New-York tribune., 1902-04-27
ARBOR DAY OBSERVANCE.
Continued from page nine.

rooted Conservatism WHICH we All huo" eAiSeo
throughout the country In reference to care Of
public property. Too often those who are in
terested in these things believe that what was
good enough for them and their fathers in the
good old days of long ago is good enough for
their children 1 am endeavoring to awaken a
progressive modern sentiment in reference to
the condition of the school grounds of the EN-
pre State i am asking the cooperation OF
teachers and pupils and the parents Of pupils
In a movement to beautify school sur
ruundings. The .Arbor Day Annual for the
present year has been prepared with view of
interesting the people Of the State in this sub
Ject Most gratifying reports reach me from
every county, and sure OF the earnest CO.
operation Of thousands of people in this pur
pose.
IT impressed not long ago by a contest in
a rural school district among several patriotic
citizens each of whom desired to secure the Of
hce Of trustee OF the school. After quite an ex-
citing contest the victorious candidate allowed
that he wanted be elected trustee because
when school not in session the schoolhouse
was such fine place to keep his sheep 1t is to
be feared that a similar spirit actuates our citi-
III other regions.
You know there is a law which requires the
United States flag to be displayed near
every public school building in New-York State
as one travels lnIouSn lle Sldlt no slSil ~
more inspiring than the American flag floating
over the public schools In many districts, how
ever this law has not had attention. / recently
gave notice to the officers of nearly three hun
dred school districts that unless closer attention
was paid 10 the enforcement Of this law the
public moneys to which the districts would bc
entitled would be withheld. Many of the dis
triCts a. complied with the law, but fear
that others must suffer the penalty
In some rural districts any kind of a flag
seems to answer. ! need not say that tat
tered and faded piece of cloth called flag, such
as Is occasionally flung TO the breeze IL some
Of our school districts, is not likely 10 create
respect for our national emblem, OF lncu!cate
any great amount cf patriotism
"A few years ago while visiting one of the
southeastern counties. l was requested 10 call
at a newspaper office and examine the flagstaff
and flag which had been taken from a country
district by delegation Of members of the Grand
Army Of the Republic. I found very crooked
pole and a piece Of cotton cloth which had once
represented a flag and which had ioated for
two or three years over summer dancehouse
Across the pole was large sign upon Wnlch
were the following words: This beautiful pole
erected 70 the memory of the idiotc legislature
Of 1894 which passed the flag law The trustee
had secured the crookedest tree in the woods
and had nailed il ridiculous representation
Of flag to demonstrate his compliance with
what he considered an obnoxious law. That
trustee had tHenty-four hours in which TO erect
a suitable pole and display suitable flag lie
complied with the order without delay.
Two instances have just been brought to my
attention which show that there people who
still need 10 be educated. i had occasion TO
send an inspector to one of the counties Of East
efn New York to Investigate claim that the
school building was too small to provide proper
facilities for all the children who desired TO
attend school. In order to avoid the expense
of enlarging the schoolkouse, the trustee said:
There's new barn which has just been built,
not far from the schoolhouse, 10y a gentleman
who viii use only the first floor. i can rent the
upper story Of the barn and ii VIII accomff"-
date about sixty children. This VIII comply
with the law. and we VIII not need TO build an
ADDITION TO our schoolhouse.' The inspector was
authorized inform the trustee that this was
hot satisfactory arrangement; that school
chdren OF the present day would not be edu-
Gated in barns II the State Superintendent could
prevent il
In che Of the western counties the trustee
was a Wei 10 do farmer, owning three hundred
"c'eS OF land Near his farm was situated the
schoolhouse and grounds. occupying one and a
N@l1 acres, with many fire heinlock ana pine
uees The trustee fenced in the school grouhdS
win harbed wire. and when a State inspector
N4sited the locality he found the trustee cdl'Ie'
Nheep and pigs quietly grazing within the lnclos-
ufe, leaving . narrow walk for the children TO