Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1908-01-03
YOUNG BEAUT|F|ERS,
ST. Louis Boys and Girls lmprov-
ing Their Town.
UGLY SPOTS TRANSFORMED.
The Plan Of Offering Prizes For tho
Improvement Of Home Grounds Prov
Ing Highly suoeessful-Whoie Blocks
Of Residents Interested In the Work.

Ina Hiahly sueeessful-Whole Blocks
Of Residsnts Interested In the Work.
The plan adopted In ST. Louis to In
duce the children TO take up the work
of town improvement might be follow
cd by any community to advantage.
The philosopher who pronounced the
small boy a natural savage would
modify his opinion II he lived in that
town today, for during the last few
years the 81. Louis boy has developed
a taste for the aesthetic quite equal In
kind, II not In degree, 10 that shown by
his sisters and his cousins and his
aunts. In addition TO the multifarious
smusements and employments the 81.
Louis boy has acquired a taste for
flower growing. and all over the town,
In yards OF both low and high degree,
the sound Of the hoo is heard, together
with the voice Of Its operator, as he
noislly consults with his fellows con-
cerning the best things TO plant and
how tho planting ought to be done.
This sudden activity on the part Of
the boys IL not due TO aesthetic inspira-
tion so much as TO the stimulus fur
nished by the ofrer OF prizes, says the
Bt. Louis Globe Democrat. The small
boy IL not a natural garden maker. IL
he were to consult his individual pref
erences in the matter OF back yards,
jimson weed would suit him as well
as a hibiscus: broken cpockery. tin
cans and halves OF bricks would an
swer his purpose as we'll as green
sward and bedding plants, but with a
Ave dollar prize N view. together with
the distinction arising from it's attain-
ment, the boy In willing to hustle. and
In many parts Of the town the hustling
has been followed by surprising re-
suits.
Nearly ten years ago ID. NJ. Hnziett.
q well known citizen Of 6t. Louis, who
In other towns and cities had been
identified with movements having civic
Improvement In view, took up tho mat
ter OF yard Identification as a special
theme and delivered In ono Of tho
churches In the southwestern district a
lecture on the subject. dwelling espe-
eially on what could be accomplished
By boys and girls In making beautiful
the surroundings Of tho house. Much
interest was aroused. The lecture was
followed By others Of a practical char
actor, with Illustrations showing what
had been done elsewhere and what
might bs done here. The boys began to
bestir themselves Competition was
Sarouscd. Residents In block In many
easss determined upon common plan
of improvement so as 10 give the neigh
borhood the appearance Of unity.
Small prizes were offered for back yard
improvement by boys and girls. Tho
Idea spread, and soon neglected back
yards began to blossom - the rose.
Then the Suburban Railroad com.
pany had q sudden inspiration. The
greater portion OF It's line from Vande-
venter avenue to the city limit Is locat'
cd ON its own right OF way. which runs
through an alley fringcd on both sides
by back yard fences. ash heaps and
the miscellaneous debris that always
collects In an alley when, Ms In that
case. no particular objection Is made 10
It's use as Il dump The Suburban peo-
pie heard criticisms OF their roadway.
Visiting strangers touring the city were
advised TO ride ON other lines 40 the
Suburban management undertook TO
improve lts surroundings by Offering
prizes for the handsomest back yards.
The boys ana girls along the route
were not slow To hear or those prizes.
spadlng hoclng, planting and Watering
went on, with surprising results. Ash
heaps. tin cans, broken crockery and
bottomlcss barrels vanished. and on
long stretches OF the track tho former
unhandsomc yards became bowers OF
fiornl beauty
There ls n general idea that nower
garden is an expensive luxury, attain
able only 10y the rich Tint depends
altogether upon what is planted one
may spend n hundred dollars and Sc
cure no handsomer results than by the
expenditure VI Y hundred cents, Rare
shrubs and plants ure generally eNpcn-
Hivc but rare plants are not necessary
20 make II yard attractive, and as
general thing the common plants ana
vines. being Vigorous ~ growth and
thoroughly Ncclimutcd. mnkc hotter
showing In the yard than the tcudrr