The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-04-15

be erected by the city and We have no douot
that the people Of the city as q Whole are WILL
ing to incur the cost, even as II would be
willing for individuals TO assume the expense
For this reason, we have no doubt. that the
city will gladly assist all such patriotic oiti-
zens as may be willing to begin the work.
By cooperation OF the city with individuals,
good and attractive foun tains may be as
sured. The city Of Abbeville Is moving for.
ward on higher and broader planes than ever
before, and the city needs fountains that will
be In keeping with the Court house, the City
hall, the monument, and the beauty Of the
park itself.
Excepting the monument, the fountains
will be by far the most conspicuous attract
ions In the park. and as a consequence they
should be OF the most attractive make OF
their kind. Everybody loves q fountain and
the eye never tires of flowing water.
For all time the temple OF love .'as been as
ISOLATED With flowing waters. and the deep
enticing shade, where 1.-THE strong, the brave
the virtuous, and the Wise link into soft cap
tivity together.
In olden times men Worshipped In the for.
egts beneath the shade OF giant oaks, and
beside bsbbling brooks devout worshippers
knelt and look cd from nature up TO natures
god, as they uttered their prisons to the
Giver OF every good and perfect gift And no
degree Of civilization or culture has yet been
able 10 separate US from the love Of those Gus.
toms which were held In high esteem In the
prlmeval days. We may not now boast OF
the waving cane and the magnificent oaks
that kissed the sky In days that made this
section historic, but we may have with as the
green grass, the modest violet. the sweet
blooming bush. from all Of which may ascend
to heaven on every breeze the sweetest In
cense. We may not have In our park the
babbling brook, but we may have the fowinR
fountain whose sparkling waters may please
the eye while making melody to soothe the
wearied ear. We may not have In our park
the music OF the hooking bird. The chatter
OF the oriole may not add its voice to the uni
versal hymn, (no reflection on Psalm sing
ers,) but we may nave from the time the first
dawn OF day streaks the eastern sky, and
until the shades Of evening again appear, the
everlasting and tireless sore Iah Of the intern
al English sparrow. rur aese and sundry
other reasons, let Us have ne best fountains
that may be within our Zach.
Because OF these facts the fountains should
be the most ornamental that We can afford to
buy. They should be like the court house
and the city hail. 20 far ahead OF the times
that the children Of this generation would
pass them still fur ther on down the line. We
have had heap things, and we have neglect
ed to beautify our public grounds long
enough. Now, when we are getting splendid
public buildings the fountains and park
should come up TO what may be the require
ments u the people for many years yet 70
come. All honor TO the individuals who are
willing to assume personal expense. and all
honor to the City Counoi for giving the re-
quired improvements. The City Council
could not now afford 10 "fsll down" on the
finishing touches.
While we think the erection Of the foun.
tains is properly the work Of the city yet 70
love to see their generosity In allowing indi-
viduals the opportunity to give substantial
evidence Of their patriotism.
tn improvement Of the park Is not an In.
dividusl enterprise: 1t is not wholly q city
enterprise; fer the property In fact belongs 10
the county, and there Is not q man within
its borders who would not take pride In
identifying the centre OF county government.
That liberslity and wisdom which the coun.
Gil has shown In building up and beautifying
the city may be depended upon to assume
the entire expense OF the park without ask
log aid OF the county or individuals Of the
city.
P. 8. After more mature elaboration we
would like to know why any fountain at ell
should be put in the park. The proper place
for a magnificent fountain, costing, say,
$500, 1t seems 10 us, is In the grounds front.
ing the Court house and City hall. We learn
however, that private individuals are CON-
templating the purchase OF two magnificent
$50 fountains.