La Junta tribune., 1915-08-14
OUR CITY BEAUTIFUL.
Inspecting School Home Gardens
Hail BlAsted Hopes oS Many
Some Suggestions Offered.

1
Some Suggestions Offered.
Should you be told that there 10
some one In your back yard, don't
say. II have nothing for him." for
bless your soul maybe II isn't
him At all. and the visitor may have
no thought of asking for a hand
out" Looking out you are likely
to see well dressed lady. or two of
them. maybe--garden visitors sent
out by the City Federation OF Wo-
mems Clubs to inspect the school
home gardens--what Is left OF them
after the hail storms OF last spring,
The year 1915 is likely to be re-
membered by the rising generation
In La Junta rs the year OF the hail
storms, even as an older generation
from over seas. dates all things from
the year OF the big wind"
High were the hopes OF the gard
eners in planting time. Bright were
the visions they cherished. Fondly
they watched for the seed to sprout,
and joyously they greeted the first
green shoots. Soft leaves unfolded
to the sunshine. Colorado skies
smiled serenely down--and then, In
an hour. the heavens were overcast,
the storm broke. and where beauty,
and hope and promise were. desola-
ton reigned.
Rude lesson. but valuable none
the less. For such Ia the fate OF
our life's early promise!" quoting
the words Of the Sweet Son OF SONG,
though they were not applied to ju-
vsnile gardens. or Colorado hail
storms originally.
Many Of the gardens wsre utterly
destroyed. Some were aursed back
p continue . more or less sickiy sx-
tfatehte: and some few survived to At
taia maturity. but mostly. they bear
}hes e1Ss. 49, Of the boys aad
BtFts wsrs' bsavs sAoush 10 plant
asala. bat shsslslt gardens did aot
0sive % vsll. Bst TIN dess not
mean that there ere no gardsas II
IL Junts this year. Dear. no. There
are gardens that escaped the haiti.
though many Of theae were planted
BY grown ups. and there are flowers
every ywhere-not content with bloom
Ing In back yards a. os yo-c. but ev-
crywhere. They nod ai you from
the porch aud window boxes. They
welcome you the moment you leave
the street. coming down To the very
walks edge 10 greet you. Some
times they smile up at you from the
parkinss and they have been known
10 hang over the hack yard fences
making even the alleys bloom.
How different from = few short
years ago. Not but that ws shall
continue TO imporve. While the old
fsshionsd flowers are not bsing
crowded out. there are many new
10 Ia Junta. this year. aad some Of
these are very beautiful.
A visitor at the encampmcnt In
June said: Il did 10 dread coming
Ia la Junts. \ friend Of mine told
me ] should find Il the dreariest
place. She WAS through here Q
good many years ago. aud she said
u was asmost unintercsting spot
little old town stuck upon . sand
hiii. and not a tree In the place.
Why. II IL really a beautiful city. I
am 10 glad I came
And right Glad We are. citizens Of
la Junta. that II Was given 10 us,
to stretch out our green lawns. like
soft carpets. st the feet Of these old
soldiers. for YEARLY they marched.
aud for ~. In the Gays gone by.
Proud We are that our city's broad
branches sheltered those gray heads.
" only for = day. and that our roses
bresihed sweet fasrance 10 those vet.
crans ~ they passed. Nor did Ia
Junta fail In ausht In the way Of
hospitality. Mach credit Ia due 70
those who had In charge the arrange.
menta for entsrtainmsnt aad public
comfort. because Of which L. Junsa
will be- remembered 10 kindly b.
those who attended the encampmeae.
hut all this IL BY the way.
| Was u ths presldeat Of the Con.
merriai Club. Who. not loag aeo.
urged the planting of trees aloae
the streets Of our city another s0siagf
~ whomsoever made. tie susssstloa
10 an sxcsllsst oae. stsad a. ~
crest os THE hllI. on Flfsh serooe,
locking wsst. out over ~ asw Co..
80 bs11ss that 10 u ~. 1uaG1no
~ sersee dova y ~ assega -
eeyee1s eut tArouOA Wese L Sunoo,
I1MAA mAoAmm naA~ - =