THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 496, 1 May 1909, Page 14

THE CITY BEAUTIFUL.

Sir,—Mr. Brown writes sensibly on this . Enil>ject as on all,others; but thoro ia one thing .ho forgets, and that is that befoTo yon wn liavo a beautiful city you most havo a . . DOminur, ity with cultured minds and beautiful idcai» That : unfortunately i»© do not . Wellington . is a vary commercial ■- «#ty, and we aro all too bray in tho pursuit ~,of the almighty> dollar.. Thoso who possess "jXtoro of .thi3-world's .pelf than is good for ... xhem aro almost entirely of tho uncultured class,, 'whoso■•.:souls, if thoy :have any, do .. not ~riso beyond iiioir ■ bank ' acoounts, -and

whoso tastes, if they have any, don't ex tend. beyond thoir dinners. Henoe theii characteristics are reflected in our mibeau tilled city. Perhaps we ore a too practica peoplo, in whom nno feeling is absent; bu it should bo remembered that sentunenl rules tho world, and that for a Kttle picc< of rag, called a flag, men will die. What sver will help to raise us from oar greedy sordid, rnd selfish idiosynorasios deservei the fullest enoouragement; and, in my opin ion. there is nothing more elevating than th< cultivation and the love of plants, and t< learn-how to produce them in their greatesi beauty. ;If this were instilled into themindj of the rising generation, it would have ai ranobling effect on their after lives an< provide them mth a worthy, healthful, anc delightful pursuit to beguilo their leisur* moments. I maivel often at the number of growi men who are golf idlers, horse-racing de generates et hoo genus omne, who will hatif tor hours over a fence watching others d( something for their entertainment. Cai these people not be made to understand th< unount of real pleasure they might obtaii by achieving something for themselves, how sver small —something they oould proudl; point to as the work of their own skill, in" Instry, or good taste? And the women wh( lock to flower shows and gush and enthus< )ver the beautiful Productions of otheri with nobler- minds' than' their ownl Doe: injone' suppose they go there from a men !ove of the flowers P Nothing of the sort Phejf_ go ! to exhibit their new dresses, U iribcise those iof their friends, to, hearth* atest scandals,. and. because it is the; fash onable thing to do. How few of these fin« idles can boast gardens of their own, yrifi rcme much-treasured plants, lovingly cultivated to the greatest perfection by their owr :are and attention ? -How few nave really •efined and comfortable homes bearing wit less at eioiy. tnnr to the guiding and cul;ured hand of"fie,capable and domesticatec lonsowifo? ' : Tho sc cial: ..wastrels. of" both Sexes wanf mmanising. to be; brought mor< h touch with nature, and their minds raisec rom the • slough, of shoddy artificiality in vhich' they are lost td tho better things oi vhich they might bo capable. Thoy nav< ?et: .to # iearn'that 1 : the salt of life is not in ittending functions.and afternoon teas sirayed in baTbario finery or in wasting theii )rccious hours in witnessing spectacular disilaya. .'True enjoyment is found in! the invara satisfaction engendered by some efort of' their .'own,, oither of their hands, Jwir activities, or,i. better still, their brains! f they have any. Compare our city witli •he less wealthy, populous, and prosperous jhristohurch. : Compare our WTetcned' Town Jelt with the delightful Hagley Park of the atter. city, and tne snug homes and care-Tilly-attended gardens surrounding thorn jook at, the UMappy trees in Newtown 'irk, crowded to suffocation, and see how <hcy have been • ruthlessly destroyed b) opping off all lower branches provided >y nature for a usirful ptirposo and to renter them .symmetrical and beautiful obecis—l®w they have been converted intc noro poles with a tuft of branches on th< op. Look at the Bhrubs in our reserves, :ut suuaro, or trimmed into a ball by somt randa3, ignorant of. even tho rudiments oi lorticnlturo. What Erace. or elegance 'cai » found in ft bush chopped into the fom >f s lacking case? Do these people thinl >y, doing this 'they have artistically im proved -oh nature? It would bo easy t< iursue this subject at great length, but wh; should I waste my sweetness on the deser ui?—l am, ctc., . i . > HENRY WRIGHT. April 27.