Evening star., 1902-08-08
SLIGHTLY SCHOOL YARDS
DISCUSSED BY OUTDOOR ART AS
ISOLATION.
Reports Read on the Work Accomplish
ed-Election of Officers-The
Woman's Auxiliary.

The members of the American Park and
Outdoor Art Association were favored
with the very choicest of Boston summer
resort weather yesterday, the closing day
of their annual meeting at Boston. The
sessions were largely devoted to business.
Clinton R. Woodruff of Philadelphia, sec
retary of the National Municipal League,
was chosen president of the association.
Mrs. Herman J. Hall of Chicago was re-
elected president of the Womans Auxil-
larry. Other officers of the association are:
Vice presidents, w. Ormiston Roy of Mon
treal, Dick J. Crosby of Washington, War
rem H. Manning Of Boston; secretary,
ChaS. M Robinson of Rochester, n. Y;
treasurer, o. c. Simonds, Chicago.
The Woman's Auxiliary also elected the
following: First vice president, Mrs. Pier
pont Edwards butcher, Milwaukee,: second
vice president, Miss Margrette K. Christen-
sen, Louisville; secretary, Miss Jessie Gard
ner, Chicago; treasurer. Mrs. Mary NJ.
kehew, Boston. A committee for confed-
Grafton, whose object is to bring into har-
montous working order all societies which
are interested in the advancement of pub
lie art in the United States, was appointed,
with Clinton R. Woodruff of Philadelphia
as chairman. Buffalo was selected as the
place for the convention of 1903.
Most of the time was spent in listening to
reports made by the different branches in
regard to the Improvement of school yards.
In this way local work with much detail
the western cities of Chicago, milwaukee,,
San Francisco Pasadena and Los Angeles
and the southern cities of Louisville and
New Orleans. These branches are giving
primary attention to school surroundings.
The yards, front and rear. where oppor-
tunity for Improvement is open. are no
longer left in their grassless and unadorn-
ed condition. Trees set along the curb
strips. climbing shrubs planted along the
walls and flower beds laid out in artistic
arrangement are scattered in the open
spaces. The result is that many of the
most unSight!y school yards in various
cities have become blooming and attractive
areas, contributing alike to the comfort of
the pupils and their artistic culture.
Most of the reports stated that the pro-
gram of the auxiliary branches is to take
the worst school areas first, and a most
gratifying fact is the interest which the
children having the most squalid home con-
ditions have developed in promoting the i'm
provement of their school yards. The
juvenile tendency to destroy things of
beauty has been easily checked, so that no
efforts of the branches relative to city
schools have been wasted.
In some instances prizes for the best-look-
ing yards have introduced profitable
rivalry on the part of the schools.
Among the various experiments tried is
the successful one of encouraging the pupils
to secure shrubs and plants and flowers for
themselves, and setting them out under
older guidance. This plan has fostered
sense of ownership which inspires boys and
girls to more attention and care of the inn
proved yards.
One instance was cited in which the boys,
with small carts and WheelbarrOwS, cleared
a rough space of debris, and with hoes and
rakes leveled the area, while the girls lent
their aid in setting the vegetation for
growth and adornment. This case was read
as a text for the topic of teaching the
school children to take a prominent part in
the beautifying and protection of school
territory.
The auxiliary branches are not confining
their attention to schools: they are deVOt-
ing time to the adornment of hooks by the
side of the railways. unseemly areas near
factories, and, in fact bringing the aid of
green nature to cover up and to screen
places that offend the eye and detract from
the general beauty of the city.
Further, the auXiliarieS have taken in
terest not only in matters of urban ad0rn-
ment. but in things sanitary, counseling
with boards of health and inspiring the re-
moval of whatever menaces the public
health. In all this work, according to the
reports heard here yesterday, the women
have been gratifyingly seconded by the
press and municipal officials. In fact the
hearty cooperation extended to them by
teachers, school superintendentS, mayors,
aldermen, factory owners and others shows
how pertinent is the work which the wo-
men have undertaken and how forcibly 1t
appeals to the general average sense of the
community.