A MEMORIAL CRECHE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 12

A MEMORIAL CRECHE

FOR THE CITIZEN'S OK TO-MOUKOW.

(Contributed.) A memorial in the form of a creche with a chi.drea's park playground and resting park for the public attached, such as has been proposed, could be a pkiee of great beauty, and made worthy of its object in conveying to the minds of all the feelings of esteem and honour which wo as citizens .bear to the memory of our gallant soldiers who gave their lives that wo and our children may live in peace, and under an honourable and humano (lag. It is our privilege and duty to carry on and build up our nation on the glorious foundation so grandly and sacredly prepared for us by (ho bravo deeds and intense sufferings of our noble dead, who endured the utmost torture and flinched not so that their loved ones and the little-children of the nation might be protected from the hands ofthe cruellest of foes. We should, as citizens, realise how great a privilege it is to endeavour to do all that lies in onr power' to keep brightly shining the light of freedonl and self-sacrifice which our soldiers have -left behind as a beacon in this world. Without their efforts and the efforts of all those who fought in the cause of freedom, what hope could there be for the children who will growto take their places? Let us therefore resolve as one way of perpetuating our soldiers' achievements to erect a memorial "which will not om'.y serve to remind us nnd future generations of what we owe to them, but will also be a practical help to the children and a thing of joy and beautv. That being so, one of the most needed things for the welfare of our children in this city is a largo and well-equipped creche ot day nursery, whatever it mnv please the. citizens to call it. Children must have congenial surroundings, and- the proper environ-" ments if they are to thrive and grow strong in even- sense of the word; therefore the planning and arranging the aspects of such a place must be well considered in order to get the best results. Run verandahs and storm verandahs are important, so that the children may. at all times be out in the fresh air, so nccesairy to the health of the young. Also there shonM bo a properly-equipped kitchen and iaundry, so that proper attention may bo given to the care of the children; in fact, the whole scheme" should be carried out on the lines of a well-organised home, with all the refining influence and love that only a home in the right sense of the word can girt. The plavgronud would'serve as an educator of the beautiful in the. young mind, as well as a hentth-giving addition to tho nurscrv. CliTdren cannot thrive as they should' without coming into touch with the beauties in nature, and a properlyplanned plavgronud w)mld serve that much needed adiunct to the successful working of the nursery. It is easy to picture the full beauty and usefulness which such a spot could furnish, there might also be nn adjoining resting park, where tired, weary people might stroll] and rest and ponder. Such a- park would create much sentiment and serve to remind its patrons and visitors of howdear and snered are the memories of our soldier.', whrf have gone before to higher and greater beauties than tho hand of man Can contrive. An arched nathwiiy of row might b? known as the "walk of memory." Pnthwavp hedged on either sido with rosemary iii all its simple sweetness would suggest, remembrance fls we passed on Beds of 'pnnsies .would suggest to one's, mind thoughts of our heroes. There are many other beautiful plants and flowers that would create in one's mind appropriate thoughts for such a place. Red, white, and blue borders could be planted showing Hie national colours. Armies of trees could represent great events so nobly achieved by .our men and their allies. Those who have lost some dear one might desire to commemorate his memory by planting a treo that would grow in beauty and strength as tho years go by, and would have a. quiet, comforting influence, and convey the right thoughts that our dear ones are. not dead, but like the beautiful treo that serves as a living memory, growui" more beautiful and advanced in soul as the vears go on. Such a garden of memory would surely prove a haven of rest to many tired, weary sorts. Ono can picture how beautiful it all could be made, and tho great benefit it would be to posterity. The children toing loved and eared for and smrounded as the tender human plants in the world should be by the beauties i of nature, and in the near distance tho more mature of us seeking in our leisure time quiet nnd rest, and drinking in the soothing influence of nature, displayed and diffused in the trees and plants, and listening hi the sweetest of all' music, the laughter and merriment of little children. The birds, too, would add their song.? of praise that tho world wo live in can bo so beautiful when mankind joins hands with nature in creating happiness that can be shared by all "With opportunities given to administer to onesflf the most helpful nnd beneficial} of all tonics, service to others. A memorial filled with life and beauty would never lose interest, nnd would grow in beauty and not show signs of age as the years' go on, proving that great deeds never fade, but incrwse in greatness as the hand of time passes on; thus generation after generation might conjure -up the right thoughts and grasp what the great war so recently ended meant to those who were left to carry on, and whose desire was to create a memorial that would servo 'as o tasting ■mark of their appreciation of what was done for them. It would also enable them to give proof of their sincerity and citizenship bv going, forward nnd building up the nation through the child world, which, after all, is the surest way to restore tho nation's strength and greatness. , A statue of a. soldier standing sentry at tho entrance would create in the young a feeling of reverence for the brave boys who fought and died that they may live.