Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-07-08
Picnic Party
Litter Ruins
Beauty Spots
Orange SIX in S and
Paper Mar Country,
Child Expert Pleads.
BY ANGELO PATRI.
WE DO the most incredible things,

WE DO the most incredible things,
w we people of America. We spend
a fortune to build a beautiful road.
line it with trees and shrubs and
plant it with grass and flowers. Then
We go forth to ride upon it and take
the children and the dog and the
picnic basket along for the outing.
There's a lovely place. right under
that old tree, by the brook. Let's park
there"
Everybody scrambles out. The dog
friSks and barks his approval. The
children scamper about with shouts
of JOY. Such a lovely spot. such
grand day, isn't everything wonder
full?
Father, weary in body and mind,
throws himself on the grass, pulls his
hat over his eyes and drowses while
mother and the oldest child open the
basket. The hungry horde sits down
to eat and drink until there is moth
ing left in the boxes. Away go the
children, scattering the crumbs and
fragments. Away goes the dog drag
ging his bone. Away goes everybody
save mother, who faStenS the tops on
the thermos bottles and puts the bot
ties In the basket. After the basket
is safely in the car she retreats to
shady corner and reads. When the
sun sinks she sends out call for
stragglers. Everybody and the dog
climb into the car again. Father takes
the wheel and the grand picnic Is
over.
Beautiful Spots!
wasn't 1t wonderful? Such beau
tiful spot, too. We must go there
often, father. So near home and every
thing. You wouldn't expect to find
such a lovely country spot so near,
would you?"
That is fine What troubles the
people who prepare the beautiful
places is the condition the visitors
leave them in when they go. Nobody
thought Of picking up the orange
skins, the tissue papers and empty
boxes and bottles. They lie where
they fell when the family dropped
them. The lovely spot by the brook
under the old tree was made ugly, IN
slightly, messy as a dump, by the
happy folk who had so much enjoyed
it. Why is that so?
We use our streets. roadways, parks,
public buildings as though We had no
| respect, no appreciation. Yet they
belong to US. They were built for our
service with our money. We insist
that they be as fine as money can sup
ply, as lovely as the artists and engi-
neers can make them. Then we pro-
coed to show our utter indifference
to the whole matter by wrecking the
, creation We worked TO perfect and sac
riflced to pay for.
Need for Thinking.
| This would not be so if We thought
! about it for an instant. We are not
/ thinking Of such things when We are
/ abroad on our daily occasions. We are
| thinking about our work, our worries,
/ our hard lives instead OF taking the
/ opportunity TO rest our minds. We
! constructed the lovely roads and parks
and pools and beaches and buildings
for our enjoyment, but we forget that.
Hence the litter.
1t would be good idea to appoint
one member of the family or the
group to attend to the esthetic side
Of the picnic party. 1t shall be his
duty to keep a watchful eye on the
scene before him and maintain clean
illness, order and beauty. He ought
to have the right to press any men,
Der Of the party into service SO that
the place can be left in condition for
the rest of the community to enjoy.
1t is mans curse that he destroys what
he loves best. Can nothing save us
from 1t?
Copyright. 1857