The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1917-01-25

graceful fountain with goldfish, band
stand for public concerts, as we'll a
substantial and comfortable benches.
, This park has been, all these years
| think | may say, an untold pleasure
: and benefit. Here our churches, school
, and clubs have held their picnics. festi
walls and celebrations; the grassy swart
lends itself picturesquely to the page
ant; in one corner stands may pol,
ready for the dance.
Here, in the dappled shade, children
large and small, have played together
their lives unfolding as graciously ant
naturally as the flowers.
Young men and maidens find peace
and opportunity here for many 70.
mantle tetea tete.
Travellers passing through, are fire.
quently seen resting, between trains,
on the comfortable benches. Automo
bile tourists find it a convenient lunch
| ing place. And last, but by no means
least, all day long on hot summer Sun
days, men and boys of all classes are to
be found here enjoying the peaceful
Sunday quiet, talking, reading. or
merely lying on the grass in drowsy
content.
The City Park proved to be the nue.
Ieus of series. The next opportunity
was when the old Boys School building
was torn down and the title to the site
and grounds was found to be vested in
the town. Permission was given, and
Immediately taken advantage Of, to
turn this into playground. Grassy
walks, big shady oaks, strong swings,
jogging boards and two good tennis
courts keep this playground echoing to
the happy shouts of children at play
from early dawn all through the day
till the evening hours.
Next came the grounds for the new
Court House that We're made attractive
with flowers grass and trees, and are
we'll and properly kept up.
Another large rectangle below the
City Park tempted Us beyond resist
ance, so we next added this to our
chain. We do not feel that this park
has yet arrived at its zenith, since it is
not as old as the others-still we are
very proud of it, as it represents SO
much Of indi Jidual effort and co-opera-
tive work. 1t is not laid off in any
formal style, but with beautiful fern
cry donated by civic organization of
young girls, few tree seats, benches
and the addition recently OF two first
class tennis courts, We feel that it has
d good start on It's career Of beauty
and usefulness.
A triangle at the meeting of the two |
streets Ill residence district next en-
gagged our attention. A strong concrete
euro, vigorous young tt ees with well |
placed groups OF shrubbery is quickly
making this place as attractive ana
pleasing 70 the eye as it formerly was
unaLtractive and embarrassing.
Public opinion, in 1859, chry allied
into the form of compulsory concrete
sidewalks and tree planting, SO that
every streets an avenue Of Ieafy shade
in embryo, if not already so in fact.
An Annual Cleaning Day, proclaimed
oy the mayor, and observed by all,
gives US clean start each spring.
Other laws essential to good civic
housekeeping, such as, for instance,
strict garbage regulations and an anti
splitting ordinance, have been passed at
various times and seasons. | will say,
however, in passing, that We have
never yet-although We have tried Tor
o, these many planting seasons dis
covered all antl-chlcken ordinance that
1leases ali view points concerned. SO
hat in this matter SO vital to certain
letailS of civic Identification We still
must have recourse to the od-fashionaa
method OF making it personal affair
N the field OF battle. If you good
,eople OF NatchitocheS ever discover, ;
r if perhaps you have already discov- =
red, an ordinance that covers this i,
round satisfactorily, | hope you will
'e generous enough to pass it on to Us
linden folks VINO can't resist the lure
f the flower seed catalogue.
-Four years ago the principal of our
Iigh School invited the co operation
f some Of the citizens in improving
nd identifying the school grounds. :
Up to this time very little had been &C :
at the school (although we
ad fine modern building set in spaci-
US grounds), for the reason that the
me, money and energies of the school
uthorities had been expended in other
ecessary directions. Mr.. Smells iavi-
alton was cordially accepted A com
littee was appointed, and work begun
Some very handsome '
and an artistic fountain was a
ought by money donated again by d a
lnior civic organization; a football
round begun, which was to prove the :
eginning of our High Schools career d
organized school athletics. Play II
round apparatus has been added, and a
vo more tennis courts. We haven't
1t seemed to be able to supply the de- =
and for the grounds for this popular,
'aceful and healthy form of sport, so IL
e add to our number OF courts when L
7er and wherever possible. II
A beautiful new suburb was opened n