The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1907-05-30
VOx POPULI.
ELOQUENT PLEA FOR
THE CITY BEAUTIFUL

Editor Pensacola Journal:
II occurred TO me Just this moment.
while watching the curling blue rings
noating above my cigar, that here in
thls happy land, with a wealth of sea
ana sky, and balmy airs, that nature
with all her lavish gifts to this fair
cline, has failed to trellis into the soul
Oh man, as he exists upon the little
pile of dirt known as Pensacola, the
instinct Of the beautiful. This thought
by the way, was inspired by the sorry
absence OF anything tnat man has
done about this peaceful habitation by
the sea to enhance the beauty of its
streets and by-ways
Nature here appeals to the great
soul of man for recognition, and ap-
pedls in vain, for it is very evident
that the art instinct has never hit the
inhabitants of this old Spanish habitat
much of stunning blow, judging from
the lack of commonplace adornment
along its highways and about its
parks. So l am coaxing for a place in
the columns of The Journal for the
purpose of sending out vibrations to
congenial souls, that love the peaceful
shade, the happy sight of flowers,
and the friendly cooling lawn, where
imagination loves to dwell.
| trust these feeble vibrations along
the wire will find and touch the many.
many starving souls that have spent
weary years upon the dusty rusty
streets of a city, set like jewel in a
maiden's ring, for the dawn of a di-
Yinely day, when the streets and
parks of this fair old town would
come out of their dirty gray.
Another blue ring just caught on
the wing. and 1 saw the glimmer of
hope. People who stand with their
faces to the east never despair, ana
so in the unity of effort there is a
power that can change the face of
this lucky old town like the face of
the clock, and make a fellow feel
proud he got here before changing his
habitat for a prison in the skies.
This can all be done. You don't
have to fall off a mountain to do it,
either. If row of camphor trees
were planted along this street, and a
row of magnolias on that street, and
a row of Texas umbrella trees-and
don't think | refer to the Chinaberry
tree-On the other; bed of flowers
here and there in the parks; a shrub
here, and a shrub there. and then a
cooling seat for the moonlight, and the
crickets song. for the maiden in love
who is coming along: or the fellow
VINO Is caught IN the tangle OF time,
finds a seat for the memory of years
behind. Surely we have the right to
dream after the day is DER. with toll
and sweat shed at the counting house
door.
Now then, trees will grow where
you plant them. They do not need
coaxing, like politicians. for your
rights. God made the trees for man,
and so for the very same reason he
made everything else that is beauti-
full, and all these things Pensacola can
have just by going for them. and It
would not hurt the city's gold pile
either.
l am quite convinced that there is
at this time enough God-given ma
terial in the human make up within
the circumference of this placid Pen
sacOlian scene to start the city beauti-
full right here and now. WIggle your
thinkeries, my friends, for the cause
of human existence, and am with
you.
1t has burned down to a measely
stump. I will light another when the
next fellow treats. when may be there
will be other blue rings like these
Respectfully.
w r RARTON