Feliciana sentinel., 1892-08-13
WORLDS FAIR CITY.
An Interesting Letter on ChicagoS
Parks and Drivee.


ahe Gra.. sign Indispensable e
Their Preservation "A 50"
perb System.
Especial Chicago Correspondence.1
It must occur to an observer of human
nature thut the average American
takes his citizenship of the republic
o ad the advantages that attend 1t too
u,,,ch as "a matter of course. He does
not seem u appreciate them properly.
This may bc natural enough, as most OF
them never experienced any condition
less cnviable than that which they en-
ioy here and hence are not aware OF the
difference between their condition and
that of Europeans.
This reflection is caused by seeing
the willfulness and carclessncss eNhib-
tied by so many people who enjoy our
public parks. They will tramp across
| the grass with greater delight ii they
see q sign to keep off the grass than
| where It says common In walking
| along they will pull OFF leaves and
break tNigs off the shrubbery or over
| hanging limbs of trees. Overgrown
| children will throw stones at the swans
and ducks that are left at liberty in the
park. They will pluck flowers and de-
stroy flower beds or, in the early spring
|
in order to get the flowers.
1t requires quite an army OF police
officers to preserve order and protect
the park There seems to be a natural
antagon ism between the people who
use the park and the authorities who
try to keep the park in proper cond'-
tion and add to its attractions. Does
the average citizen never feel that he
is part owner of the park. that 1t is
maintained for his benefit and that
every act of destruction is directed
more against himself than against the
authorities of the park:
1t seems strange that such feeling
Of the common, joint ownership OF the
park never governs the actions OF the
average visitor. It appears all the
more remarkable when contrasted
with conditions in other countries
where provisions for the comfort OF the
common people are not so elaborate As
in this country. where the parks are
; neither SO large nor so numerous no,
sc. .conve ME Mt for those very classes o.
people who in big cities in America
like Chicago derive the greatest bene
fit from them.
! Speaking about this observation
some time ago with a well-llnown Chi
cagoan who has travelled abroad a goot
! deal the remark was made that thu
! city of Hamburg, for instance. In Ger
a MANY. which is acknowledged to b
;. one of the most beautiful cities in th'
7 world, maintains an extensive system
q of boulevards and parlls all around th'
n city. Where tho Notifications used t.
< he at the time Of the great Hanseati
league in the middle ages whic
Y marked the beginning of the emanci
81 ~, he
. system and the establishment o
l. the modern commercial and indus
r trial society - all about the cit
las been csta blisheda a most picturcsqt
% circle of parks and boulevards, part g
n it being elevated, and the former moa
E, of the fortress, a ditch almost ~ wild
y as the Chicago river. remains In man
places. forming a pleasing sheet OF waite
70 to which the banks descend on cithe
:: side from a height Of fifty to seventy
re five feet.
% Now. all these improvcme ntS are keI
up at the expense of this wealthy cit,
," and they are open to the public Hu
strange to say, there are no more p'
- lice officers there than in the streets {
The city In fact, it is a rare thing
(: zee an officer there. Yet the park
:. not destroyed, the grass is not trample
=. on, the flowers are not plucked nc
-, the shrubs broken. How 10 this ~
~ complished?
:" At intervals of a quarter of mile
g so you will see a sign placed some ewhe,
- amid the shrubs SO that the post
N3 hidden from view and only the boal
itself, displaying an inscription som
'i thing like this:
:, These Improvements are commend
-. to the protection of the public"
Immediately every visitor become
-, an officer in charge of the city's pro
cr,y. If he sees boy trampinS aero
the grass he calls him off. In mo
cases it is sufficient to stand still al
look at him hard. and he will sneak o
Every body watches everybody els
~ Or, rather. the feeling produced is OF
~, better kind. Every one feels that
~ cannot watch others unless he do
W, right himself, SO every body tries to s
s an example to every body else. Al
~. destruction of anything in these par
is an extremely rare occurrence a
the offender is looked upon with po
:. tive horror, for every one feels perso
ally injured by his acts.
icy 1t is doubtful if this precise scheI
would work well in Chicago or 9th
big cities in this country after havi
'n- accustomed the people to the oppos
OK train of feeling. But something sir
lar I have no doubt. could be ma
tu- successful. 1t is the observation
nd most men who have had much to
eg- with the practical side of governme
ap that the common sense of the peol
1x' and their natural feelings will. on
whole. lead them to do right, and u
ph to make too much of an exhibition
mt power and authority will only stro
&C. their fur the wrong way, so to spe'
md If the sense of personal interest q
int proprictorship in the parks is awaker