The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-10
AT THE TREE PLANTING
FIVE PROMINENT MEN MAKE APPRO-
PIRATE ADDRESSES.
A Small Crowd Out-The Great Amer
lean Rush Is De-
plored.

can policy of "all work. no play" at River
side Park yesterday afternoon, and they
were ~applauded by three hundred people
gathered there 1t was a unique meeting
it was the first meeting held in the new
park. The occasion was the dedication OF
the park by the Ladies' Tree Memorial As
ISOLATION. The speakers were John w.
Kern, Rev. Burris A. Jenkins, Rev. Mayer
Messing, John L. Grihiths and Rev. Francis
II. Gavisk. The programme included music
by the Maennerchor double quartet and
Miller's Band.
The train for the park left the Union Sta
ton at 2 o'clock. 1t had been thought there
would be a much larger crowd than that
which really appeared and two long trains
were ready. Only three coaches on one
train were used. The train stopped half a
mile north OF the pavilion near Thirtieth
street, and the true lovers of nature turned
out of the coaches and began the long walk
over the rough path uncomplainingly. The
gorgeous uniforms Of the musicians deco
rated the stream of men and women wind
ing toward the south. On one side stretched
stripped fields and grassy slopes and the
only building in sight was a small deserted
distillery. On the other side was the en-
bankment of the railroad. 1t was all the
city's new park. 1t had not yet been i'm
proved. The party stopped at one place and
climbed over a barbed wire fence to the
railroad and looke dow into a valley
where the memorial trees had been planted.
The trees were small and gray-looking. but
it was said they were alive. When they be-
ZONE big and strong they will be named
in commemoration of citizens who in life
were prominent in promoting the best in
terests of the city.
The meeting was held in what used to be
a German clubs park. Where once the
foaming lager was pushed across the bar
and the bowling alley was as still as a
church on week days. In the PAVILION,
where on Sunday afternoons dancers feet
scraped and pounded the floor in time to
popular waltz music before the city bought
the ground, benches and chairs were filled
with serious men and women anxious That
the city and the woodlands should be no
longer strangers TO each other. The num-
Der of people that had made the trip on
the train was equalled by the number that
had driven out In carriages. Outside the
pavilion stretched row after row OF red
benches that will ere long be scattered
| wards and cycle paths. The band played a
patriotic tune and John w. Kern took charge
of the exercises as a substitute for Mayor
Taggart, who had gone TO New Orleans
| on a sad mission not conducive to thoughts
of enjoyment of fragrant grass and trees
and exhlarating breezes.
Mr.. JENKINS ON QUIET LIFE.
The first speaker Mr.. Kern called. Rev.
Burris a. Jenkins. president Of the Uni
| versity Of Indianapolis, gave Immediately
the tone of the meeting. He said in part:
"A great deal has been said recently re-
garding the strenuous life L desire this
afternoon TO say a word on the other phase
of this great truth. TO say a word in be-
half OF the peaceful. quiet life. / have no
should be earnest and intense. Awake. my
soul, stretch every nerve, Is a noble hymn,
and should most be sung by indolent peo-
pie. But there is another side to the ques-
ton. and the American people Is not an in
dolent people. The Danger is that IL shall
a nation. We work too much. All the bust
ness of our mighty civilization could be
transacted between the hours of 3 a IN. and
4 p. m, and these shorter hours ought to
be observed. 1t would be a great deal bet
ter for US IL our life were less intense in
many regards: if we lived more in the coun-
try. had more wholesome recreation. came
into more intimate touch with nature"
But there was a revolution coming, he
| said. and some day the American people
would be a people of out of doors. A move
ment like that of the Ladies Association
worked toward bringing the people back to
nature.
posed by Miss Alice Lieber. Rev. Francis
II. Gavisk was introduced. He commended
Mr.. Jenkinsis sentiments. The memorial
ship. he said. L us encourage this love
| of nature" he urged; '1et us for a time be
refreshed by other considerations than
| those of n purely unitarian character-by
something else than money-making. The
world was made for man: 1t was made
beautiful, and man should make the best
of It,"
Rev. Mayer Messing was the next speak
err. The trees planted here in this spot.
| reminders of those in whose honor they
have been planted. We will think of their
lives as We look upon the trees: We Will
see again all their goodness, their charity,
their never-failing love. All this will come
before us as we gaze. We will hear words
of cheer, words of comfort, words OF con-
tentment in the whispering of the noddins
leaves. And the grief for the departed,
once so poignant and lively, Will gradually
enter upon its convalescence, as IL Were
Nature, the love and reverence of the trees
the gayety of the leaves and the affection
OF friends, will cause a healing balm 10 I'll
ouenching and Cooling the fires of grief
will give place to a quiet and calm content
nent."
MIR. GRIFFITHS'S IDEAL CITY.
John L. Grifiths concluded the pro.
gramme by an address in which he elo'
quently described the ideal city. Indian
apolis was approaching the ideal, he said
The women would long be remembered fol
the consideration they were bestowing or
the parks. he said. and continued: I'm the
development of every city the time comes
when there is a general recognition of th'
need Of parks or outing grounds-place!
where the people can go for innocent
health-giving recreation. Such a need ha'
been felt in indianapolis for many years
and we rejoice to-day that definite progress.
is being made in this direction. NOTHING
tends more to beautify a city and render /
attractive, not only to those who abide II
il, but to the stranger who tarries for
while within its gate, than handsome parks
On any pleasant Sunday AFTERNOON, In tn
spring or summer, or early autumn, tn
street cars are crowded with people, wh'
are eager to get away from cement side
walks, asphalt ~roadways and tall buildings
from all the city sounds and smells. ant
soak themselves in the sunshine, reveling IL
the beauties of nature, as they catch the de
licious fragrance of the wild Hover and TIT
clover and the new-mown hay, and lister
to the songs of the birds. They leave be
hind them all the cares and troubles which
annoy and irritate the average man an
woman"
Mrs. eliza G.. Wiley, president of tn
Ladies' Memorial Tree Association, thanke'
the speakers and said that Ii had beef
asked heretofore what the object of the as
ISOLATION was. but hereafter any one wh'
asked the question would be set down as al
ignorant person.
The crowd then broke up and made TO
the city, either by street car, train or car
riage. One group OF old men leaving tn,
park was carried away by enthusiasm owe
the meeting.
Al this rush and worry and hullabalo,
ought to stop" cried the orator OF tn
group. II believe in a man enjoying wha
little time he has on this earth. L believ
like the Spaniards. that the night is mad
10 sleep in and the day TO rest In" Hi
sentiment got an approving laugh.
THF TRICK ELEVATION