The Holt County sentinel., 1913-05-16

the absence from the city oil It's au-
thor, the paper was read 10y Mrs.
Emma Philbrick:
Genuine progress toward beauty OF
towns and cities can be only logical ana
harmonious. II the crusade for civic
beauty Is to amount to anything II
must begin with demands for COM
fort and well.being. The wish for a
beautiful street will remain always
visionary until the want is felt OF a
good street and a clean one. with
this secured the growing enthusiasm
for making our town fairer would DE
no longer a dream but a practical
reality within our grasp. The moral
and spiritual standards Of the people
would be advanced by an artistic,
harmonious and beautiful environ.
ment, and their political ideals Will
rise with a civic pride and a com.
munity spirit born OF the apprecia'
ton that they are citizens OF mo
mean city"
How worthy an end then Is munich
pal art for individual and associated
effort. Could man or woman, wo-
mans club or civic organization con.
secrate itself TO higher purposesr ON
how many sides moral. physical, In
tellectual, political and economic
does an effort for beauty In towns ana
cities touch the welfare of mankindy
In the mental picture of beauti'
full city or village the tree has an IN
separable part. Tree arched streets
the back ground Of foliage, the soften
ing of stern facade. the play OF light
and shadow through them, the
screening of the suns glare upon
walk and window, the lovely chroni'
Gle Of the seasons progress a. !, IS
written on the tree where all can
read it-,hcsc are factors Of beauty
impressing themselves at once upon
the mind a. requisites Of our "city
beautiful" They are universal In
appeal. If the tree then he so impor'
tant an element In urban beauty, why
has its value been 80 long disregardcdf
How comes II that popularity the
trees planting and care are still so
neglected. Oregon naturally unus'
ally blessed with trees does NOT care
for her tall children a. she should.
Just last Sunday on a short walk
about town | moi iced more than q
dozen trees either needing attention
10 preserve them, or trimming. Many
Others should have been entirely cut
away and new ones set on, In their
place. Many yards could he greatly
improved II trees were 10 he planted
at their front, or In them. The trees
In the school yard. am told, are sad.
~ neglected, and this place OF all
places should be- made 10 preserve It's
beauty.
IL Is encouraging for Us To note,
however, that regard for stree, trees
has formed an important part of the
creed of village improvement, socie'
ties. To preserve old trees and TO
plant new while the community Is
small, and TO teach that II can never
grow big enough TO slight them with
reason. or 10 let business elbow them
away, Is almost TO assure good trees
and large ones for n future beautiful
town.
The Laurel lin Association, of
Mass, which Is said to
have been the trst village improve
ment society, In the United States,
began It's operations by planting more
than 400 trees, the first year, and by |
Offering prizes and other rewards for
evidence leading to the conviction Of
those who injured q tree, protected
them. This was In 1853, and their
activity Is now fairly typical. At
North Adams such an improvement |
society obtained appropriations from
the town for the planting Of trees by |
the roadside, and the public places,
and offered prizes to children for the
eggs OF destructive caterpillars. At
Aiken, S. c., the village improvement |
society appointed committee on the
planting Of pine trees, and II has per-
formed a magnificent work. Each Of
these lines OF effort Is rich In result,
and may be recommended. Massa.
chusetts provides In her constitution
for the election OF tree warder In |
every town, whose care shall be the
shade trees, and who Is TO be paid a |
salary. Every town needs one and at |
present, Oregon Is sadly In need OF a |
tree surgeon.
A second point In securing a beauti.
full city, is the care of vacant lots. |
Oregon's vacant lots are a disgrace.
Vines and tall shrubs could be plant
ed to conceal the ugly view revealed
by ones In the center OF town.
Especially unattractive to strangers