Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1899-06-30

Fences Changed Into Things of
beauty - Prizes Ofered For Best
Back Yards and window Effects.
The happy transformation which at.
eention, coupled with taste, can work
upon the most barren conditions of
life has been illustrated in connection
with manufacturing company at
Dayton, o., the story of which is told
in The Review of Reviews.
The proprietor of this establishment
became Interested in the idea of hu-
manzlng the surroundings Of his busi-
ness and of the work people engaged
therein. Starting, therefore, with the
factory grounds, he made some at
tempts of his own at landscape gar
dening, but these proved unsatisfactO-
ry. and he sent for Mr.. L, C. Ohm
stead, the designer Of Central park
and Of the Worlds fair grounds. The
result was q distribution of shrubs,
flowers aud greensward which, with
vines set climbing over the lamppoSts
and telegraph poles and new arch
stretched between two stables. made
the streets about the factory seem
like the approaches Of park"
He began his educational work In
the factory Sunday school. and when
spring came he distributed 1900
packages of seeds to the children. To
stimulate the best effort prizes were
offered for the best ornamental plant
ing about the home and for the most
artistic arrangement and training of
vines on houses, verandas. buildings.
fences and posts. Boys and girls un-
der IL were invited to compete for the
best kept back yards, whether lawns
or planted In flowers and vegetables.
Five prizes of $5 each were offered for
the most artistic window effects. The
best planted and cultivated vegetable
gardens were to be rewarded by five
prizes Of so each. To take charge of
this work he engaged the services Of a
landscape gardener who could be con-
suited by any of the employees.
Previous to the time the work began
the bare houses looked like those CT
the Noah's ark village-no adOrnment,
the lots separated by board fences,
with no regard to harmony of color.
The children then planted the seeds
and eagerly watched the rapid growth
of the morning glories and the moon
flowers. Gradually the stiff lines Of
the fences disappeared under the lux
uriant growth of the vines. Then the
mothers, seeing the pretty effect Of the
vines, began to train them over the
porch and added window boxes, max
ing bowers Of beauty out Of the pre-
yious packing box style of house.
When the autumn came and the vines
disappeared. then they realized how
very ugly the fences looked without
any adornmCnt
The training of the summer bore
fruit, and when the promoter advised
taking them down and replacing them
by wire fence, which was just about
one-third cheaper and better adapted
to the climbing vines they were ready
TO do so. Some occupiers Of adjoining
houses improved on this plan by doing
away with any kind Of fence and
planting instead a divisional line of
flowers.
Some idea Of the interest in the con-
tests for the landscape garden prizes
may be shown by the fact that an
audience Of 1900 people thronged the
great auditorium at the fair grounds
when the prizes were distributed. Thus
those who had striven all summer
were rewarded additionally by the
public recognition of their friends.
We live in prosaic. matter of fact
world, where most Of us wish to be
paid for what we dc. How did this
pay the factory owner? No one can
visit his factory without noting the
happy and contented workers every
where. Each one is individualized.
He does not feel that he is cog in
the wheel, but is an essential part Of
the vital mechanism credited with in
tel1igence. In the old days the men
spoke of the factory as "Patterson's
penitcntiary." Today 1t is called pat
! ttISou piEdulSS.
When the factory staff go to their
homes after their days work, the infu-
ence follows them. The fathers are re-
freshed by the GOODNESS and fragrance
of the vines and flowers about their
homes. They forget their WEAKNESS as
the children climb on their knees to
tell them the delightful stories they
heard In the kindergarten, the wonder
full things they made and the songs
they sang. Later In the evening the
young people look forward to their
club meetings, where they are pleasur-
ably and proftably entertained with
other companions who are deslrous OF
making the most Of their time.
The factory people have organized
the South Park Improvement aSsecia-
tion, so that they may extend these ad-
yantages throughout that section Of
the city. Viewed from no higher pInnc
than that of commercialsm, there has
been decided increase in the value Of
property, evidenced by statements Of
John G. Olmstead, who visited the fac
tory last October and said that X
street. opposite the factory, was one Of
the most beautiful streets In the coun-
try when the value of the lots and the
size Of the houses We're taken into con-
sideration.
Whatever makes the wage earners
contented with their homes has value
for the employer, for the greater the
home contentment the less likelv will
the worklngmen be to do that which
will imperl 1t or impair its integrity.
The very inexpensive and simple appli.
cation of the fundamental principles Of
landscape gardening to the factory
grounds and the homes Of the wage
earners is the first step in the improve
ment Of their condition by any employ