New-York tribune., 1901-10-05
OUTDOOR IMPROVEMENTS.
SUGGESTIONS TO CLUBWOMEN ON BEAU
Trying PUBLIC PLACES

Some suggestions valuable 10 women's clubs have
lately been made by Mrs. Frances CopIey Seavey
in her report as chairman OF the committee local
improvements OF the American Park and Outdoor
Art Association. which held its convention recently
at Milwaukee
She recognizes the fact that women's clubs have
been among the most active agents in the beautify
ing OF streets and public places in city but
her experience has taught her that women here
have much 10 learn from foreign workers.
The leading features Of improvement work
abroad" she says. that might most effectively be
applied here are. first more dfused knowledge
of the material value of beauty-a matter so well
understood the that business men are
the stanchest supporters OF beautifying move
ments; and, second. q greater appreciation Of
water especially in streams. which in foreign
tries is held in higher esteem and where fuller ad-
vantage is taken OF its proximity. In England and
in Germany, the countries that lead in improve
ment work, the pollution Of streams permit
ted; neither are their banks defaced Miss Mira
Lloyd Dock, OF Harrisburg. Penn to whom We are
under deep obligations for information and inspira-
ton says that investigators in Germany ind the
country is practically one vast Improvement
ciation; that the chief features OF German river
towns are the avenues OF trees along river banks
and the floating baths anchored offshore."
Tree planting has been found De one OF the
/ most popular forms OF village Improvement among
the women's clubs in this country. and many OF
them have undertaken with much success the beau
! uTying OF schooIhouses and Improvement OF rail-
road stations TWO prominent features IN
town introducing street lights street sprinkling
and cleaning other forms of WORK vii hin
range OF club effort. while the destruction OF in
furious insects, the establishment OF parks and
drinking fountains and the placing OF memorial
IanIets IN historic spots have already occupied
In Canada, where horticulture receives great at
tention. the Countess Of Minto has done much to
promote this work She has ofreI ed d series OF
prizes in Ottawa for the best garden. where gar
denef IL kept. ard another prizes in cases
where there is no hired gardener. IN foreign coun-
i tries generally, according 10 Mrs. Seavey. the
: marked success OF Enforcement societies is in
great tc the dee, interest taken in the
subject by prc-t:ert business men II IS highly i'm
portant, therefore. She tE.nhs. work harmony
ever possible MassGck rs-t.s BOAST the largest
number OF these, and Pennsylvania stands second
| in this respect.
| These societies." says Mrs Seavey ARE the al
| ready existing nuclei from which great transfer
nation should result" She further suggests that
| Improvement work should be submitted TO bust
ness men as a business proposition that the hy
| gienic disposition OF household waste Is para
mount question that should be considered by
| improvement organization: that bad conditions In
cities the logical outgrowth OF bad conditions
| towns. villages and in the country, and that these
/ should be traced their sources and preventive
and remedial instituted all along the line
That interested assistance Is likely TO follow definite
/ statements OF bad conditions II accompanied by
| clear outline OF practical means for overcoming
them that twentieth century intelligence. admit
ting that the whole is greater than its parts plans
! aims and earnest work bring their reward
| While IL IS true she adds that younger
| ganizatons NAV content themselves with the plain
everyday needs OF their communities, the older So
cfeties should look abroad and take counsel with
| those that have accomplished telling pieces Of
work that stand boldly above the ordinary
even in the improvements should be looked for, is
! the need Of greater comprehension the neces-
sity for design in landscape work and fuller ap-
probation Of the larger possibilities Of this chosen
! field O effort"