New-York tribune., 1903-05-09
4RBOR DAY IN SCHOOLS.
Picturesque and Interesting Erer-
csses Held Throughout the City.
Our parting words 70 big folks are these
II IS better 10 plant than TO cut down trees

II is better 10 plant than TO cut down trees
This sentiment with which the 'Tttlest boy in the
class William Massure. hardly desk high, closed
the exercises in Public School No. 11s. marked the
order of the day throughout city schcoldom yester
day As ons small girl remarked ecstaticslly as
she watched the packing of the earth around the
last Of three planted in front Of her pardcu-
lar p s" My New-Yorku soon be a woods II
We child1ens keep onr' Numbers Of good sized
trees were put into the ground during the day
and where this was impracticable. roots and seeds
were planted and a good part of the school day
was given over to talks and exercises that brought
the wealth Of nature vfvidly before the children
At Public School No 81, in West Forty-fourth-st,
Of which Martin H Ray has long been principal the
practical value Of the day was illustrated by the
planting OF q whole row Of trees in front Of the
building At the College Settlement, No 90 Riv-
ington-st-, five South Carolina poplars were put
into the ground with appropriate ceremonies a
band of Eldridge and Orchard and Rivington St
l,ovs calling themselves Little Acorns.' and who
all winter have been making scrapbooks for de
poor kids what haven't any,, taking prominent part
IN the exercises.
At the Jacob a Riis house in Henry-st.. ten
poplars were sung into their places II the near
neighborhood by chorus Of fifty children led by a
cornet- For blocks around the strains o. Amer
lea" Columbia and THE Star Spangled Ban
1ler" filed the air. DIR. David II. Greer. Commis-
sioner Wilcox and DR.. Blaustein, Of the Educa-
tional Alliance, among the interested up
town" spectators Ice and cake, small
tables placed about the playground in the rear. re-
saled the small songsters afterward-
The tiniest leaf or bud that chanced to fall was
greedily gathered up and treasured by little fin
gers that had never gathered wild flower. and
Miss Waterbury. the headworker, said that during
the entire summer the ragged wilted leaves that
fell from the ailantus trees were carefully pre-
served and taken to school trophies, or honored
with q place in such vases and vessels as the
home afforded. Not green thing to this
settlement misses generous welcome.
A maple in Carmine-st., at the back Of the
school the centre Of enthusiasm for Public
School No. lib yesterday. The exercises which pre-
ceded those around the tree, however. were per-
haps more interesting the generous section Of
the public that crowded the assembly to
joy them The afternoons programme, which
in charge Of Miss Vernetta Hathaway, one Of the
teachers. distinct success, from the flag
lutte and two verse address Of welcome" deliv-
cred by very small person in white frock and
long. blue ribboned curls. TO the march 'out and
down that closed the happy day.
Among the pretty original exercises given was
e flag and wreath drill, which was unusually well
done and effective. Then. there was the 'sunbonnet
mai6ens and a number OF interesting little songs
and recitations. The rooms were hlled with now.
ers, and a blossoming plant sraced the oesh o.
every child Among those who made short ad-
oFessta 70 ie ciii'i -i ii GIa;toIet Fnsc5nSI
the Washington SqlaIe A1etlloSlst ~!
Church Dr.. Wilmer, Of the local school board itnd
Miss Florence Allen gave the children vocal
aog fbose VINO eniSwed the chiidrens work were
Mrs Mary Simkovitch. Miss Draper and Mrs.
Stewart.
Thomas ]. Boyle principal of the boys. depart
CT Primary School No Is. and Miss Josephine
Rogers principal of the girls department OF the
same school. secured permission from fark toI-
missioner Wilcox to plant trees yesterday IN Sew
ard Park At 1:30 O'Clock in the afternoon fourteen
hundred girls and eight hundred boys. in charge OF
their teachers. marched from the schoolnouse 10
5he park which had been closed 70 the pupLlc LOT
The occasion. Captain Hodgips. OF the MadlSoIl-st
station had about forty policemen on the grounds
70 preserve order Monograph printed programme
each Of which had cover bearing an original ue
picture drawn by Of the pupils We're dlsuID-
Ited The boys patriotically declared thelr al!e ;
glance 70 the flag. and the girls sang Old tTioFy.
lTe Love Thee" old Hundred" was sung IN fe-
sv0r-e the BOYS A letter from state SupeFlI
te-derr Skinner of the Public Schools was read liIo
1ie airls sang song 10 the Forest Pr1nclllalss
Iovl- and Rogers delivered brief addresses; anu
then the first tree planted, a Itue glfI ana
in the first earth AFTER lfle E1ld4I-
irg II a second tree the children sang the brave
Old oak" and America" and then marched pdck
10 rF.a The in the vicinity were
rFr0rlged with interested onlookers