The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-09-12

ours have SandWiched in between pub !
lie buildings descriptions of hair tonic
and liver cures, and vivid and in most
cases lurid representa- iOns of the new
est mechanical play with the trade
mark made in New York" and trans
ferred with all its machinery to Kan
sas for a one-night stand at a fabulous
cost after a continuous run of 1879
nights in the great metropolis.
Here IN the west we are not yet in
any great danger of growing too aes-
thetic- Our cities are not in any great
danger of wOrshiping artistic things. It
would not hurt Topeka to have a statue
or two put up in some conspicuous
place near the business center. Might
L venture to suggest to the women Of
the Federated clubs of this city, that
they discuss the subject of how to beau
tify those parts of the city now dis
figured by the bill boards.
ADVERTISE IN PAPERS.
There are plenty of other good places
to advertise the papers for example.
But we have a right as a city to protest
against the growing tendency to turn
every vacant place and every unoccu-
pied place into an advertising medium.
The city has right to look beautiful
if it can To do so requires an effort
especially if commercial or fnaucial con-
siderations urge their claims against
the beautiful We need to remember
the adage, The beautiful is as useful
as the useful
PUBLIC PARKS PAY
It goes almost without saying that
parks. open breathing places. public
gardens, flowers. are d part and a nee
sands Of children in the great cities Of
the world have died this summer be-
cause the greed Of man has not left
enough Of Gods fresh air and water
and trees and flowers placed in be-
tween the bricks and paVements where
drives his chariot M
his slaves to labor. As mere matter
Of economy. in dollars and cents it pays
cities to maintain parks for the people
And in the saving of flesh and blood
there IS no language adequate to de-
scribe the saving to the people of them
selves. It is a matter of regret that
in its early history Topeka did not re-
serve more land for parks But we can
make the best use of what we do have
anticipating the future and remersb Der
ing that money wisely spent in this
way viii always repay TO the utmost
the city thar makes provision for ma
lures healing and restful ministrations
cf trees. flowers. fresh air and restful
opportunity.
THE WORST SEEN FIRST.
a word might also be said by way of
suggestion concerning the surroundings
OF city near it, railroad entrances.
The first inlur=s-ion slrz-se- sa.s
of almost any city IS the worst. The
3 uflVuNlAltSS OF fttftaf- entrances are
a oisuiei consiofnerstt OF shops ten
ernents. factories. back yards. gas.smoks.
tin cans. tumble-doWn shanties bricks
dirt, dust and q general display Of neg
lect and indifference. Some OF this of
course. is due TO the fact that residence
near railroad tracks is undesirable. and
property, therefore. cheap and uncared
for
I do not know how much influence
the members q this club possess with
The powers that be ia the railroad
world. buzz I ann very sure that p very
EcDG Sab ike ef business would BE ac-
ccmrlishal fer Topeka If III some way
the surroundings IF the railroad APP
SD as % make unnecessary the usual
apology. tOf CO Ase right down here