New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-10-01

in feeling that they were quite too casual and
informal to harmonic with the new fountain
The Daughters Of the American Revolution,
in order 10 mark point Of historic interest, set
up e large bOwlder bearing q bronze tablet.
The inscription. by the way, II stock let
tering. which costs less than half much as
lettering designed for the special purpose, and
has very neat and businesslike look, as
though it were the product OF q sort of gigantic
typewriter.
In the mean time further decorative planting
was undertaken A weeping beech three pur-
pie barberries, four golden elders. a Colorado
blue spruce, several assorted conifers. six hy-
drangeas and some good plants of native rhodo
dendrOn, were set out. The purple barberries
and the golden eldes were grouped together Cbe-
cause they always do go together you know,
and pleasant open locations were selected for
me others, where they could be readily seen
The local florist was active and public spirit
ed member Of the Improvement Association. and
he has maintained for four years at his own ex-
let, star and a. crescent and a Maltese cross
in bulbs, followed by summer bedding plants
Now what IS the net result of all this
establishment? The bit Of rich informal
gardenesque treatment round the lily pond
looks lonely and i'll at ease in its
simple and severe surroundings; the specimens
Of ornamental shrubs and trees dotted here and
there are individually interesting, but incon-
sequential; the delicate and almost Unprecedented
Italian fountain and the D. A. r. bowIder stare
each other out of COuntenance and the old COM
mon, which forms the framework and back
ground for all this decoration, is quite bewl-
dered and Defuddled. It's quiet open spaces are
fTittered away with decorations. the simplicity
OF us pl2ln shortcut paths IS at OQQS with the
newer introduCtions its old character is shat
tered. and in place of it no single character
worthy of the name is to be recognized, but
series Of samples suggesting half dozen diff
ferent characters any one Of which might with
good effect. be given to the tract, but none OF
which has been.
single step beyond the neat and orderly pro-
vision for generally recognized practical neces-
sites OF the village is to look fairly and square
~ into the future, to adopt a definite ard COM
prehenSive plan and policy, and never to under
take or accept a project Of Improvement with
out earnestly and deliberately comparing its
proba bic results with the aims Of the general
plan. However wise and comprehensive they
may be. such general plans must from time TO
time he modified but the notifications should
he thoughtfuIly and deliberately accepted, not
drifted into haphazard-
A savage, forced by the limitations Of his con-
ditton, may live upon a spare and healthy diet.
Give him the opportunities Of civilization and
he will gorge himself with indigestible COM
binGtions, selected at random from among the
endless number Of things that individually please
his palate. The civilized man may be equally
fond Of the same things, but when he wants
good dinner he resolutely rejects nine-teuths OF
the things which please him the bill Of fare.
for the sake of adequately enjoying what he
elects to have at that particular place and time
What village inprovers seem often to forget
is that their selections from the bill Of fare are
not for q day only, but for many years. and
must be considered in relation TO the selections
Of the past and of the future for the locality in
VIII it be beautiful?" should be asked as TO
any proposition for improvement but It is not
by any means the first question TO be asked
rs il in purpose and tendency aiming in the
direction we have deliberately chosen?" "Is II
appropriate to that particular kind OF common.
mark street, dooryard or township which
can reasonably look forward 10 having during
the neriod in which the Improvement will be
e4fecfive?" These are the first questions TO ask
in such a case They are often hard TO answer,
INT real improvements are not made easily and
fhoughtlessly. Time, effort and money expended
on embellishments. without painstaking thought
&c "a their ultimate result are apt to be worse
g., rracted while wise forethought as TO pUr-
LES nd tendencies may so shape the simplest
PosJI+.risn necessities Of a village to give It
The beauty Of consistency, harmony and truth
- Atlantic Monthly.