Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-04-24
SYLVAN RETREATS
FOR C|TY-WEARY
ABOUND IN CITY
Every One Has Its Own Allure
of Association Bringing Wis
itors From Afar.
NATURAL VALUE OF THESE
SPOTS EXCEED 100000
Tom Moore Sang Many Fa-
nous Ballads While Ensconced
on CANDLES Hill.
~ JAMES PRESTON SEWAGE.

ny JAMES PRESTON SELEAGE.
HE old globe has turned over
L again and spring is once more
upon us. Spring-thnt season Of
seasons. which s.~s the blood ting
ling and pulses bounding with an
unducnchablc thirst for the great
outdoors.
The tired business man Will once
more allow his thoughts to wander
out TO the golf links or the shady
nook. whore he ha, wrcs,icd with
game old bass year after year.
The schoolboy VIII again forge,
his lessons as he listens 10 the call
OF the robins. the CARDINALS and the
thrush outside III. school window.
and aches Ia answer the call. Sixty
more days until school days are over
for the year. \ long time to wait.
hut he has the Saturdays in which
TO satisfy that craving for the open.
Lovers Lanes. with their thousand
and one half-hidden dells near the
crn sun pecping through the fol-
iaEe. Will once more be the trys:lug
place for happy strollcrs.
"Ebr Crnck of the Hat"
The crack OF tho bat once more
echoes from the sandlot az III con-
meets with the curves ana slants or
the pitcher. Babe Ruth has started
out after his scvcnty-nvc home runs.
and the BinEville Gian,s ar" gcttiny
I'm condition FOR their first game with
the gang from around the cornSr.
The forgotten tale OF detained al
the office on the day the Philics
played the Cubs to u inning
tic viii begin to look like IL might
last out AS n good excuse for another
year.
And all OF this happened practI-
caliy overnight. a few soft rains,
an early spring and Richmond is
looking for place To enjoy AL OF
these delights. What has the city
10 offer In the way OF recreation?
richmond is known throughout the
world as one OF the most beautiful
and historic cities in America. Wis.,
itors concur in the opinion that with
its tree lined avenues. Allcd witt,
monuments. 1t Is a typical old South
crn town.
Back OF this historical splcndor is
a back ground OF parks which en-
nance the attractivcncss Of Rich
mond . hundrcdfold voicing clo-
Gucntly the traditions Of Colonial
and Southern magniiiccncc II the
parks OF the city were suddenly
closed. cutting off from the eyes OF
the sightscers the vast acreage OF
delightful drives underneath stately
trees. with them would go much of
the allure which visitors come TO
enjoy ia this historic city.
For the history OF Richmond is
unscvcrabiy woven with the annals
az the parks. nearly every one OF
which has its own tale of bygone
days, dear TO the hearts of the older
generations. Blood of the early set
tiers, fathers of the American race,
has been spilled in the parks which
now sleep so peacefully. Nearly
everyone OF the tracts of land was
utilized during tho days OF the War
between tho states.
Many Opportunities Presented.
Few cities have parks which offer
SO many opportunities for embeilish-
ment at small cost Richmond has
some OF the most beautltul parks in
the country. due largely 10 the work
of nature. In 1919 the natural value
of the parks was approximately 81
S17.775. while the improvements were
valued at only $29,70O.
Richmond was originally built on
seven hills. three of which are now
the sites OF rccreational grounds
The famous Libby Hill. in the east
crn section of the city. WAS one of
the first portions of the city to be
inhabited. Capito! Hill is in the
central part of the city, and further
west is the historical Candles Hin.
Shakespeare tells us that i'm the
dim. dark days of oppression Julius
Caesar. tyrannical ruler of Rome
came TO realize that his people were
in sore need of a spot for the spcno-
ing of leisure hours. He accordingly
set aside tract of land. formerly
used as royal park. for the use of
his subjects. He further states that
from the first the gardens were Wis
tied by masses of people enjoying the
open.
Some years later. on October 90.