The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-05-22
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.
ChicagO's Loss Because Mrs. Palmer
Will Not De Garbage Inspector.
Washington Post.

Washington Post.
X is to be hoped that the withdrawal Of
Mrs. Potter Palmer from the scheme will
not seriously arrest the Chicago move
ment in the direction of the city Beauti-
full" One society leader, Mrs. Horatio y.
May, seems TO have accepted the position
OF garbage inspector for the Twenty first
ward. and is said TO have announced her
Intention TO make at least that section or
the city as lovely as an Italian sunset. Mrs.
Potter Palmer, however, has definitely de-
clined. She has TO go to Europe this sum-
mer, and will not have time to direct the
work Perhaps the old Twenty-first Will
not he made as perfect under Mrs May
sole management ii would have been
with Mrs. Palmer's leadership and CO.
operation. OF course, the simpler forms of
eXaltation will be carried out as originally
planned. Private premises are 10 be deco
rated lamberquins go on all the wood
sheds and portieres will be hung at every
gate. They have concluded TO paint the
alley fences in imitation of tropical shrub
berry, the alleys themselves to be carpeted
to match the color scheme, and all ash cans
and garbage boxes ambushed in palms and
other waving plants. So much we are
sure of.
The official plan is not so very elaborate
il one sticks TO the text. Mesdames Palmer
and May might easily have fulfilled their
duties without any great effort. The ordi-
nance merely requires inspectors to see
that the following things shall not be de-
posted in streets. alleys, public places. etc:
Paper, pasteboard, straw, excelsior,
shavings. chips. wood rope. Irvine, cotton,
flax, hemp, jute. rubber, leather, ashes.
cinders, SCOT, charcoal, coal, Stag, dust,
shells. mortar. plaster, tar hay. grass.
moss, shucks. bark. brick, stone. wire.
leaves, weeds. grain, salt. hair, feathers,
tacks iron, tin, brass, copper, glass, pot
terry, or any kind of garbage whatso-
ever "
That would be easy. Anybody can do it.
Mrs. Palmer is the knowledge that she
would have done much more had she
remained. Mrs. Palmer's angel child. Ho-
more. who has just been made council
man. had some idea of the possibilities
young as he is. special telegram to the
New York World tells how he pleaded
mother and the City Beautiful will be a
reality. | have the names of five hundred
women in this ward who will follow YOU
Think of 1t, Let society be useful for
once. You can make the Twenty-first ward
blossom like an Eden. and the other wards
will follow" Who knows what visions the
ambitious youth may not have nursed
while praying for the identification of his
native Chicago? II may be that he dreamed
of fiower-banked abattoirs. making the bar
riers look like hedges of wild roses. behind
Wnlcn the DlSS might SEu0l anu Squat
without offense. COnceivably he may have
seen a picture of the Chicago river with
terraces Of messy green and fringed from
end 20 end with viOlets and liieS-a purling
stream along the radiant shores of which
Chicago lovers might stray moonliI
summer nights and pledge their tender
hearts as they watched the city's refuse
floating sweetly down TO kiss the amorous
St Louis wharves.
But this is doubtless too fair a prospect
to be realized. Chicago will be transformed.
of course. Mrs Palmer may sail away to
hobnob with kings and queens. etc, abroad.
but there are others. Alderman Honore
remains The five hundred he speaks of are
yet in stock. Chicago will blossom like an
Eden vet