New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-05-02
TO OBSERVE ARBOR DAY.
SCHOOLS THROUGHOUT THE STATE
WILL HAVE FITTING EXERCISES
ONE SCHOOL HALF A MILE
FROM \ TREE

The twenty prizes offered by Charles NJ
skinner, Superintendent of Public instruction in
this State, has added a fresh impetus the cele-
braton of Arbor Day IN the various schools to-day
and essays rectatious and songs will be read. re-
cited and sung with uuwouted enthusi ism. Every
school in this State may compete for the prizes.
which are twenty beautiful American flags. The
term of competition began yesterday. The prizes
viii be given 10 the twenty schools which shall
show the greatest Improvement in school grounds
during the Cash prizes of 800 and so will be
given to the two schools in the Stat" which have
the best kept grounds. These made possible by
the generosity OF William \ Wadsworth. OF Cen
CISCO.
The planting Of trees and OF flower seeds in
school window boxes will he included in the pro-
gramm" Of the day I'm certain schools In some
places gcrauium plants will be given the chill
drcn and prizes will be offered for the ones that
show the best care when school opens in the fall.
To the children of tNc schools on the lower East
Side Arbor Day is not an Unmeaning name. as they
seldom "A green thing. and tho planting Of even
a simple Eeraniuul--to which some teachers have
had rccourse-is event. More than school Is
In the condition Of School I3. No %
ton-st, OF which Miss Helen A Stein. principal Of
the grammar department. said yesterday.
Just think The nearest fun grown tree to this
sch 0ol is I'm Sevcnth-st.. nearly half mile away
There three thousand pupils I'm the school all OF
whom live within radius Of three or four blocks
OF the school building. and they have to walk
nearly half mile to look a truly tree! What
We teach nature In school all the year around
nothing technical but how 10 observe and love
nature. Miss Seymour. teacher OF botany in the
Jamaica Normal School. has often sent sprays
OF birch. pear. apple cherry and other trees. and
Miss jackson. OF School No A. jamaica IS
showing US the same kind attention. When the
branches arrive they seem Ike much deadwood.
but We stick the stems in water and the children
have the fun of seeing them open into leaf and
bud and blossom Already have had apple and
cherry blossoms.
Last fan had a lot OK seeds and plants given
planted them in the window boxes. and
after lying dormant all winter they have given a
up. after another. There were ferns and
geranum, elm and asparagus seeds. and some mar
cissus bulbs one OF the things that particularly
pleased the children 10 watch the elm seeds
pushing up under their little caps. then throwing
the tiny bit Of headgcar the ground when strong
enough to get along without its protection.
People often give seeds Last year friend
presented two hundred uarcissus bulbs. which I
and as the plants came into flower brought them
back TO me with the greatest pl"asur" and pride
a leaf. when they have watched II unfold and
grow.
kcencr that Of tho children. Few OF the latter
have ever lived i'm the country. or remember 1t II
one does not feel the lack OF what one has never
Tenement house life is har Ter on the mothers
and fathers than the little ones Many of the
parents ar" peasants from rural towns in Europe
and all the romance and poetry or their lives is
%91ntrv sbo,ld ike 10 see fresh air fund
started for the mothers OF the East side.
when our apple bOughS in blossom, a
poor Russian mother called to see me about her
flowers she ran over to them and almost kissed the
n them ', she turned to me With: I did not know
there were any apple blossoms in America. | have
been here thirteen years and never saw one