The Minneapolis journal., 1901-04-03

tion and cleanliness and order from the mid
die OF the street to the middle OF the alley
IS the basis Of satisfactory results. 1t were
folly to spend time, labor and money on pure
iy decorative features before considering and
conquering the question of the disposal of
garbage. II anything must wait, let it be the
front yards. A back yard crusade is an es-
sential preliminary. Properly developed, the
oack-yards would transform the lives of thou
sands from dreary grind Of drudgery to
countless summers of sweetness and light
II women possessed of the brains time and
money to accomplish such an end can find
better scope for effort, where is it?
On the hygienic foundation of cleanliness
and order suggested may be built a fair su-
perstructure consisting OF numberless factors
blended into more or less harmonious pic
ture, according to the artistic excellence Of
the design used. 1t Is to be composed of
pleasantly shaded streets; charming1y planted
home grounds; properly located and we'll
arranged public parks and Fairgrounds; cor
rectly treated spaces around public buildings,
churches, schoo.hoIses, mills and factories;
neatly kept vacant property; a general alb
sence OF flying papers and rubbish, and sweet
relief from screaming bilIboards. All this
may be further embellshed by fountains.
memorial tablets and carefully considered
statuary, by handsome boulevards. correctly
designed cemeteries, attractively planted sta
ton grounds, railway rights of way redeemed
form unsightliness and made to stand as per-
petual advertisements to the constantly pass
ing public of the character Of the place and
by lovely approaches over good, hard roads
that wind among shade trees and lowery
banks all planted with the native trees
shrubs and vines that thrive in each vicinity
Inls does not exhaust the opportunities Of
fered by the ordinary village or suburb, but
serves TO suggest that there is no lack of good
Things to be done by the clubs that choose
to try this sort of thing and may their name
be legion.
WOmen's Clubs Fitted for the Task
No women's club need falter or fear to take
such work in hand. Such clubs are splendidly
equipped for it, They have the ability to di-
rect, the energy to accomplish, the tact dis
creuon and determination to succeed. They
can secure land for parks and Fairgrounds,
or see that street tree planting is done in ac-
cordance with the best modern knowledge of
the subject; they raise money and pass
ordinances, or see that they are passed; they
can disarm objections and make squalid door
yards Questionable; they can Danish all un-
slghtllness and make the waste places charm
Ing; they may, if they will even 20 the
length Of securing artistic landscape garden
ing plans for the beautifying of block, a
street car, or an entire town, so that when
Sucu pAdHS are correctly developed their own
several home grounds shall each be a picture
of comfort well as factors in a large, gen
eral scheme that shall make their town ia
nous. All this and much more can be accom-
plished by any club the members of which
look about them and see that 1t is a good
thing to make the world more beautiful for
themselves and for others who are perhaps
less fortunate. In short, the scope and posi-
BILE results of such work should satisfy the
most ambitious club.
AS preliminary means Of arousing public
interest perhaps nothing is more effectual
than stereopticon views showing the present
state of affairs at home-views of their own
overlooking garbage boxes and filthy alleys,
Of the dumping ground on the vacant lot next
door, or Of the magnificent array of billboards
across the street; and then, by way Of exam
pie, presenting similar scenes in other places.
followed by companion pictures showing the
changes wrought by intelligently directed or
ganized effort, Such views, clearly explained
by some one who understands the subject,
rarely fail to open the understanding and the
purse OF the most thoughtless householder.
How to Hold Individual Interest.
One of the best means of holding individual
interest, which must be done if success is to
be attained, is offering a series Of prizes for
certain features Of 1mpro gement work Spe-
cial thought should be given to the matter of
interesting children and prize giving has
proved successful in this direction. To cite
specific instances: In October, 1900, prizes to