Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1908-03-28
Friday, April IA, Is The Day Set
FOR Its Observance.
GOV. DAWSON WRITES LETTER
Schools Urged TO Give Attention to
BIRD Study and Organize Audu-
bon Societies.


Day Annual for 1908, with program,
notes, and suggestions, has been is
sued By state Superintendent Thos.
G. Miller. Of the department Of free
schools, calling upon teachers and
pupils to observe Arbor and Bird
Day on Friday. April 10. The annual
contains s. printed pages, with IL
plates In beautiful co'ors OF the for
est, birds and West Virginia school
buildings.
In his announcement, Supt Miller
says that in most states of the Undo>
an Arbor Day is provided by law. but
Notwithstanding that no measure Of
this kind has ever been passed by
the state Legislature, for more than a
quarter Of a century the observance
of such day has not been overlooked
by the people of West Virginia. Not
only has this work resulted In i'm
proving school grounds and school
surroundings in many places, but its
influence has reached the homes OF
our people, and shows itself in I'M
proved conditions there. He says:
In accordance with this custom,
the second Friday in April has been
observed By our schools for num-
Der Of years as Arbor Day, and
trust that more Will be accomplished
this year than ever before. Let its
influence be seen not only around our
school buildings and our country
homes, but in towns and cities as
well. The streets of many of our
cities can be greatly improved by
treeplanting and proper arrange.
ment of shrubbery / suggest that
special prominence be given to the
study and that ON this occasion Audu-
bon societies be organized in many of
our schools. Our songsters are fast
and the youth OF this
state should be taught to love and
protect the birds, instead of destroy
ing them
Among the contents of this COM
plete annual is letter from Gov
ernor Dawson to the school children
Of the state. as follows.
Charleston, March y, 1908.
TO the School Children If West vir-
ginia:
your head-master, Mr.. State SUI
perintendent Thomas G. Miller. has
asked me to write a word about Arbor
Day, which is also Bird Day and
Cleaning-Up Day
we ought to make war on dirt and
filth, because wise men have found
out that disease is caused by tiny an
imals, which we cannot see with the
naked eye, and that these dreadful
things breed and live on dirt and
filth.
Birds: What girl or boy who does
not love birds, Would it not be well
for each OF you to learn all you can
about the birds of West Virginia;
their names, their songs and calls.
their colors, how they build their
nests, where they go in winter, and
other things about them?
''Arbor Day means the same as
Tree Day. If it can be done. let
everyone, or number together, plant
a tree, give it name, write down an
account Of the planting, which will
tell the kind of tree planted, where
planted, who they were that planted
it, and the name you gave it. But
the tree will need care after it is
planted, at least while it is young;
agree about caring for it. Arbor Day
is also fit day to care for trees. to
see that those planted before have
needed attention. Trees are living
things though they cannot move
about from place to place as birds
and dogs do; but trees eat, breathe,
have blood, and they so to s'een ana
wake up again. Trees are very use
full Find olt~in how many ways
trees are useful. Why are crowds of
trees which we call forests useful:
and how may we protect our forests
from being destroyed? | am going to
Washington to meet the president
and the governors of all the other
states, and on the 18th, Ia and 18th
days of May we will talk about the
value of forests and how they can
best be preserved. | shall be clad to
have you write me how you think it
can best be done. Learn about the
trees of West Virginia. their names
and kinds, their uses, where they
grow, why one kind of tee grows
in one place and another kind OF a
tree grows in another place, and so
forth.
Everything that is useful is good,
and everything that is good is useful.
OWN. M. o. DAWSON"
Damper For Egg Dealers.