The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1910-07-21

of posies for all the countryside to en-
joy, would soften rural sentiment to-
ward the common-carrying corpora
tons.
But the experiment in Rhode Is
land merits a more serious considera-
ton. 1t is of piece with the beauti-
flying of railroad station yards. 1t
Iharmonizes with the artistic adorn-
ment of railroad depots The growth
of American civilization in the direc-
ton of beauty ard charm is shown in
the use which has been made of the
800 rose bushes, even if the expert
ment shall prove failure.
Gradually, in this land of Greek
sunshine, more than half the year,
and Greek summer warmth and glow
and sparkle in the air. Americans are
coming to have a Greek feeling for
beauty. They are growing, as a peo-
pie, toward art and grace and the fit
ness of things in the esthetic sense.
This change will gather Roadway
as it widens and deepens. Art builds
upon art, and beauty multiplies its
| lovers where it is made welcome.
American eagerness in the pursuit of
material gains has SCARED the hill
SlutS anu NdlltyS vi udil d NOnlluGul.
Perhaps the next generation will set
itself with increasing diligence to
the task of hiding many of these
marks of war and conquest.
Man had to hew his way into ma
lures forest Businesses and lay rough
hands upon natures howery valleys
and glades to make room for himself
in the New World. Now he is more
aro 81 10 81, srI.
as benefactor rich in gifts and guard
what he was once prone to destroy
1t is change bearing fruit in many
ways, and all for the increasing
wholesomeness and joy of life"
To many readers this experiment
of identifying railroad will be of
| interest and it ought to arouse more
widespread activity In the beautify-
ing of our highways and the grounds
about our homes. 1t is always a d.
| light to take a railway journey or a
carriage drive when the fruit trees
are in blossom. The sight of a neat
and attractive railroad station sur
rounded by a well kept lawn and
flowerbeds is pleasure to the travel.
er.
Culture is not plant of rapid
growth. The pioneer must provide
first of all food and shelter and safety
for his family AS communities be-
come well established more opporru-
nifty is found for developing the
I graces of life. Fortunately we are
reaching point in America where
more thought is being given than ever
before to satisfying the desire for
things beautiful What an improve
ment then it would be if flowers could
be cultivated in some degree along
our railroads, if more trees could be
planted along our highways, if more
attention could be given, both in city
and country, to the surrounding OF
our homes with well kept lawns and
attractive flowers.
The hunger for the beautiful may
not be as insistent as the hunger for
food, but it is just as natural. We pay
too little heed to the demand. With
small expense it might be easy to
make Vermont even more beautiful
than Nature left it at creation. BY
little forethought and cooperation
the planting of shrubs and flowers
we might add to our own pleasure
and to the delight of travellers.
Every attempt to make the wolld
more beautiful is step upward in
the march of civilization and deserves
the hearty encouragement of all who
would aid in establishing higher
standards of refinement than those OF
a purely commercial age.