grounds"
With the on coming tide of civiliza-
ton, engulfing everything in insat-
liable NAV, the "forest primevaP" has
not been spared. The forests of this
country have gone down before the
woodman's axe with a rapidity which
has alarmed the patriot thinker. Year
after year, more and more of the best
men and women of this country are
joining with the poet: "Woodman,
spare that tree!"
a century ago, the iron blast furn-
aces of England had SO devOured her
forests as to give rise to severe parlia-
mentary enactments against the de-
struction of timber. But at the very
time when the situation seemed most
desperate, coke and afterwards coal
became food for these devouring blast
furnaces. But for this timely discov-
ery, there would have been prolonged
for centuries both in Europe and in
this country, relentless contest for
the survival of the fittest, between the
blast furnaces on the one hand and the
forests on the other.
But the forest pI esents the utility
side rather than that Of the beautiful.
The schoolhouse has become the edu
cational Mecca of the children of our
land. Hither, every morning more
than half a million went their way.
Let us, therefore, do what within us
lies to EN- bellish and adorn the grounds
surrounding these modest temples of
knowledge, where this graf army OF
children receive their preparation for
the high duties of American citizen
ship.
For selections and suggestive exer-
cises, I take pleasure in referring you
to the March number of the Missouri
School Journal H. A. Gass, Jefferson
City, Mo.,) and to other educational
journals. Do not fail to secure an ad
dress from one of your best citizens.
The details | leave t. the discretion OF
each teacher and board of education.
Finally, permit me to urge uni
versal observance of this day and a
repo of the same toyour county COM
missioner to he reported by him to the
state superintendent Let it not be
said that with the retirement of State
Superintendent Coleman, the origina-
| tor of this observance in Missouri, in
terest in this day became less, but let
it rather be noted that with each COM
ing year interest deepens, and that
though the worker retires, the work
goes on.
In the confident hope that this may
be great day for the teachers, the
children, and the patrons of Missouri,
| am, Very truly yours,
L. E. WOLFE,