The Springdale news., 1906-05-18
Only a Letter

Springdale. Ark. May r., 19l6.- Dear Mary:-I know you are auX- jous!y awaiting my letter, but after you have read all l have tO relate. you will then understand 1t requires more time for me to look over Springdale and surrounding country at the pre- sent than 1t did ten years ago. when you and 1 turned our fearful eyes to- ward our eastern home. Do you fully realize il was in the year 1906 about the first of May since we left the home of our childhood to make our home in Maryland? 1 find there has been great changes here since we moved away, and to correctly depict everything as l now see it, 1 shall be- gin from my first impression upon en- tering the city. You may laugh at the word city, but that is the only word appropriate for Springdale now.
 arrived 0n the night train and as l alighted to the platform, l was very much surprised to see in front of me q large new depot. and it was so beau tifully lighted within and without with electricity that l could not help but admire the peculiar architecture of the building: 1t would do credit to d much larger city. 1 accompanied the porter to the nearest hotel which proved to be the old Arcade it has been Sc enlarged and modernized that l would never have recognized the place but for the name, and at the sight of Mf. Renner, fWno by the way is still the proprietor l then knew l was on old stamping ground at last, l was shown t0 my room which 1 found to have electric lights as we'll aS . bath Tn connection. and 1 then knew that at last Springdaic'S hopes have been realized, and l found out upon inquiry the next day. that they now have an excellent system of water works at a nominal cost, for they have in use one of those new fangled systems that are so popular in the East. After breakfast the next morning 1 took stroll toward the north and of course soon came to the place that used to be known as the town park and Auditorium. but my how changed-I found they had re- moved at least one half of the trees from the park-and in the center stands beautiful band stand built similar to "a Chinese pagoda. Electri- cal fountains add to the beauty of the scene. also observed the park to be seated with the same glass setees we see now in the parks of all large clues In crossing the street to the Auditorium 1 was pleased to see 1t bad been enlarged, and seated Nlth the latest style opera chairs you remember the old benches that used te be in there Well found the stage settings superb: the man in charge told me that they now have shakesperian and various historic plays presented there each week, and 9n every Sunday D m. he says they have lectures given to the chi 'dren followed by musical program by the children and adults. The lectures are usually delivered by women and he Says they are very pop alar and instructive The building IS lighted and heated by electricity l had one more good drink from the biz spring or the Auditorium grounds, and really 1t is the best water on this planet. The grounds are beautifully laid out in flowers and foliage plants The landscape gardener told me that the city and R. R. together employ him. The depot gro unds are also pictaresquelly laid out Tn the choicest variety of roses.
 After dinner l took the street car and went about the business portion of the city, and 1t IS all so changed. l forbear trying to go into detailed de scriptlon, suffice to say it is all up-t6- date in every way Emma Avenue for one mile west and one mile east Of the R. R is given to business houses. The other streets running north and south for about the same distance are also business districts The new postoffice building is. con- modiOus, and l am pleased to say is kept as neat as pin, - having a janitor to do the work now, 1t is kept fn q manner betittipg a city l saw several large wholesale houses and also some new hotels.
 After nights rest the next murn- ins l visited the residence portion of the city. It struck me immediately that Springdale has surely developed the artistic, for the lawns are cer- talnly dreams of beauty. in fact 1t seems to me that each vieS with the other in producing something new and unique in the way of decoration Of their lawns. Just think there are 10 fences to be seen-and by the way 1 met an old friend of ours ana in talking to him about how much nicer bhe lawns looked without fences l asked him how it ever happened Springdale had banlShed the towr COW. lie told me that the town council be- fore Springdale became a city, grew tired of waiting for the people to pro- bioit them running at large, SD took the Felns ln their own hands and you see the result. 1 wondered why the council had not acted in the matter while We still resided in Springdale but 1t IS alright now, thanks to pro. sresslon. l next visited the schools
 ou know 1 have always been greatly interested along educational lines, 50 Il was With great joy l noticed the three new school buildings. Upon investigation l found one to be given wholly To Kindergarten and manual tralnlng; the other two are the public school and high school, all under the supervision of very intellectual and broad minded superintendent. l find physical culture and hygiene taught ID all grades. l observe they begin to teacn by illustrated charts the bad effects of narcotics upon the physical body, mind and spirit, and the teach ln9s are carried to the highest grade where if iC cnia~t;%,ooltu rla.~~n.,