New-York tribune., 1915-03-28

II philosopher He is setting the Ital-
ian-American population OF large
section Of The Bronx to work to make useful
and beautiful the vacant lots ana in out-Pin-
greeing the late Governor Pingree of Michigan,
who. as Mayor of Detroit, first utilized such
tracts and immortalized himself as the creator
of 'Pingree patches"
Patri's plan is moro comprehensive than
Pingree's. II goes deeper. He is going TO do
more than raise potatoes and other vegetables
He is creating beauty where there was uginess'
and he Is making the young generation OF
Italian-Amercans better acquainted with their
parents, and strengthening the bond between
young America and old Italy.
Patri Is principal of Public School IS, that
fine new structure, almost in the shadow
of Fordham University, which was opened in
the fall of io17 to relieve overcrowded schools
already established in The Bronx, where the
population is greater than that Of Buffalo. Be
fore he went to No. As he made reputation
as the head Of another school by his social
settlement work He brought parents into CO.
operation with teachers by the formation Of
parents associations, mothers clubs and other
social organizations at No 4, and now he Is
continuing that line of endeavor In his new
location while launching back-to-the-sol
movement that may be farreaching in its con-
sequences.
VEGETABLE GARDENS THAT WILL
SATISFY EYES AS WELL AS BODIES.
Vegetable gardens that will also beautify the
landscape are being started on fifty or more
- l., Ill of fOI1r
in Bronx Park has been allotted to this versa
tile school principal by Park Commissioner
Whittle This plot adjoins the farm next to
the Zoo, whose products help to feed the ami
mails in captivity. 1t may be that still moro
land will be granted by the park authorities,
but Mr.. Patri says that he is not ready to
talk Of that.
Meanwhile, the school authorities OF that
and other districts are becoming interested,
and it seems probable that many acres will
soon be in cultivation in The Bronx, in Staten
Island, in Richmond Hill and in other outlying
districts where vacant lots now lie idle and
unproductive Of anything but taxes. Several
members OF the Board OF Education, district
superintendents and the heads Of other schools
have visited Principal Patn and discussed his
plans. and there is none who is not favorably
impressed
While the plan itself may be productive OF
good in any school district where vacant
ground is available, it Is the personality Of its
originator which seems more important than
his plan. He is a politician in the best sense
of the word That is to say, he is polite, agree
able, convincing, earnest, energetic, able. He
knows how TO do things, and how to make
others help him do things He is slight but
strong and wiry Of build; pleasant OF manner
but purposeful and firm. He is studious hard
working, athletic, artistic.
With the Italian love OF beauty he combines
American practicability. That IS why he con-
ceived the idea Of changing the ugly land
scape, strewn with stones and ashes, which he
viewed from his Office window into places that
should produce not only useful vegetables but
beautiful flowers and shrubs. He outlined his
plan thus: