The Van Buren press., 1900-06-16
CIVIC BEAUTY.
A Paper Read bv Mrs. p. D. Scott
Before the State Federation of
Woman's Clubs at Tex
All

Woman's Clubs at Tex
arkana. Ark.
Madame President and Women of the
Federation:
With such q vast subject as civic
beauty to speak of, find it impossible, i,
in the few minutes allowed. to do more
than mention briefly few important
points, principally on the practical side
Of the question.
The fundamental principle of civic
beauty is cleanliness, not simply sanitary
cleanliness, but neatness and order, and
while most of the towns of Arkansas
are alike in the one respect, of limited
means to use in beautifying our sorround-
ings, yet, on the other hand, nature has
been 80 liberal in bestowing on us the
soil and climate to make rich harvests
that there Is no reason to remain idle,
for much can be done without money,
If an interest can be aroused among the
citizens, and the proper care and patience
exercised.
If the sidewalks are neatly swept
several times day on our business
streets, and all loose pieces of paper
picked up, that street cannot fail to be
attractive, simpR on account of its
cleanliness, and without any effort to
beautify 1t.
If in the residence portions of our
towns the lawns are we'll sodded with
grass and neatly cut, the outbuildings
and fences carefully whitewashed, even
II there Is no more money or labor ex.
pended, 1t will be attractive.
There are no two things more beauti.
full or rs little trouble to grow as grass
and trees, and any town that has plenty
of these can lay claim to much civic
beauty.
The brilliant hues of the flowers are
always an additional beauty to any
scene, but they require much care and
expense, and the disappointments In
flower culture are so great that they
almost overbalance the pleasures of
success And besides, the trees and
grass are absolutely necessary to combine
with the flowers for artistic beauty, so,
rather than fail in undertaking too much,
1t is better to commence our improve.
ments with plenty of velvety grass and
the grateful shade Of many trees.
II we would only stop moment to
consider what pleasure, what benefit
and what q necessity trees are, we would
all be Of one mind In regard to planting
new ones, and preserving the old ones
that have withstOod centuries, for when
these are destroyed none Of US, or our
children, or even our children 8 children
will ever be able to look upon such
magnificent monarchs Of the forest as
we daily see leveled to the ground with
hardly regret.
Who has not rested In the cooling
shadows of mighty tree and felt the
beauty Of looking up into its branches,
when without any perceptible breeze
the myriads Of leaves were Auttering,
whispering and nodding to one another,
seemingly no full Of life and Joy that you
imagine this to be the abode Of unseen
spirits'
A perfect tree Is a Joy forever, and
priceless beyond measure.
The necessity Of trees Is greater than
we will ever realize. and the benefits
we derive from them past our compre.
hension.
When both ranges Of the Lebanon
mountains were covered with forests
Palestine was a land flowing with milk
and honey, now the forests are destroyed,
the Jordan Is an insignificant stream,
and the hills of Galilee are sterile knobs.
Under the reign Of the Moorish Caliphs
the Iberian peninsula resembled vast
garden, yielding grain and fruits of
every known variety, but then the
Sierras were covered with luxurisnt
timber which was wantonly destroyed
by the rule Of kings, Now nearly all
OF the plateau lands OF Spain are desert
like because Of the scarcity OF rain. The
political decadence of Spain has even
been attributed to the destruction Of the
forests.
Owing to the destruction Of the forests
that part Of Italy that was once adorned
with villas, parks, flower and fruit
gardens, Is now an unhealthy ,uninhabit-
cd region. The leaves Of trees formerly
absorbed the malarial gases, that now
fill the mir and infect even the hearts Of
the cities.
Germany has made great progress In
tree planting, and 1t was part Of the
national policy of Frederick the Great,
by whom Germany WAS raised from a
small power to u great one,
The Austrians are planting forests to
prevent the terrible floods which have
been devasting their country and causing
such great loss OF life. But II Is not
necessary to 20 80 far from home for
examples Of the usefulness Of trees, for
there is no question but what the recent
disastrous foods we have had In our
own Arkansas river were caused by de-.
nuding the mountains Of Colorado OF
their forests, and In this comparatively
new country OF ours some Of the barren
mountains Of Pennsylvania are being
depopulated because II Is impossible to
any longer make q living of of them.
Nearly all OF the tributaries OF the
upper Mississippi have lost one half Of
their water supply. foundations are
more frequent In the spring, and In the
summer rivers now only measure inches
where they measured feet thirty years
ago. The snowfall Is irregular, and
the climate Is subject TO abrupt changes
at all seasons OF the year.
The legislatures OF the northwestern
states are being aroused to the fact that
the forests must be preserved, and II IL
none too soon for our legislature 10 make
laws that will prevent the destruction
of the beautiful forests on the Dard.
anelle, Ozark, Boston and other noun.
tains OF our own state,
The Hon, j, Sterling Morton, OF
Nebraska has proven himself national
benefactor by instituting on January
4th, 1879, an "Arbor Day. The idea
Immediately became popular and Is now
celebrated In forty OF the United States
and territories, and In Great Britain,
France, northern and southern Africa,
Spain and last year q liberty tree WAS
planted In Santiago do Cuba with three
thousand school children taking part In
the ceremoniea