The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-11-13
4. LEON. IOWA. THURSDAY. NOVEMBER l3 1902.

Iu0 eQuCAlOQ6l problem. Inc 6ClOOl
garden is modern institution. In
some of the German states school gar
dens we're established over eighty years
ago but it is only thirty-thres years
since official encouragement was given
to them in Austria and Sweden and
these countries we're considered the pio.
neers in the movement. Now, we find
school gardens all over Europe, 10000
of them at least, and the movement is
spreading to the West Indies, Canada
and the United States. In the United
States school gardens we're unknown
twelve years ago, now they are found in
fourteen or fifteen different states and
fifty or seventy.five towns. This move
ment is being promoted by the state
departments of public instruction and
departments of agriculture. The United
States department of agriculture is
deeply concerned in it. The office of
experiment stations is the agency
through which the department keeps in
touch With the educational matters and
DR.. True, director Of the Office, is deeply
interested in whatever tends to the
efficiency Of our school systems. The
school garden is to interest the pupils in
the growth of plants and trees, and
while it may take some time from the
regular routine of school work, it more
than repays, by making school more
interesting and practically instructive
place. AS Spencer says: "If there is q
more worthy aim for US than ito be
drudges-if there are other uses in the
things around us than their power to
bring money-if there are higher facu!-
ties to be exercised than acuuisitive and
sensual ones-if the pleasures which
poetry and art and science and philos-
ophy can bring are of any moment
then it is desirable that tie instructive
inclination which every child shows to
observe natural beauties and investigate
natural phenomena should be encour-
aged" If nature study has become
fashionable then it may of truth be
said: "God bless fashion that makes
people happy, that makes rough natures
gentle. careless people careful, stupid
people bright, and, best of all, that
leads the soul through nature to its
Creator" I"
Lastly, but not least, the library
noyeEent by the women's clubs Of
lows has in the past year accomplished
unbounded good throughout the state.
Little do many Of us realize the good
and benefit derived from our own library
which was practically opened by few
interested people of our place about
year ago which today partially supplies
about five hundred people with reading
matter. 1t has been said: "Books are
werld-they interest and amuse us;
they speak to the mind and the heart;
they divert from care and sorrow; they
awaken the fancy and set the imagina.
ton atire. Books give us an opportun-
ity to know and love the best things.
SuuAuS ooono AAoplIc ldltu anu COur.
age, confirm hope, beguile sorrow, teach
wisdom, fill the memory with beautiful
and noble thoughts, thrill the heart
with heroic aspiration, SOW the mind
with the seeds of truth, bring the distant
and the past, with all their glories, VIC
tories, failures and defeats, to the homes
of even the poor and heavy laden, to
enrich, soothe and enighten their
weary and lonely lives"
Dreams, books, are each world; and
books we know
Are substantial world. both pure and
good.
Round these, with tendrils strong as
flesh and blood,
Our pastime and our happiness will
grow.